Drone photography in Kentucky can be challenging but the reward can be well worth the time. You have horse farms, bourbon distilleries, numerous lakes, and rivers as well as the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. As you go from east to west and north to south, the state changes. In Eastern Kentucky, you have the mountains and as you move west, you get into terrain that is flatter including the Land Between the Lake state park.
Staring in the north, you have the bigger metropolitan areas like Covington and Florence just outside of Cincinnati as you go south, you get into smaller towns. You also have several larger cities throughout the state like Richmond, Bowling Green, and Murray.
Drone photography is a type of aerial photography that can be used for many different purposes, including real estate, construction, and event photography. Drones offer a unique perspective on aerial photography, as they can fly lower to the ground than airplanes and helicopters. This makes them ideal for capturing images of buildings and landscapes from new and interesting angles.
Drone photography in Kentucky is different in different parts of the state
But the diversity of the stats is what makes Kentucky a great state for drone photography. You have several unique state parks like the previously mentioned Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky.
You also have Cumberland Falls in southeastern Kentucky near Corbin which is one of the two locations in the world where you can see a moonbow on a consistent basis. The other is Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.
During the falls when the leaves start to change color, Eastern Kentucky can be a great spot to go flying and catch the colors from a different perspective. You also have Cave Run Lake just outside of Morehead and Herrington Lake in central Kentucky. Don’t forget your drone if you like to hike because the Red River Gorge will give you some amazing drone photos along with Natural Bridge.
Drone photography in central Kentucky, you have High Bridge. It was the highest railroad trestle constructed at the time in 1877 and is still in use today to connect Jessamine and Mercer counties by train. As you continue to travel west, you will run into Louisville as it sits on the Ohio River at the Falls of the Ohio park.
There are also several older businesses that can make for good drone photography. Weisenberger Mill just outside of Midway sits on South Elkhorn Creek before it empties into the Kentucky River. The mill sits at a location that has a mini waterfall. Add a good ND Filter for your drone and you can get an amazing photo.
But how do you get started in drone photography? Well, obviously the first is to purchase a drone. A good model to start with is the new DJI Mini 3 Pro which starts in price at around $750. It’s a good beginner drone as it’s not very big and offers some obstacle avoidance. You will want to start out by taking the TRUST test. This is a requirement for beginner drone pilots who want to start flying and taking photos and videos as a hobby.
This test will provide you with the basic rules and regulations the FAA requires you to know before flying your drone. If you ever want to make money from your drone or provide your photos and videos to businesses or organizations, then you will need to move the Part 107 test and get your UAG certification from the FAA.
So drone photography in Kentucky can provide a wide variety of images from all across the state. Just take the time to research where you want to go and get your TRUST or Part 107 certification and get on the road.
