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It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s a DRONE!!
You see drones on the news all the time for different reasons. Just recently, I watched a news report about the future of drones and how they could help in disasters by even carrying a patient to safety.
Well, I ran into a friend the other day and as we talked come to find out we have an FAA Certified sUAS Remote Pilot right here in Magee. Tim Culpepper, owner and operator of Circle X Imagery, is only one of two or three certified in Simpson County You know me I am all about seeing the new technology so I set up a time to talk to Tim and watch the drones in action. I am “just sayin”… I was in awwwww!!
Tim is a self-taught drone operator and knows a lot about his three drones. We see the cheap “toy” drones in stores but Tim’s drones are the real deal. Two of his drones are made by DJI. According to an article in The Economist in 2015, DJI is the leading company in the civilian-drone industry. The drone is also called an UAV or unmanned aerial vehicle. Tim’s drones have the FAA serial numbers on them just like the big planes.
Tim set up “the beast” as he called it, one of two that he set up while I visited. As he flew this drone over the Magee high school and walking track, he gave me some interesting information concerning the drones. Legally, the drones can be flown up to 400feet in the air. Most batteries run approximately 18 minutes. His beast drone has been used to shoot scenes for a movie. This drone takes awesome photos and video. You can see some samples below the article as well as check out a lot more via his website and Facebook page. The DJI GO App allows you to auto take off and auto land as well as flying perimeters. Drones fly 45-46 miles per hour but with a little tail wind, they will go up to 65mph. It is illegal to fly at night; but, with a special waiver from the FAA which Tim has applied for, you can. If you think you will shoot a drone down from the sky and get away with it, think again. It is a federal offense to shoot a drone down from the sky because it is an aircraft. As Tim and I continued to chat, I said OK this would be great for ball games, Magee Cray Day, etc. Tim shook his head and said it is illegal to fly over a group of people like a ball game. Which makes sense… what if the drone malfunctioned and fell into a group of people in the stands or a crowd. Those propellers hurt and cut and the drone itself is also heavy. So with that, it would be a safety concern.
Tim is an administrator for a couple drone groups and they learn from each other. These groups share stories and helpful tools to enjoy their UAVs. Another bit of information, the EBEE drone is used for agriculture and they start around $15k.
A former police officer, Tim is all about safety and obeying the law. FAA has some strict rules, which they should. Tim studied and took the FAA certification test and passed. Just like an airplane pilot, classification of air space is very important. Tim and other certified drone operators train just like a pilot.
FAA just changed the rules in August of 2016 so drones can now be used in real estate. Tim continued to tell me how the drones could help home inspectors or insurance companies check roofs. For me being afraid of heights, I thought how awesome that would be to keep my feet on the ground and check my roof for damage or needed repairs.
Magee is in the “military zone” due to proximity to Meridian and Camp Shelby military bases. Another obstacle to watch for while flying your certified drone is the medical helicopters that fly and make frequent stops at Magee General Hospital.
What about 3D images. Tim captures 3D images as well as panoramic photos. I was thinking…ok, I understand you take all these photos, snapshots, and videos but who does the editing and makes them “just right”? Before I could ask, Tim answered, I do all my own editing.
There’s a lot of talk about drones being used to spy on people and fly in areas they aren’t welcome. First, a responsible drone pilot will know where they are flying and will fly in areas they are authorized. Second, drones are very noisy. If there was one flying close to you to “spy” on you, it would sound like a huge mosquito making it very difficult to be stealthy. Therefore, the idea of using a drone for purposes it’s not intended for is not greatly realistic. There are possibilities, however. There are drones out there that have the capability to “zoom in” with their camera allowing them to be a further distance away from what they are seeing. These cameras are expensive. Expensive to the tune of $5,000 or more. That’s just the camera. So, if you are worried about Privacy, have no fear, Tim, with Circle X Imagery, will never have that problem.
Have you ever looked on a real estate website and notice the tab for virtual tours of the home or land for sale? That is just another piece of the Circle X Imagery pie. What about weddings and reunions? Tim’s OSMO gear can catch those memories. Tim can customize those memories into a video or slideshow that will last a lifetime.
Have you ever wondered how they take a person’s photo and crop the person out and transfer the person into another scene? That is called the green screen. For instance when you watch the weather man on the news, he is actually standing in front of the green screen. To us watching the television, it looks as if he is standing in front of the weather wall. Tim can take your photo in front of a green screen and transfer you to over 1000 different backgrounds. WOW!!! So, I think I am going to have Tim take my photo in front of the green screen and put me on the sandy beaches somewhere. So I can dream I am always on vacation.
I think my jaw dropped the entire interview. It is amazing what Tim can do. When it comes to technology, Tim reminds me of myself because we continued to talk and we both stated we taught ourselves what we know about technology. With the everyday changes in technology, it is always something new out there in the world of technology. Always something to learn, and always something to just have fun with. Tim has combined his hobby and love for drones as well as technology to help others. If you or your business needs some drone work, some 3D imagery, or videos… Contact Tim with Circle X Imagery in Magee. tim@circleximagery.com or check out his website http://www.circleximagery.com
Take a look at just a few of Circle X Imagery’s snapshots from a drone!!
Nice article! You did a very good job at the detail. I didn’t think you got that many notes. Apparently, you did!