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This Impressive Drone Video Is A Beautiful Love Letter To Los Angeles
With all of the controversy surrounding drones lately, it's refreshing to encounter a drone video that is both thoughtfully produced and beautifully shot.
We became big fans of filmmaker Ian Wood's cool drone video of downtown LA last July, so we were excited to see that he just released another one—this time filming much more of Los Angeles. The stunning city-wide video montage—simply titled Los Angeles—features aerial views of many of L.A.'s most iconic locations, shot from angles that we don't often get to see while stuck in traffic or walking around. From the Hollywood sign to the oil derricks of Baldwin Hills, the murals of Mariachi plaza to the waves crashing beneath the Santa Monica pier, the 6-minute video manages to gracefully cover over 100 locations (which can be found on this map).
Much like last year's video, Wood's latest project pays particularly close attention to L.A.'s impressive array of architectural achievements, cultural institutions, as well as the city's many colorful and eclectic murals. As much ground as the video covers, Wood still laments on his Vimeo page for the video, that wished he could have fit even more into the video—including the LAX Theme Building, Lautner homes, and both Gettys. But he admits that for the sake of "safety, privacy or simply because I couldn't make it 30 minutes long," he couldn't possibly cram it all into the short-form video. (He did, however, happen to catch me riding a bike at the 00:17 mark, purely by coincidence.)
While some drone pilots have been dangerously obstructing the flightpaths of firefighting and medical choppers, Wood specifically chose to abide by both legal and common sense principles while filming. On his Vimeo page, he explains his "Drone Protocol," which includes rules to keep in mind when filming up in the air. From law-abiding advice like steering clear of airports and restricted airspace to respecting residential and sensitive areas for noise and privacy, Wood's thoughtful "Droning For Good" tips are ones that many drone pilots would be smart to consider.
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Wood's Los Angeles short serves as a beautiful love letter to the city and Wood even provides an appropriately stirring soundtrack, courtesy of BLu ACiD’s electro-blues adaptation of "If You Ain't Never Had The Blues" by Boo Boo Davis. Wood points out that he felt the music—used with permission—is fitting for "a city of eclectic styles and influences, equal parts refined and rough edges."
Both the video and the music make for great Friday afternoon viewing, so turn up your speakers, switch to full screen and enjoy the journey across L.A.
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