Very professionally awesome! I just got a Phantom 3 Advanced from DJI last week and I recently bought 3 new 3 Polar Pro filters. I no longer use my Phantom 3 Standard. I'm planning to get another smart battery before I can go traveling to mountains in Tennessee and Lake Murray in SC this summer.
These are great. I moved here 3 years ago and fell into the religion of believing in coerced density, mass transit, and rail. But after paying attention to my own movement around the city via automobile (self/uber) and asking myself if I'd rather be sitting on a train I started to really be amazed at how cool the roadways and interstates are. Millions of people moving around in their little vehicles converging and then dispersing at random completely free to change course. I also appreciate the "sprawl" because another word for it is variety. This video captures that. I'm all for transit where it makes sense but I now really appreciate the modern marvel and freedom of the roadways. I don't look at this macro point of view and think, man, so much more could be accomplished, so much more variety could be offered if they'd all just give up their cars, live on top of each other in midtown, and ride trains. I like the flowing aspect of ATL. One neighborhood to another. One part of town to another expanding and contracting between density and green space. The river. I don't want to live on a giant ridgid, uniform, concrete excel spreadsheet. Great video! Keep em coming.
Thanks for the interesting note Jordan. I've been meaning to respond to it for some time now. First, I agree that Atlanta's sprawl contains a rich variety of constantly morphing neighborhoods that make the city a complex and interesting place to live. However, I'm not sure that those plural complexities are a function of the city's lack of density or reliance on the automobile. In fact, the further one travels from the population-dense portions of the city, the less variety is apparent. As Tom Wolfe wrote in "A Man in Full" when describing Atlanta's latticework of exurban commercial districts, "the only way you could tell you were leaving one community and entering another was when the franchises started repeating." Per capita, NYC and San Francisco have greater neighborhood diversity in the absence of an automotive-reliant transportation system, and developing better mass transit options in Atlanta is similarly unlikely to increase our city's uniformity. Second, as evidenced by many of the videos I've uploaded, I strongly agree that Atlanta's roadways are authentically beautiful. My office has overlooked the downtown connector (just north of the Brookwood Split) for nearly 20 years, and I am still amazed at how silent and lovely the traffic appears on winter evenings (collapsing chandeliers of headlights in full shatter and bloom). But, dust storms, locust swarms, and magatsunamis are also visually remarkable, at least at a remove. While I appreciate the freedom associated with a car, automotive dominance distorts our city's use of land and the expense of auto ownership operates as a barrier to full civic and economic participation of lower-income residents. This last point is of particular importance because poverty in the region has become an increasingly suburban phenomenon marked by geographically isolated, and low-income communities in areas with more affordable housing but far fewer good jobs. According to recent studies from Harvard and the Brookings Institution, suburban poverty increased more in Atlanta than any other large metro area in the nation since 2000 and the vast majority of Atlanta’s poor neighborhoods now exist in suburban regions, including large portions of Gwinnett and Cobb counties. While many factors contribute to the problem, the region’s failure to provide practical public transportation options for many outlining areas is a critical barrier to these citizens accessing better jobs and valuable public services closer to the city center. It's axiomatic that if something cannot continue, it won't continue; but it is amazing how long it will continue (and how much damage it will do) before it stops. We'll see. Thanks again for the note. -Ben Fox
@@batteryplum Thanks Ben, I agree there's a difference between aesthetic and functional, or non damaging. And the lack of a grid here does bother me. I've joked before that James Oglethorpe laid out a better plan in Savannah in the 1700s. I think there are some explanations for the disproportions of certain data points. As for individual prosperity you can't argue against the fact that any convenience offered should make it easier to prosper. The problem I have with attributing transit or lack thereof to prosperity is, the level of resourcefulness required to secure employment absent a subsidized mode of transportation isn't even close to the level required to become prosperous. Chicago has mass transit, yet people who are only a train ride away from the best jobs in the world remain poor. As for ATL I think there's a real opportunity for smart logistics and planning experts to come in and develop something 21st century instead of looking to 19th century technology that only works for cities that were laid out in the 19th century. I don't know what the solution is for ATL. But then again I have yet to think of one great idea that changed anything but creative destruction is at an all time high. So I'm as confident in the fact that I won't think of anything as I am the fact that government won't either, and the fact that it doesn't mean it's not out there. I hope we find it and I hope it's rider funded, with subsidies for the poor. And I hope it's dynamic enough to change as quickly as society and technology change. For example what if in 20 years half the workforce works remote? Thanks again for the thoughtful reply!
