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Wired Cautions Would-Be Drone Photogs on the 4th

Posted by timothy on from the lesson-is-to-just-build-fireworks dept.

Last year's spectacular but unauthorized you-are-there video from the inside of a fireworks display has probably inspired quite a few people to try getting their own bird's-eye view this year. Wired cautions photographers, though, that many municipalities have specifically banned (and some will be looking for) unauthorized airborne visitors, and that the FAA's guidelines for legal flight are tricky to comply with during a fireworks show. This is both because it's hard to maintain visual contact with a drone amid the dark and smoke of a show, and because of the altitude at which many commercial firework shells burst. In addition, even if a drone photo mission goes under the radar vis-a-vis local authorities, if resulting footage appears on an ad-supported site, like YouTube, the FAA may be a bit more interested than the pilot would like.

10 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone. For example i was at an art show and it was pretty packed, some jackass drone operation was flying a larger model, around 4kg / 10 lbs or so, up and down the isles probably 15 feet over people's heads. It was large enough that a simple slip up, if not outright killing someone would have caused a few trips to the ER. It's that kind of jackassery that ruins it for everyone. It's finally starting to be a greater danger to be injured by an idiot teenager looking for some hits on his youtube channel than being hit by a stray firework.

    1. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How is that "ruining it for everybody"? What does that have to do with the FAA? The art show was private property, and the property owner could have and should have stopped the use of the drone.

      What's "ruining it for everybody" is that knee jerk reactions like yours based on local incidents cause politicians and regulators to pass knee jerk regulations that apply uniformly across the country, regardless of local circumstance, and give police another excuse to stop and hassle people.

    2. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 2

      Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone. For example i was at an art show and it was pretty packed, some jackass drone operation was flying a larger model, around 4kg / 10 lbs or so, up and down the isles probably 15 feet over people's heads. It was large enough that a simple slip up, if not outright killing someone would have caused a few trips to the ER. It's that kind of jackassery that ruins it for everyone.

      It's finally starting to be a greater danger to be injured by an idiot teenager looking for some hits on his youtube channel than being hit by a stray firework.

      it is unlikely to be a teenager because large drones are very expensive. i find it more likely that an overconfident adult is going to hurt someone. but hey... i think there are some kids on your lawn, right over there!

      It depends in where you live. Not far from here there are plenty of idiot teenagers that have affluenza. Although it is rather redundant to say idiot and teenager. Certainly I was an idiot at that age it's to be expected.

    3. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by russotto · · Score: 2

      It's an art show. The drone was probably part of a performance art piece.

    4. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 2

      How about handing a friend a video camera, and you with a fishing net on a long pole. Show it flying unsafely, take it down on video, and hand the footage to the cops telling them you feared for your family's safety.

      --
      John
    5. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by raftpeople · · Score: 2

      I think you're understating the reality of the situation. Drones come in many sizes with different attributes regarding prop blades, I think you'll agree that as the size/power of drones increases, the danger of an injury like a cut increases (see examples of cuts in news: Enrigue Iglesias cut hand, TGI Friday's drone chopped tip of reporters nose off). Furthermore, even on the low end the ability to damage an eye is significant and should not be discounted.

      Now, let's talk about a 6lb object falling 15 feet and stopping in a quarter inch (normal flex for skin and bone): the force is 4,320lbs (force times travel distance divided by stopping distance), compare that to an Olympic boxer's punch which maxes out around 1,000lbs.

    6. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by KGIII · · Score: 3, Funny

      You carry odd stuff to an art show.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    7. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 2

      Apparently you've never been to the Uptown Art Fair. A fishing net and a long pole would barely make the top third of the "weird shit you'll see in Uptown" list. :-)

      --
      John
  2. Re:Photogs? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Informative

    Is that like an Apple II GS?

    the term has been around a bit longer than that.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com...

    photog
    noun photog \f-täg\
    Definition of PHOTOG

    : one who takes photographs : photographer
    Examples of PHOTOG

    Origin of PHOTOG

    short for photographer
    First Known Use: circa 1906

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  3. This is one case ... by PPH · · Score: 2

    ... where, given a few precautions, I'd say, "Go ahead. Fly your drone." Sure, I don't want drone parts falling on spectators. But our public fireworks display is held over a lake.

    Drones will give me an opportunity to test my proximity-fused skyrocket.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.