DroneAperture.com Glossary of Drone Photography Terms
A
Accelerometer: A sensor that measures acceleration forces and helps the drone maintain stability and orientation.
Active Track: A feature found in many modern drones that automatically follows and films a subject while avoiding obstacles.
AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing): A camera feature that automatically takes multiple photos at different exposure levels, useful for HDR photography.
Aerial Photography: The taking of photographs from an aircraft or other flying object, including drones.
ATTI Mode: Attitude mode, where the drone maintains its altitude but not its horizontal position, requiring manual control from the pilot.
AUW (All-Up Weight): The total weight of a drone, including the battery, camera, and any accessories attached.
B
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight): Flying a drone beyond the pilot’s visual range, which typically requires special permission from aviation authorities.
Bitrate: The amount of data used to encode video, measured in Mbps (megabits per second). Higher bitrates generally result in better video quality.
Brushless Motors: Electric motors without brushes that offer better efficiency, longer lifespan, and quieter operation than brushed motors, standard in modern camera drones.
C
Camera Gimbal: A pivoting mount that stabilizes the camera, allowing for smooth footage even when the drone moves or encounters wind.
Cinematic Drone Shot: A smooth, professional-looking drone video shot that mimics traditional film camera movements.
CMOS Sensor: Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor, the type of image sensor used in most drone cameras to capture images.
COA (Certificate of Authorization): A permit issued by the FAA to public entities allowing them to operate a drone under specific conditions.
Contour Flying: Flying a drone at a consistent height above varying terrain, following the natural contours of the landscape.
Controller (Transmitter): The handheld device used to pilot the drone and control its functions remotely.
D
D-Log: A flat color profile offered by DJI that captures a more dynamic range and provides greater flexibility in post-processing.
Downlink: The transmission of data (typically video) from the drone to the controller or mobile device.
Draw Mode: A feature that allows the pilot to draw a path on a screen that the drone will automatically follow.
Drone: An unmanned aircraft that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans.
Dynamic Range: The ratio between the maximum and minimum light intensities that a camera can capture in a single image.
E
ESC (Electronic Speed Controller): A circuit that controls and regulates the speed of an electric motor in a drone.
EXIF Data: Exchangeable Image File Format, metadata embedded in image files that include information about how and when the image was taken.
Exposure Triangle: The relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that determines the exposure of an image.
F
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration): The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating civil aviation, including drones.
First Person View (FPV): A method of flying a drone using a video feed directly from the drone’s camera, giving the pilot a “cockpit view.”
Fixed-wing Drone: A drone that uses wings like an airplane for lift, rather than vertical rotors, allowing for longer flight times but requiring forward motion to stay airborne.
Flight Controller: The “brain” of the drone that processes pilot inputs and sensor data to control flight.
Flyaway: When a drone flies off uncontrollably due to signal loss, GPS issues, or other malfunctions.
Focal Length: A measurement that indicates the angle of view of a camera lens; longer focal lengths provide more magnification and a narrower field of view.
Follow Me Mode: An intelligent flight feature where the drone automatically follows and films the controller or a designated subject.
Frame Rate: The number of individual frames that make up each second of video, measured in frames per second (fps).
G
Geofencing: Virtual boundaries that prevent drones from flying in restricted areas like airports, government facilities, or other sensitive locations.
GHz (Gigahertz): A frequency measurement used to describe the radio bands that drones operate on (typically 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz).
Gimbal Lock: A physical or electronic issue that restricts the movement of a gimbal along one or more axes.
Global Shutter: A camera shutter type that exposes the entire sensor simultaneously, reducing distortion when capturing fast-moving subjects.
GPS (Global Positioning System): Satellite-based navigation system that allows drones to maintain position, follow flight paths, and return home.
Ground Sampling Distance (GSD): The distance between pixel centers measured on the ground, determining the spatial resolution of drone mapping.
