A lightning strike captured by Ron Russell’s drone. Submitted photo Maybe 10 years ago, Sun Journal photographer Russ Dillingham and I were trudging up some dark and lonely back road, he with his camera equipment, me with my notebook and pen. We were a still a good half-mile away from the scene of a crash and the small-town cops were refusing to let us get closer.
“What we need,” I said as we continued to hoof our way along, “is a drone.” I said it mainly for laughs — who ever heard of small-time guys like Russ and I running this kind of fancy technology almost exclusively known for military applications? Russ, though, was less flippant about it. He honestly believed that sooner later later, the media would be using drones along with the big boys.
Heck, he told me. Pretty soon, those drones would be in the hands of your regular Joes and Janes, too. I rolled my eyes and accused the photographer of drinking on the job, but the joke was on me — not two years later, Russ was issued a drone operator’s license from the by-God Federal Aviation Administration and soon after that, he was using that flying camera all over the place.
I honestly did not foresee the rise of commercial drones. Of course, I’m the same guy who scoffed loudly back in the mid-1990s when news people started talking about some abstract world wide web that was going to change the media landscape. The fact is, I should have seen it coming.
The FAA, after all, had issued its very first commercial drone license way back in 2006. Then, in 2013, Amazon started making noises about how they were going to start using drones to deliver packages and that stirred the imaginations of a tech-crazed public. In 2016, the FAA’s landmark Part 107 rule clearly defined requirements for commercial drone operations in the U.
S and like that, the skies were open for business. The FAA all of a sudden found itself issuing tens of thousands of drone permits each year. As of this writing, more than 1 million drones are registered in the U.
S., a whopping 900,000 of them listed as hobbyist drones. Less than a decade ago, I scoffed at the idea of commercial drones.
Russ, meanwhile, runs the Sun Journal drone nearly every day, using it to cover crime and mayhem or for soft features and festival coverage. About a month ago, I started talking to local drone operators about their craft. Since almost every one of them referenced the Sun Journal photographer’s work in one way or another, I thought it would be a fine thing to get Russ’ thoughts on the way that drones have changed, well .
. . just about everything.
Roger Gauthier hays a field on June 20, 2023, across from his house on Penley Corner Road in Auburn in this photo taken by Sun Journal photographer Russ Dillingham’s drone. ‘TELLS A STORY LIKE NO OTHER MEDIUM’ “During my 40-plus years as a photojournalist, I have experienced dramatic changes in technology that has transformed our industry,” the photographer tells me. “The first and foremost was the switch from film to digital technology.
The second is the introduction of drone photography.” In 2007, the area learned of a horrific killing in Mechanic Falls where a man had shot his mother to death and left her body in the driveway. The crime scene was a chaotic one, with police in armored vehicles surrounding the home, trying to convince the killer to give up.
No journalist could get anywhere near the scene. Our only hope was to get a photo from above, which back then was no easy feat. “In the past,” Russ says, “we would spend thousands of dollars every year on renting a plane and hiring a pilot to get aerial images, primarily at breaking news scenes.
There were often problems finding a plane and pilot at a moment’s notice. After breaking down a cost analysis, advantages and flexibility of purchasing a drone, management was sold on the idea. We got the ball rolling on outfitting the photo department with a drone.
I volunteered to research the various models available. I had to study and take a pretty significant test to get a Part 107 commercial UAV — unmanned aerial vehicle — license. The FAA requires anyone using a UAV for commercial purposes to be licensed.
” The rest is high-flying history. Some of Russ’ videos can be seen on his YouTube channel at youtube.com/@mainevisualjournalist8749 “Flying over scenes, events and landmarks give such a unique angle that few get to see and tell a story that often is difficult to imagine from the ground,” Russ tells me.
“From tragic explosions to land development and beautiful scenery, aerial photography often tells a story like no other medium.” For a while, Russ was the only fellow I knew personally who was flying a commercial drone. That changed rapidly sometime over the past six years or so.
In 2018, a whack of companies around the world, including those in the U.S., China and Israel, began investing in research to make commercial drones viable.
It wasn’t long after that drones started to appear in curious places. You’d see a man at your favorite beach flying a winged camera over the ocean to get photos of the waves crashing against the beach. At carnivals, music shows and tractor pulls, you’d see those strange, bug-eyed cameras hovering high above the grounds.
Sometimes you’d see one of the buggers in your own neighborhood, hovering overhead to capture high resolution footage of whatever was going on in your city or town. Drones, in other words, have become ubiquitous. And with that in mind, we talked to some local operators to see how they got into the drone craze and for what, exactly, they’ve been using this futuristic technology.
