But it was the decision to add a new piece of equipment to his already extensive photography kit about five years ago that would send Stephen ’ s photography into a whole new direction .
“ I was doing a lot of real estate photography , and I was actually looking for a mechanism to control a camera on the end of a long pole when I came across a drone ,” he said .
“ I bought my first drone about five years ago , it cost me about $ 8500 and it took me three months to put it together … I eventually worked out that you don ’ t need to have a big drone , you just need a small one because , to me , a drone is just like a big tripod that goes in the air – it ’ s the photography skills that are important .”
Having become involved in the drone industry in Australia when it was just starting to take off , Stephen said he has seen a lot of changes over the years , although one thing has remained the same – the truly amazing results you can get shooting from a new perspective .
“ I ’ ve had 15 drones in the last five years , the technology jumps forward so quickly and I think always having the latest technology has kept me ahead of the game ,” he said .
“ Drone photography is about 90 percent of my business at the moment , and it really puts a lot of the creativity into the hands of the end user because often they are there with me and can see what I ’ m doing and what they ’ ll get .
“ It ’ s a whole new ball game really , it gives you that extra perspective in an area that you weren ’ t able to go unless you had a really big pole or had a lot of money to get a helicopter to fly down low .
“ It changes everything regarding what something looks like from the ground , even the most boring spot because you can go up and get the most spectacular shot you ’ ve ever seen .
“ I could go up now and take a shot from a drone and come down punching the air thinking ‘ You beauty ’ – it ’ s so rewarding , and each place has something unique to offer .”
Stephen has already embarked on some mini road trips to towns throughout the Central West of NSW , as well as a more recent excursion to the Gold Coast .
Footage from some of these , as well as videos capturing whales and dolphins at play closer to home in the Hunter , can be found on his website , with Stephen promising plenty more to come in the new year as planning for his Drone Guy Aussie Road Trip gathers steam .
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