Jordan, you've made a number of solid points, but I sense a strong cynicism of government's ability to solve problems in an adaptive, pragmatic fashion. I share some of that skepticism, but after a couple decades representing corporations and working alongside government actors at all levels, I have substantially greater confidence in universal, democratic, government-based solutions for infrastructure challenges than private-sector or subsidized, means-tested solutions. Besides, our local, state, and federal governments have purposefully and substantially subsidized automobile use for over a century, to both positive and negative effect. The status quo is the result of conscious, active decision-making by government and the private sector. Responsibility for our current problems is shared, and our government (at our insistence) has agency to develop and implement solutions to remedy those problems. Locally, city and county governments are proving that this can be undertaken in creative, flexible ways and in partnership with non-profit and private stakeholders (e.g., the Beltway). Infrastructure is not something that the private sector can accomplish on its own, and there's no market mechanism that will broadly provide it. It is one of the core functions of a responsive government. Try having more faith in our public institutions and our ability to make/implement long-term plans to solve big problems. We're responsible for this stuff, and we will be judged accordingly by future generations. All the Best, -Ben
Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad to hear the images hold up at that large scale. Aerial 4K camera technology has improved dramatically over the last five years, but the resulting files are large and take a lot of computing resources to edit. Thus, it's gratifying to hear that some folks (like you) are actually viewing the footage on screens capable of benefiting from the higher resolution.
I'm just getting started with droning, and editing. I've done a few things I'm proud of. Still learning. What editing system do you use? I recently purchased Final Cut Pro, it has helped retain video quality. I have a P4. Planning to upgrade soon.
I'm embarrassed to say that I use VideoPad, simply because I run Windows machines and it was one of the first Windows editors capable of handling 4K files a few years ago. I haven't switched to a slicker Windows platform (e.g., Adobe Premiere) because I'm now very familiar with VideoPad's interface and capabilities. While it is likely as capable as other mid-range/prosumer Windows-based video editors, VideoPad is far from elegant and suffers from some stability issues with highly complex edit jobs (which I've learned how to work around). If I ran a Mac, I would definitely use Final Cut Pro. It is universally praised. BTW, what UAV are you planning to upgrade to? From what I've seen, there's only marginal camera improvements in the new P4, and I assume you don't need added sensors not to run into walls flying backwards. There's undoubtedly a material leap in image quality if you're willing to invest in the Inspire 2 with an advanced camera system (e.g., X5S), but that's a entirely different endeavor.
Primarily P4 (same as you). I have a handful of older models (P3s, etc.), modular gimbals, and Gopros that I still play with, but the after well over a year, the P4 is the most reliable UAV/camera platform I've used. It's a great piece of engineering.
Ben!!! Where are ya man?!?! I've been waiting on new drone footage from you. I check your page every other week. Recently paid a visit to Atlanta and thought of your posts while flying my P4P (posted on my page) Your work is AMAZING. Looking forward to seeing more
My apologies. I've had a piece 97% complete for 2 months now, but it needs a few final shots before I post. My best UAV is in Miami getting some upgrades, which have been delayed due to hurricane Irma and destruction of a parts warehouse. I will likely be another 4 weeks before I post the piece that's almost complete. Regards. -Ben
I appreciate the note. Most of this footage was captured during flights conducted in 2015 at excruitiatingly slow speeds (usually below 4.5mph), which was necessary for better image quality in low light and increased flight safety. Thus, prior to editing (and significant acceleration), this footage is far from "courageous." Feel free to email me (benfoxlaw@gmail.com) if you're interested filming in the area. I'm focusing more on capturing Atlanta's parks and landscapes lately, but I'd be happy to connect if you're in the city.
