Bergen County Camera Blog

One of the hottest topics in the media right now is drone videography and photography. Drones produce incredibly beautiful results through a fun and relatively easy process. This week our first drones arrived and we couldn’t wait to try it out.

One of Bergen County Camera’s employees, Tom Schiavone, is an experienced model plane and helicopter pilot and was the first to fly the drone. Within moments he was flying the Phantom 2 with ease.

As drone videography and photography becomes more popular, stunning videos of many different locations have been flooding the internet. Below is one of our favorite drone videos taken in Chernobyl, Russia.

Postcards from Pripyat, Chernobyl from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

We want our customer base to be educated and feel comfortable enjoying drone photography. Below you’ll find several resources used to make your quadcopter flying experience safe and fun.

Rules and Regulations for Drone Photography

Currently drone photography and videography is allowed for personal use only. Any commercial use of drones is only permitted with permission of the FAA.

Tips for Safely Flying Your Drone (Via KnowBeforeYouFly.com)

• Follow community-based safety guidelines, as developed by organizations such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
• Fly no higher than 400 feet and remain below any surrounding obstacles when possible.
• Keep your sUAS in eyesight at all times, and use an observer to assist if needed.
• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and you must see and avoid other aircraft and obstacles at all times.
• Do not intentionally fly over unprotected persons or moving vehicles, and remain at least 25 feet away from individuals and vulnerable property.
• Contact the airport or control tower before flying within five miles of an airport.
• Do not fly in adverse weather conditions such as in high winds or reduced visibility.
• Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Ensure the operating environment is safe and that the operator is competent and proficient in the operation of the sUAS.
• Do not fly near or over sensitive infrastructure or property such as power stations, water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, heavily traveled roadways, government facilities, etc.
• Check and follow all local laws and ordinances before flying over private property.
• Do not conduct surveillance or photograph persons in areas where there is an expectation of privacy without the individual’s permission (see AMA’s privacy policy).

Where to fly your drone (and where you should never fly a drone)

There are a number of location where flying any device is both unsafe and illegal. Check this helpful map for locations to avoid in your area. Always think both about the safety of the people around you and yourself. If someone could get hurt, find a different location. Flight should only performed when winds are minimal.

Also, we recommend joining the AMA and becoming a member of a local aeromodeling club. AMA members are provided liability coverage while using their drones and your local AMA club will give you access to a safe area to fly and other hobbyists to learn from.

We invite you to express any questions or concerns about drones below in our comments or on our Facebook page.