GABRIEL SCANU: AERIAL PHOTOS

Australian summers and European winters seen from above are stunning landscapes that photographer Gabriel Scanu captures with his drone. Growing up in the endless Australian summer in Sydney, he has captured remote coastal spots all over the country. 

How did you get into drones?

It all started with someone I know who bought a drone. We went out together and flew it for the first time in the Snowy Mountains in Australia. We flew it around and we couldn’t believe how easy it was, and the great results we were getting. We kept going out together and shooting, and eventually the Instagram following started growing.

So, how did you get into photography then?

My whole family is in the film industry. So I grew up around cameras and all of that. I started shooting DSLR cameras since I was thirteen. It has always been a part of my family and me.

 

You were traveling around Europe recently. What were you doing there?

I spent two months in Europe from December to February. I was in the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland. I had some time off and it was awesome to get some good photos. My favorite place was Zermatt in Switzerland near the Matterhorn Mountain. The snow and the scenery were beautiful and the people were very friendly and hospitable. The cold was a bit of a shock to the system at first, coming from Australia, but I was prepared for it and luckily the sun was out.

Tell me about the process of shooting aerial photos?

So you have the drone itself and the camera. It connects remotely to a transmitter that you can connect to your phone or tablet. In your phone you’ve got an app and that becomes your monitor. So you can see where your drone is moving and is like a live feed from the drone. It is kind of a video game and you just press to take photos, record videos and change the settings. It is actually a lot easier than what people think, I love it!

 

How is it different from shooting with a DSLR?

It is different in terms of the scale and the things you capture. The packing of the gear is a little bit bigger than your standard camera. Still, they are quite portable and they fit in a backpack. For the money that drones are these days, which is similar to a DSLR, it is probably worth the investment.  

You’ve shot extensively in Australia. What are some of your favorite spots?

Obviously I love Sydney because is my home. I love Bronte Beach, the waves are always so pretty and the rock pool is also very nice. I also love the Great Ocean Road down in Wollongong, it is a massive road that goes around the cliffs and the water. I like all those little places that aren’t really too touristy or popular but that are beautiful when you capture them in a certain way

So, are you a fan of winter or summer?

I would say I am a fan of winter. I think it is because I grew up in Australia, winter is so new and exciting, and so different that it appeals to me.

What does the social media aspect of your photography mean to you?

Growing on Instagram was something I always wanted to do. Seeing people that have grown on Instagram and the things they were doing and the opportunities that opened made me work hard to figure out how to build my own community on Instagram. The way I did it was to find people and brands that did similar things to me and reached out to them, and started interacting with their feeds.

What are the pros and cons of having such a large community?

The pros are all the opportunities that come from having a large audience and just the fact that you have such great support and community you can rely on. In terms of the negatives, I haven’t experienced many. Maybe just the internal back of your mind pressure that a lot of people are watching what you are doing. It is the pressure to keep uploading great things.


Article By: Laura Rodriguez Castro.