I bought a drone back in October, a DJI Mavic Pro Platinum. It’s a cleverly designed folding quadcopter outfitted with a camera capable of capturing 4K video footage as well as hi-res stills, and can range nearly four miles from its launch point.

Not wanting to put the cart before the horse,  before buying the drone I became a licensed pilot. Actually, I became a Federal Aviation Administration-certified UAS remote pilot, passing what’s known as the Part-107 test at the Meadow Lake Airport in Peyton, Colo. I’d like to be able to make money with the drone and to do that, I had to become a licensed commercial drone pilot. And if I couldn’t pass the FAA’s $150 test, well, I wouldn’t be buying DJI’s $1,300 drone.

Now along with experiencing a new aerial perspective on things, there are loftier factors I have to consider while up in the air. For instance, I’m required to keep the two-foot long drone within visual line of sight while trying to compose a picture 300 feet off the ground and 700 feet away. It’s a nifty trick. Weather is a huge element, too. It could be a sparkling, cloudless 75-degree day but if the winds blowing faster than 22-mph, forget about getting airborne. Controlled airspace is another. It’s how the FAA manages what’s known as the National Airspace System to insure safe flights for all aircraft near airports. For example, our house is less than two blocks from the boundary that separates controlled airspace (Class E) from uncontrolled airspace (Class G). It’s not a huge deal, but to launch and fly the Mavic as a commercial pilot from our backyard (Class E) I’m required to apply for a waiver from the FAA. Crazy, I know, but that’s how the NAS is managed here in the States.

A short clip shot above the Arkansas River with the Mavic Pro Feb. 17. Video by Mike Sweeney/©2018

So yeah,making pictures with a flying camera takes some getting used to. And it’s more complicated than it looks. But I’m starting to get the hang of things. The learning curve for me isn’t as pitched as it once was and I’m flying with more confidence. And the pictures, and videos, are staring to come.