At Home with Tech

Lighthouses project a wonderful maverick energy as they sit proudly on the edge of chaos. Needless to say, I love taking photos of any lighthouse I see.

My family and I have vacationed with friends by the magical mudflats of Cape Porpoise, Maine for the past few years, and the place we stay has a beautiful view of Goat Island Lighthouse in the distance.

We’ve kayaked over to the lighthouse a couple times and were fortunate enough to get a tour.

I’ve (of course) taken many photos of this cute beacon in different lighting and weather conditions.

My Drone Videos of Majestic Mudflats

But the mudflats are much closer and always call out to my camera and me as some kind of fantastic alien landscape that needs documenting.  So, when the tide goes out, that’s when my next mission usually begins. 

Last year I flew my DJI Flip camera drone on the majestic flats at low tide to capture some stunning footage at sunrise. 

Planning a Drone-Flying Trip to Goat Island Lighthouse

This year, I wanted to step up my photographic game a bit more and decided on a plan to have my little drone meet Goat Island Lighthouse. For me, this creative project was an ambitious next step. It took planning, accurate timing and complete cooperation from nature. 

After I received permission from the local authority to fly my drone near the lighthouse, I still had to wait for good weather at the appropriate time of day when the tide would remain high enough during both legs of the kayak trip.  

And then there’s the wind. Too much wind isn’t good for drone flying, and there’s often a breeze coming off the ocean.

Happily, all those variables aligned for me on the Wednesday of our vacation week. My mission was set to begin at 7:30am sharp. But with all the pieces properly in place, I knew it still wouldn’t be enough to ensure success.

Maintain Creative Control

As I faced this this self-assigned project, I knew I would need to properly balance my creative vision with what I was confidently capable of doing.

Look, I’m not a professional camera drone pilot. It’s a hobby. I’ve got the certification, but this is not my day job. 

Every time I fly my drone, I work on improving my skills. I’ve also picked up a few tips by watching YouTube videos. But that can be a double-edged sword. All the drone ‘experts’ show off their cool drone maneuvers. “It’s so easy!” they say.

Part of me says, “Sure, I can do that!” Then I remember that moment last year when I backed up my drone into a tree while it was performing a preprogrammed sequence. (No, the DJI Flip doesn’t have rear-avoidance sensing.)

So, I constantly remind myself that I need to stick to the drone moves I confidently know how to execute. The creative impulse to go just a little further or a bit faster is not a recipe for my success.

As I considered my upcoming lighthouse project, my drone’s airtime would have to be slow and sure.

The good news is “slow” can be a great foundation for ‘cinematic’ video. And that’s always my goal.

30 Seconds in Heaven

I’m happy to report I did indeed follow my Barrett flying rules after I kayaked over. I captured some sweet drone video clips of Goat Island Lighthouse on a glorious morning. Take a look at my 33-second montage… 

I put much of this video together using the DJI Fly app on my iPhone and then finished it later using Final Cut Pro on my Mac Studio.

Play the Long Game

I must admit this little success story isn’t only about how I confront the challenges of camera drone flying. It also reflects how I’ve traveled the journey as a creative in my life, both personally and professionally.

Success usually comes from playing the long game.

I’ve always felt this fire within to ‘create.’ And I’ve found that life works best when you maintain ‘control’ of your creativity. That instead of a life where creativity controls you.

I’m sure there are any number of artists out there who may disagree with me. They would correctly point out that true creative success often requires your passion to drive you and your output.

Any limits you place on that prevent you from discovering your true creative self and potential.

Fuel the Creative Spirit

But I have admittedly chosen to travel a different road across these years. It’s a slower path, but it still allows me to explore my creativity… while also being able to come home with my drone in one piece. (And yes, my camera drone also serves as a metaphor here.)

I wake up the next morning with the comfort knowing that I can fly again. Others may capture better-looking footage, but I am satisfied with what the video gods have allowed me to capture. That’s enough to fuel my creative spirit.

And I have the confidence in myself to know that tomorrow’s footage will look even better.

Confidence over Speed

This is a life plan that prioritizes balance. Confidence over speed. Yes, it’s a long game, but one that will still feed those hungry creative impulses.

It’s one strategy for a life of happy flying.

…for your consideration.