A few drones/GoPros (primitive by the standards of 2019 tech) + 4 months of evenings/mornings + patience + the willingness to fly very slow and abort any flight if conditions posed the slightest safety concerns + a bulletproof desktop capable of editing 4K at 60fps without crashing (too much). Note that most of this predates the FAA's heightened focus on UAV flights. I might capture some of these shots differently if I was making this video in 2019/20.
Hey Ben I'm also in Atlanta. You got any tips on flying in the city? More so with authorities and legalities, who do I need to contact or what do I need to be aware of? All your videos are very professional and downright amazing but I can't believe they're all "legal" now to do. Great footage!
If you are asking whether this footage was shot with an XRP (extended range and payload) model UAV from Reference Technologies or Precision Aerial Drones, the answer is "no." Those models appear to have been designed for military (or at least government) use, and I'm not aware of their compatibility with off-the-shelf camera gimbals or adoption of current redundant safety features. They do, however, have extremely impressive flight-duration capabilities that I'd like to see matched in DJI's future prosumer models.
Thanks for the comment. Sorry the time-lapse and shot-edits weren't what you expected. If you have specific notes, feel free to email them to me at benfoxlaw@gmail.com. Regards, -Ben
This is a great shot, love it.
Very professionally awesome! I just got a Phantom 3 Advanced from DJI last week and I recently bought 3 new 3 Polar Pro filters. I no longer use my Phantom 3 Standard. I'm planning to get another smart battery before I can go traveling to mountains in Tennessee and Lake Murray in SC this summer.
These are great. I moved here 3 years ago and fell into the religion of believing in coerced density, mass transit, and rail. But after paying attention to my own movement around the city via automobile (self/uber) and asking myself if I'd rather be sitting on a train I started to really be amazed at how cool the roadways and interstates are. Millions of people moving around in their little vehicles converging and then dispersing at random completely free to change course. I also appreciate the "sprawl" because another word for it is variety. This video captures that. I'm all for transit where it makes sense but I now really appreciate the modern marvel and freedom of the roadways. I don't look at this macro point of view and think, man, so much more could be accomplished, so much more variety could be offered if they'd all just give up their cars, live on top of each other in midtown, and ride trains. I like the flowing aspect of ATL. One neighborhood to another. One part of town to another expanding and contracting between density and green space. The river. I don't want to live on a giant ridgid, uniform, concrete excel spreadsheet. Great video! Keep em coming.
Thanks for the interesting note Jordan. I've been meaning to respond to it for some time now.
First, I agree that Atlanta's sprawl contains a rich variety of constantly morphing neighborhoods that make the city a complex and interesting place to live. However, I'm not sure that those plural complexities are a function of the city's lack of density or reliance on the automobile. In fact, the further one travels from the population-dense portions of the city, the less variety is apparent. As Tom Wolfe wrote in "A Man in Full" when describing Atlanta's latticework of exurban commercial districts, "the only way you could tell you were leaving one community and entering another was when the franchises started repeating." Per capita, NYC and San Francisco have greater neighborhood diversity in the absence of an automotive-reliant transportation system, and developing better mass transit options in Atlanta is similarly unlikely to increase our city's uniformity.