Matt Drottar of Lewiston with his DJI Mini 4 Pro drone. Submitted photo MATT DROTTAR OF LEWISTON: ‘ I often prefer to fly over water, and I tend to fly near lighthouses a lot.’ “I started flying drones in 2020.
I have always had a strong interest in aviation, and at one time was working toward my private pilots license. Unfortunately, the combination of the huge expense and my inadequate eyesight caused me to stop that pursuit. Fifteen years later the technology was both advanced and cheap enough so I could experience flying an aircraft safely from the ground.
“There are two main styles of drones that people fly. They are commonly referred to as “camera drones” and “FPV drones.”Camera drones are generally very stable and easy to fly, and FPV (first person view) drones are very challenging.
With camera drones, you have computer and GPS stabilized flight with a controller that has some sort of screen attached (often a smartphone). FPV drones are very fast, unforgiving, and you wear goggles similar to an Oculus for a very immersive experience. Camera drones are generally purchased ready to fly, and most FPV drones are custom built from the ground up.
“I have not had any major crashes with my camera drones. A couple times I have clipped a branch, and once I landed on the roof of my car (to avoid landing in sand) only to have the drone slide off and onto the ground. No major damage.
“FPV drones are a different story. I crash those more often than I land them. Keeping spare propellers on hand is a must, and good soldering skills are necessary.
These are the drones used for drone racing, something I have not done, nor do I expect to be competent enough to attempt any time soon. “Camera drones are what I primarily fly. You must first pass a short online test to receive a certificate allowing you to operate a drone.
You need to have a good understanding of the laws surrounding drone use. There are several apps that I use to determine where to fly. There are many areas where drones are prohibited, such as near airports.
I also use an app that shows nearby aircraft. With a maximum allowed altitude of 400 feet above ground level, the odds of causing a problem with manned aircraft is small, but it is good to be aware of what is above you. “I often prefer to fly over water, and I tend to fly near lighthouses a lot.
“Have you heard of Rippin Rosie, the surfing dog from California? She has been on various news shows, has been in People Magazine, as well as social media. Last summer I shot a video of her on a lake here in Maine with her owner telling the story of how a lake in Maine led to competitive surfing in California. She is here again this summer, for another couple of weeks.
” Here is the video of Rippin Rosie: https://youtu.be/Hm8GxOK_sQc?si=0ZIbRlE9fHls0YUw Here is a video Drottar shot in Boston last year: youtu.be/qe-N_JcPk3M?si=JIfwVw52o8DT2rt7 Here is a video of Drottar flying FPV drones, as seen in his goggles: youtu.
be/-nF7-6YWcwY?si=nCVW7XHkBSitxifF Drottar’s photos of flooding last December locally can be viewed here: youtu.be/9W3sxC-w4M4 Timika Cribbin pilots her DJI Avata in her backyard in Litchfield. Cribbin flies her drone with her boyfriend, Kristopher Pulk.
Submitted photo KRISTOPHER PULK OF LITCHFIELD: ‘I have fallen in love with FPV flight.’ “As a child I always wanted to fly, I also wanted to be an astronaut. Unfortunately, I never walked on the moon, but now, anyone can fly.
“When I first started, commercial drones were pretty basic, outside of building your own, and most just do not want to do that. Up, down, side-to-side, etc. Now, those still exist but have been enhanced with autonomous flight, zoom, stabilized crystal clear videos.
Drones can literally fly themselves home or on a user-set route on most major manufactures. “They have drones for fishing that can drop bait, search-and-rescue drones, and the list goes on. Kristopher Pulk’s drone, a DJI FPV.
Submitted photo “I have fallen in love with FPV flight — a more fixed view with drones capable of fast movement and full flight controls. You wear goggles that immerse you into the drone, seeing flight meters and gauges just like in the movies. Remember watching Maverick in “Top Gun” performing the coolest barrel rolls and power loops, and imagining it was you? Not anymore.
Now anyone can get a UAV and do this for themselves. “With that statement I will say: Anyone can buy a drone. Not everyone can FLY a drone — remember this when your tossing down a month’s pay for this cool new toy.
“I have spent hundreds of hours on simulators practicing different maneuvers. Then there are the options for making that perfect video. And with that is the cost.
A drone is between $1,000 to $2,000. Batteries are around $150 each. You will need lens filters, a way to carry all of this gear, a way to charge while filming, the list goes on and on.
