Technology continues to advance at amazing rates!  One area that is very interesting to me is the progress in Unmanned Aerial Systems​ or "Drones".  Not long ago the idea of putting a decent camera on a flying system required extensive fabrication, funding, and risk taking. 

Then came 4k video drones.  Yet, many of these still did not have enough image quality for still landscapes photography.  Landscape photographers often take photos in lower light with a larger range of light to dark in the image.   

Now we can go to a store, amazon, ebay, etc and buy a truly impressive aerial system such as the one these photos are taken with.  The drone I currently use is a DJI Mavic 2 Pro.  There are other options out there, but this fit my need for portability, simplicity, and budget.  

What is required to Fly a Drone?

If a person wants to purchase and fly a drone weighing less than 55 lbs for fun, there are no specific license requirements.  The drone does have to be registered with the FAA in the USA, and the pilot must follow all recreational flight rules.  

However if the drone is to be flown for "commercial purposes" such as for advertising, financial gain, etc, then the pilot must have a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot License. This can be obtained through home study or courses, and passing a 60 question test.  (Click here for more information)