Second, as evidenced by many of the videos I've uploaded, I strongly agree that Atlanta's roadways are authentically beautiful. My office has overlooked the downtown connector (just north of the Brookwood Split) for nearly 20 years, and I am still amazed at how silent and lovely the traffic appears on winter evenings (collapsing chandeliers of headlights in full shatter and bloom). But, dust storms, locust swarms, and magatsunamis are also visually remarkable, at least at a remove. While I appreciate the freedom associated with a car, automotive dominance distorts our city's use of land and the expense of auto ownership operates as a barrier to full civic and economic participation of lower-income residents. This last point is of particular importance because poverty in the region has become an increasingly suburban phenomenon marked by geographically isolated, and low-income communities in areas with more affordable housing but far fewer good jobs. According to recent studies from Harvard and the Brookings Institution, suburban poverty increased more in Atlanta than any other large metro area in the nation since 2000 and the vast majority of Atlanta’s poor neighborhoods now exist in suburban regions, including large portions of Gwinnett and Cobb counties. While many factors contribute to the problem, the region’s failure to provide practical public transportation options for many outlining areas is a critical barrier to these citizens accessing better jobs and valuable public services closer to the city center.
It's axiomatic that if something cannot continue, it won't continue; but it is amazing how long it will continue (and how much damage it will do) before it stops. We'll see.
Thanks again for the note. -Ben Fox
@@batteryplum Thanks Ben, I agree there's a difference between aesthetic and functional, or non damaging. And the lack of a grid here does bother me. I've joked before that James Oglethorpe laid out a better plan in Savannah in the 1700s. I think there are some explanations for the disproportions of certain data points. As for individual prosperity you can't argue against the fact that any convenience offered should make it easier to prosper. The problem I have with attributing transit or lack thereof to prosperity is, the level of resourcefulness required to secure employment absent a subsidized mode of transportation isn't even close to the level required to become prosperous. Chicago has mass transit, yet people who are only a train ride away from the best jobs in the world remain poor. As for ATL I think there's a real opportunity for smart logistics and planning experts to come in and develop something 21st century instead of looking to 19th century technology that only works for cities that were laid out in the 19th century. I don't know what the solution is for ATL. But then again I have yet to think of one great idea that changed anything but creative destruction is at an all time high. So I'm as confident in the fact that I won't think of anything as I am the fact that government won't either, and the fact that it doesn't mean it's not out there. I hope we find it and I hope it's rider funded, with subsidies for the poor. And I hope it's dynamic enough to change as quickly as society and technology change. For example what if in 20 years half the workforce works remote? Thanks again for the thoughtful reply!
Jordan, you've made a number of solid points, but I sense a strong cynicism of government's ability to solve problems in an adaptive, pragmatic fashion. I share some of that skepticism, but after a couple decades representing corporations and working alongside government actors at all levels, I have substantially greater confidence in universal, democratic, government-based solutions for infrastructure challenges than private-sector or subsidized, means-tested solutions. Besides, our local, state, and federal governments have purposefully and substantially subsidized automobile use for over a century, to both positive and negative effect. The status quo is the result of conscious, active decision-making by government and the private sector. Responsibility for our current problems is shared, and our government (at our insistence) has agency to develop and implement solutions to remedy those problems. Locally, city and county governments are proving that this can be undertaken in creative, flexible ways and in partnership with non-profit and private stakeholders (e.g., the Beltway). Infrastructure is not something that the private sector can accomplish on its own, and there's no market mechanism that will broadly provide it. It is one of the core functions of a responsive government. Try having more faith in our public institutions and our ability to make/implement long-term plans to solve big problems. We're responsible for this stuff, and we will be judged accordingly by future generations. All the Best, -Ben
Dude I watch all your videos on my 70 inc tv its sooooo amazing to watch, keep up the good work bro.
Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad to hear the images hold up at that large scale. Aerial 4K camera technology has improved dramatically over the last five years, but the resulting files are large and take a lot of computing resources to edit. Thus, it's gratifying to hear that some folks (like you) are actually viewing the footage on screens capable of benefiting from the higher resolution.