The possibility of crashing every time makes your heart beat faster. “This is where I was hooked: after you capture the best shot of something you tried about 20 times completely mesmerized me. When I pick up a drone and fly, nothing else exists.
It’s me soaring up to 100 miles an hour doing whatever your imagination can think of, then trying it over and over to get it just right, and the risk of crash, which just keeps your heart in your throat the whole time. Its just a thrill, and I love that. “Then comes the editing.
Making videos is fun but after a while you have to do something with it, which means a computer, video editing program, learning said program. “It’s a passion for me, I make videos often and place them on social platforms such as YouTube in hopes maybe I can do something more with it. But even if for no other reason, when I fly and then spend time editing, I am at peace.
It creates a new way to capture your world.” Pulk’s videos can be found at: youtube.com/@kristopherpulk.
A view of the Halfway Rock Light Station, off the shore of Portland, as seen from one of Paul Garrido’s drones. Submitted photo PAUL GARRIDO OF LEWISTON: ‘See what you’ve always seen but in new ways.’ “I started flying drones back in 2017.
Started with a cheap $30 drone from Brookstone in the Maine Mall and moved on to an expensive $350 drone from DJI, the current company that has been in the crosshairs of United States government for concerns about national security, as the company is based in China and utilizes geomapping, satellite imagery and positioning, and permissions to interact with local and national airspace. “I subsequently crashed the first drone rather quick and felt guilty. The second one I did better.
Neither had cameras for operation but could be equipped with them. I flew as an observer from the ground, never going more then a few hundred feet away and knowing my positioning based on colors of the lights on the drone and seeing which way it turned. Of course, had some scares, but always made it back and always respected what and who was around me.
I learned at the time the drone had smart features like return to home if the signal was lost or if the battery was low. One day, the drone went rogue and just kept going after it stopped responding to the controller. I never learned where it went as it was an older model without an app or a camera (and was rather bulky — Google: DJI Phantom 2).
A neighbor I had later spoken to at a local store brought up in conversation he and his girlfriend saw a drone pass their home some time ago and continued into the wilderness and wondered if it was being controlled by the government — I never told him it was mine. “The third drone I purchased was a DJI Mini — it was the size of a television remote and weighed only 249 grams. I could fit it in my pocket.
I took this everywhere and got really good at flying and adapting to weather, surroundings, light, etc., because it had a camera but also an app that was dynamic and informative telling me the height, distance, speed, motor function, battery, map, wind, etc. It took decent photos and had video options for 2.
7K and 1080p. I took this to Hawaii pre-pandemic and was impressed when, for it’s weight, performed so well on top of an old volcano with massive gusts of winds. “Eventually, I upgraded to one of the Mavic Pro series drones — much larger, intelligent, faster, and with 4K capabilities for filming and amazing photos as well.
The camera was made by the world famous Hasselblad camera company, which is known for creating the first camera used in outer space and multiple high-end filmmaking cameras. To this day, it’s what I use. I have flown over the open ocean during hurricane season, operated at great heights — while still maintaining accordance with rules about open airspace and distance from and to land — flown and filmed moving subjects similar to cinematic movies, and even waited in sub-zero temperatures to capture the perfect photo of winter sunrises.
Since then, drones have come a long way. “I think what I loved most with a drone is that as a hobbyist photographer, you can only see and do so much from the land. Having the ability to utilize a flying camera has created so many opportunities to see what you’ve always seen but in new ways, making the view intimate.
Not to mention, flying is just cool. Of course, anyone with a drone should absolutely learn the laws of their use and exercise strong judgement in operating — we are all guilty at one point or another of pushing that boundary, but fortunately no major issues have happened thus far or at least to my knowledge locally. “One thing I’m very mindful of is the balance of necessity and appreciation.
Some places I have gone, you simply appreciate the beauty before interrupting it with a drone. See it for what it is, consider the risks, and the harm that could be posed if operating a drone in the area. Are there animals present? Are there people present? Would operating a drone take away from the quiet area people are trying to enjoy or is it a loud, populated area that seems to be mutual agreement that it’s OK to let loose a little? What’s going on above? Birds? Aerial tours? “If I were to lose the drone, are there risks that may stop it from coming back to me like canopies, elevations, obstacles? There is a lot to consider every time you decide to fly.
And even prior to doing this, one must seek information on the area: Is this a protected area like a state or national park? Are there prisons or airports nearby? Are there heavily populations of people? Are there power lines? Antenna towers? What is the wind at this elevation and above me? What direction is it blowing and what are the gust strengths? What is the temperature and humidity? There are many things a responsible pilot should know before taking off. “On that note, if you like to travel, I think a drone is an excellent thing to have as long as one is mindful of the environment and the people. Courtesy simply.
