Through the Lens: TGR Drone Cinematography

Here at TGR we are always looking toward the horizon when it comes to camera technology and current filmmaking tools. Naturally this led us to pursue  DJI, a drone manufacturer founded in 2006 that has since established itself as the leader in both commercial and consumer drone technology. 

TGR equipment manager and drone pilot in the backcountry. 

We were itching to try out  DJI drones after having used their handheld 3 axis gimbal, The Ronin, in order to include a fresh perspective in our feature film and web projects. Our main draw was the incorporation of DJI’s 4K resolution 30fps camera and full control with the iOS app from the ground. The first chance was during production for our collab mountain bike movie with Anthill Films, unReal. Using the new Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter, we captured some truly unique footage of some of the world's top mountain bikers. 

The Phantom 3. DJI Photo.

During winter production of TGR's yet-to-be-released ski film Paradise Waits, we again used the Phantom 3 and the big brother Inspire 1 quadcopter to film deep in the Wyoming and Canadian backcountry. 

We’ve also been fortunate to use our family of Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 drones for a variety of smaller scale productions for tetongravity.com, adding that aerial perspective that would have been otherwise impossible to capture. 

The Inspire 1 Quadcopter. DJI Photo. 

We gathered a few of our cinematographers, producers, and directors at TGR to talk about the importance and application of DJI's unique technologies. You will recognize a few familiar faces and get a chance to hear from some of the behind the scenes heroes. We hope it sheds light on how valuable these drones are to our final film projects.

Check out DJI and their wide range of products, tutorials, and demo footage.