Gyroscope: A sensor that measures rotational movement and helps maintain the drone’s orientation.
H
HDR (High Dynamic Range): A photography technique that combines multiple exposures to create images with greater dynamic range than a single exposure can capture.
Headless Mode: A flight mode where the drone’s controls remain relative to the pilot regardless of which way the drone is facing.
Hovering Accuracy: How precisely a drone can maintain a stationary position in the air, usually measured in vertical and horizontal variance.
Hyperlapse: A time-lapse video created while the camera is moving, often created with drones to show dramatic landscape changes.
I
IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): A device that combines accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure a drone’s orientation and movement.
Intelligent Flight Modes: Automated flying features such as ActiveTrack, Orbit, Waypoints, and others that assist in capturing specific types of shots.
IP Rating: Ingress Protection rating that indicates how resistant a drone is to dust and water.
ISO: A camera setting that adjusts the image sensor’s sensitivity to light; higher ISO values increase brightness but can introduce noise.
J
Jello Effect: Wobbling or distortion in video footage caused by vibrations from the drone’s motors reaching the camera.
K
Kelvin: A unit of measurement for color temperature; drone photography refers to white balance settings.
KV Rating: A motor specification indicating the number of revolutions per minute (RPM) that a motor will turn when 1V is applied with no load.
L
LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability): An FAA system that provides drone pilots with access to controlled airspace at or below 400 feet.
Latency: The delay between sending a command to the drone and the drone responding or between what the drone camera sees and what appears on your screen.
LiPo (Lithium Polymer): The type of rechargeable battery commonly used in drones due to its high energy density and discharge rates.
LOG Profile: A flat video color profile that preserves more information for color grading in post-production.
LUTs (Look-Up Tables): Preset color grading formulas that can be applied to LOG footage to achieve specific looks.
M
Magnetometer: A sensor that measures the Earth’s magnetic field to determine the drone’s heading.
Manual Mode: A camera setting that allows the photographer to control all aspects of exposure (aperture, shutter speed, ISO).
Mapping Drone: A drone specifically designed or equipped for aerial surveying and creating maps through photogrammetry.
Micro Four Thirds: A sensor and lens mounting standard used in some higher-end drone cameras, allowing for interchangeable lenses.
Multicopter: A rotary wing aircraft with more than two rotors; quadcopters (4 rotors) are the most common type for camera drones.
N
ND Filter (Neutral Density): A filter that reduces the amount of light entering the camera without affecting colors, allowing for proper exposure and shutter speeds in bright conditions.
NOTAM (Notice to Airmen): An official notice filed with an aviation authority to alert pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location.
No-Fly Zone: An area where drone flight is prohibited due to regulations, typically around airports, government facilities, or other sensitive locations.
O
Obstacle Avoidance: Sensors and systems that detect obstacles and prevent the drone from colliding with them.
OcuSync: DJI’s proprietary video transmission technology that provides long-range, low-latency HD video feed from drone to controller.
Optical Flow: A visual positioning system that uses a downward-facing camera to track patterns on the ground, helping maintain position when GPS is unavailable.
Orthomosaic: A geometrically corrected aerial image composed of many individual images stitched together, used in mapping.
OSMO: A series of handheld gimbal cameras developed by DJI that shares some technology with their drone cameras.
P
Panorama Mode: An automated feature that takes multiple overlapping photos that can be stitched together to create a wide-angle view.
Part 107: FAA regulations that govern commercial drone operations in the United States.
Payload: The weight a drone can carry beyond its own weight, including cameras and other equipment.
Photogrammetry: The science of making measurements from photographs, especially for recovering the exact positions of surface points, used in creating 3D models from drone imagery.
Pitch: The tilting movement of a drone forward or backward.
POI (Point of Interest): An intelligent flight mode where the drone orbits around a specified point while keeping it in frame.
Propeller Guards: Protective frames that surround propellers to prevent damage during collisions.