I highly recommend getting your practice either on a cheap drone that you’re understanding of that a crash may occur or you may damage it all together. Most of DJI’s newer drones, despite being very expensive, also offer a flight tutorial both on the computer and phones/tablets that you can connect the control to via phone adapter and/or USB and it helps users get practice if they seek to start with a high-end drone. Each experience is different.
” Ron Russell’s drone footage of his 50th class reunion. The drone allowed one classmate, confined to a wheelchair, to be a part of the festivities, he said. Submitted photo RON RUSSELL OF AUBURN: ‘The attraction for me is being able to capture images from a third dimension.
’ “I purchased my drone, a Typhoon H, in May of 2018 from Ray and Robin’s Hobby Shop just off old exit 12 in Portland. I paid around $1,400. The reason I purchased it there was primarily because I had worked with Ray, we had a common interest in aviation and it was what he was selling.
“The features I found attractive about it were it had a viewing screen built into the controller, a high-resolution camera, it was simple to fly in the basic mode, it could hover on its own in one position until the battery expired, it had the ability to return and land at its departure point, the landing gear retracts and it had six motors that were capable of allowing the ship to limp along should one fail. “Aspects of the drone that were negative (included) . .
. the time necessary to master all the functions was prohibitive, the seller did not have the capability to repair the drone when mishaps occurred requiring me to acquire parts and go to You Tube for repair videos, and the homeowners association where I operated in Florida had members with privacy issues. “Privacy issues caused drone operators problems in Florida when the homeowners associations enacted rules and selectively enforced them.
This is a murky legal area since the FAA regulates airspace and once the drone is off the ground it must conform to the Federal Aviation Regulations exclusively. “I operated on my own since there were no organized clubs or associations I could rely on and my learning came at a price. Flying inside a hangar was a no-no due to lack of GPS signals.
Launching the drone with an incorrect switch setting requiring the unit to be 25 feet away from the operator resulted in a high speed dash into a tree. “I had thoughts of (droning) professionally, but the regulations are in transition and competition from cheap personal drones that anyone can buy have complicated the business. Who knows? Maybe things will stabilize.
“The attraction for me is being able to capture images from a third dimension. I’ve been accumulating video documentation of family, projects, events, etc. since the days when you could buy digital cameras.
And no, I’ve never raced my drone. At only 42 mph, it is not considered a racing (drone) but a utility drone.” RANDY BERRY OF LIVERMORE FALLS: ‘(I) have mostly used it for amazing photography opportunities and fun.
’ “I got one a few years ago hoping to use it with some GIS mapping applications and possibly emergency planning/ damage assessments. I only got my recreational pilots license and have mostly used it for amazing photography opportunities and fun. I have picked up some tips following Russell (Dillingham) since first starting out.
I actually used some of his clips, with permission, in some of my emergency management apps when I worked for the county. “I haven’t flown recently. I need to get the remote ID and need to repair or replace my drone.
I retired in January, so figuring out what I should do next. I have never sold anything or charged for flying time. It’s been a fun experience.
“I take a lot of pictures for fun and to share. The drone added a perspective that was a little or a lot out of reach. I have the recreational license and have learned from mistakes and changed some practices after taking the commercial online course.
So, now that I know better, it’s taken some of the fun out of it. . .
. “I can’t think of any time I flew in an area that wasn’t rural or remote. I took a lot of flights around Livermore to capture the foliage or geographic features, such as the ponds or meandering streams.
I got some cool video of the nearby potato and corn harvest. I’d bring my drone along on some bike rides. Some of my favorite images were taken Down East.
“I would pack my drone in a soft-sided cooler on my snowmobile and sometimes my friends would wait for me to capture some aerial shots. Filming my kite was really good practice for maneuvering and capturing a panorama view. There were minor incidents and I used the insurance a few times.
Before drones had side sensors I clipped a few branches when circling my focus object — mostly propeller replacements. “I really enjoyed the ‘poodle longshadows’ videos. They were mostly spontaneous and I never knew what the dogs or people would do next.
I have a perfect spot in my field for the afternoon sun and long shadows.” Some of Berry’s drone videos can be seen at the following links: Poodle Longshadows: youtube.com/watch?v=pP20wTAtxZI Kite Flying, Aroostook County: youtube.
com/watch?v=JM2gSK9ur1A Captured by Sun Journal photographer Russ Dillingham’s drone, hot air balloons take to the ski from Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston in 2023. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors.
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