I'm just getting started with droning, and editing. I've done a few things I'm proud of. Still learning. What editing system do you use? I recently purchased Final Cut Pro, it has helped retain video quality. I have a P4. Planning to upgrade soon.
Also what drone are you flying?
I'm embarrassed to say that I use VideoPad, simply because I run Windows machines and it was one of the first Windows editors capable of handling 4K files a few years ago. I haven't switched to a slicker Windows platform (e.g., Adobe Premiere) because I'm now very familiar with VideoPad's interface and capabilities. While it is likely as capable as other mid-range/prosumer Windows-based video editors, VideoPad is far from elegant and suffers from some stability issues with highly complex edit jobs (which I've learned how to work around). If I ran a Mac, I would definitely use Final Cut Pro. It is universally praised. BTW, what UAV are you planning to upgrade to? From what I've seen, there's only marginal camera improvements in the new P4, and I assume you don't need added sensors not to run into walls flying backwards. There's undoubtedly a material leap in image quality if you're willing to invest in the Inspire 2 with an advanced camera system (e.g., X5S), but that's a entirely different endeavor.
Primarily P4 (same as you). I have a handful of older models (P3s, etc.), modular gimbals, and Gopros that I still play with, but the after well over a year, the P4 is the most reliable UAV/camera platform I've used. It's a great piece of engineering.
Nice videography
Thank you 😃
Awesome work. I just subbed. Nice job
My hometown is beautiful I miss it move out when I was 3 years old I’m moving back in a year 🙏🏽
Ben!!! Where are ya man?!?! I've been waiting on new drone footage from you. I check your page every other week. Recently paid a visit to Atlanta and thought of your posts while flying my P4P (posted on my page) Your work is AMAZING. Looking forward to seeing more
My apologies. I've had a piece 97% complete for 2 months now, but it needs a few final shots before I post. My best UAV is in Miami getting some upgrades, which have been delayed due to hurricane Irma and destruction of a parts warehouse. I will likely be another 4 weeks before I post the piece that's almost complete. Regards. -Ben
nice vid like always
Thanks James.
Great Work I wish I had the courage to film like this with my drone - maybe you can school me. I'm local - truly in awe!!!
I appreciate the note. Most of this footage was captured during flights conducted in 2015 at excruitiatingly slow speeds (usually below 4.5mph), which was necessary for better image quality in low light and increased flight safety. Thus, prior to editing (and significant acceleration), this footage is far from "courageous." Feel free to email me (benfoxlaw@gmail.com) if you're interested filming in the area. I'm focusing more on capturing Atlanta's parks and landscapes lately, but I'd be happy to connect if you're in the city.
Thank you so much!!! I will do so soon the email will come from Mose McNeil
How did they make this thing
A few drones/GoPros (primitive by the standards of 2019 tech) + 4 months of evenings/mornings + patience + the willingness to fly very slow and abort any flight if conditions posed the slightest safety concerns + a bulletproof desktop capable of editing 4K at 60fps without crashing (too much). Note that most of this predates the FAA's heightened focus on UAV flights. I might capture some of these shots differently if I was making this video in 2019/20.
Hey Ben I'm also in Atlanta. You got any tips on flying in the city? More so with authorities and legalities, who do I need to contact or what do I need to be aware of? All your videos are very professional and downright amazing but I can't believe they're all "legal" now to do. Great footage!
XRP?
If you are asking whether this footage was shot with an XRP (extended range and payload) model UAV from Reference Technologies or Precision Aerial Drones, the answer is "no." Those models appear to have been designed for military (or at least government) use, and I'm not aware of their compatibility with off-the-shelf camera gimbals or adoption of current redundant safety features. They do, however, have extremely impressive flight-duration capabilities that I'd like to see matched in DJI's future prosumer models.
Great shots. Awful editing.
Thanks for the comment. Sorry the time-lapse and shot-edits weren't what you expected. If you have specific notes, feel free to email them to me at benfoxlaw@gmail.com. Regards, -Ben