Prosumer: A term combining “professional” and “consumer,” referring to high-end consumer drones with professional features.
Q
Quadcopter: The most common type of drone, featuring four rotors arranged in a square pattern.
R
Range: The maximum distance a drone can fly from its controller while maintaining a reliable connection.
Raw Format: An unprocessed image file format that captures all image data from the sensor, offering greater editing flexibility than JPEG.
Real-time Kinematics (RTK): A GPS correction technology that provides centimeter-level positioning accuracy for mapping drones.
Remote ID: A system that enables a drone to provide identification and location information to other parties while in flight.
Return to Home (RTH): An automated feature that directs the drone to fly back to its takeoff point, typically activated by low battery, signal loss, or pilot command.
Roll: The tilting movement of a drone left or right.
S
Sensing System: Sensors that help drones navigate and avoid obstacles, including vision sensors, infrared sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.
Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera’s shutter is open, exposing the sensor to light; crucial for controlling motion blur in aerial photography.
Signal Loss: When the connection between the controller and drone is interrupted, which can trigger failsafe features like Return to Home.
Slow-motion: Video recorded at a high frame rate (60fps, 120fps, etc.) that when played back at standard speed (24fps or 30fps) appears slower than real-time.
Smart Controller: An advanced controller with a built-in screen and additional features beyond standard remote controllers.
Sport Mode: A flight mode that increases the drone’s maximum speed and responsiveness at the expense of some safety features.
Storyboarding: Planning out drone shots in advance using sketches or descriptions to create a cohesive visual narrative.
Subject Tracking: The ability of a drone to automatically follow and keep a selected subject in frame.
T
Telemetry: Real-time data transmitted from the drone to the controller, including altitude, speed, distance, battery level, and GPS information.
TFV (Total Flight Volume): A defined three-dimensional area in which a drone is authorized to operate.
Thermal Camera: A specialized camera that captures infrared radiation to create images based on temperature differences.
Throttle: The control that adjusts the power to the motors, controlling the drone’s altitude.
Timelapse: A photography technique that captures images at set intervals and combines them into a video that shows changes over time at an accelerated pace.
Tripod Mode: A flight mode that limits speed and control sensitivity for precise, slow movements. It is ideal for indoor flying or close-up work.
TRUST Certificate: The Recreational UAS Safety Test certificate is required for recreational drone pilots in the United States.
U
UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System): The complete system, including the drone, controller, and communication links.
UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle): Another term for a drone or remotely piloted aircraft.
Ultra-wide Angle: A lens with a very short focal length that captures an extremely wide field of view, often used in drone cameras.
Uplink: The transmission of control signals from the controller to the drone.
V
VLOS (Visual Line of Sight): The requirement to maintain visual contact with your drone at all times during flight without the aid of devices other than corrective lenses.
VR Goggles: Head-mounted displays that provide an immersive first-person view from the drone’s camera.
VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing): Drones that can take off and land vertically like a multicopter but transition to fixed-wing flight for longer endurance.
W
Waypoints: Predetermined GPS coordinates that a drone can automatically navigate between.
White Balance: Camera setting that adjusts colors to make white objects appear white, compensating for different lighting conditions.
Wi-Fi FPV: First Person View systems that use Wi-Fi to transmit the video signal from the drone to a mobile device or controller.
Wind Resistance: A drone’s ability to maintain stable flight in windy conditions, typically measured by the maximum wind speed it can handle.
X
X-Y-Z Axis: The three dimensions in which a drone can move: X (forward/backward), Y (left/right), and Z (up/down).
Y
Yaw: The rotational movement of a drone around its vertical axis, allowing it to turn left or right.
Z
Zenith: The point directly above the drone; useful in 360° panorama photography.
Zoom: The ability to magnify an image optically or digitally without physically moving the camera closer to the subject.
Z-axis Stabilization:
Vertical stabilization that helps maintain a constant altitude during flight.