Wind, Night, and the Magic of Light: How to Create Masterpieces with Drone LEDs

Imagine a drone with bright LEDs drawing a spiral of light in the night sky above an ancient tower! Photographer Will Ferguson shares the secrets of his mesmerizing shots and tells how to create magic with drones. Want to know how he mastered the wind and conquered millions? Read his story!

London-based photographer Will Ferguson's passion for long-exposure light painting began when he first picked up a DSLR at the age of 17.

When the photographer learned that an LED lighting manufacturer had developed a kit to securely mount small but powerful LED lights onto drones, he was thrilled. Now he had a chance to combine his two main interests: light painting and drone photography.

Ferguson captured a spectacular swirl of light and a halo around Broadway Tower in Worcestershire, in what he says is one of his favourite images. The shoot was challenging as the weather was windy that evening.

Using a Sony Alpha 7R III camera and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone, Ferguson created a blue halo and spiral around the tower. He was able to hide the effects of the wind by flying in a spiral, making the drone's oscillations from gusts of wind less noticeable. The wind also felt stronger at the top of the tower than at the bottom.

The photographer emphasizes that when shooting at night, the issue of safety remains important.

For processing, he used Adobe Lightroom to brighten the colors and highlight the lighting effect.

Finally, Ferguson offers some advice to other aspiring photographers:

Shoot what you are truly interested in. Create as much content as possible and focus on the subjects that you are missing in your portfolio. This way, you will always get quality shots and constantly strive for new ideas and improvements. For me, the spiral of drones in front of the Broadway Tower is a great example of this approach. I just went out and took a picture because I like doing it. When I posted the photo, it was unexpectedly liked by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Soon after, brands themselves began asking me to collaborate on commercial projects. It turns out that fortune favors those who create it themselves.

Will Ferguson's project shows how creativity, technique and passion can come together to create a truly mesmerizing spectacle. Have you ever tried shooting at night or flying a drone in the dark? What is the perfect combination of technology and art for you? Share your impressions and dreams in the comments