In partnership with DJI, we were thrilled to select Viktor Szabo as the winner of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone in the epic “Views from Above” Quest as part of our 12 Days of Questmas photo contests back in December. Viktor transported us with his winning shot, “Island of Bali,” and we couldn’t wait to see what he could create with his new drone—the first one he’s ever owned! So we asked him to take us along for the ride with an exclusive interview.
Here’s what the photographer and self-described “coffee and f1.8 lover” from Budapest, Hungary had to say about his first flight with his new DJI Mavic 2 Pro, along with the shots he captured.
Q: Have you shot with drones before?
A: The DJI Mavic Pro was the first drone I tried out, but I had tried other photographers’ DJI products, too. I decided that was the brand for me. Even then, the drone series was amazing, but I was craving a few things that have since been added to their newer series drones. The camera upgrade specifically was successfully done with Hasselblad—that’s what made it amazing.
Q: How does shooting photos with a drone compare to shooting photos on the ground?
A: When I take pictures from the ground, I know what I will see, more or less. When I take pictures with a drone from the air, there are a lot of factors, like wind and weather. But the most exciting thing is that you don’t know what’s waiting for you up there. I don’t know what I will see until I’m in the air.
I’m always searching out new perspectives when I fly a drone: the sunset, the textures. The city alone is so different from above in the winter and in the summer.
Q: What do you think of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone you won in the ‘Views from Above’ Quest?
A: The drone is outstanding: it’s super fast and has an excellent camera. Its dynamic range is huge and it takes incredibly detailed photos. It’s also very stable in the air. As an added bonus, the drone itself is beautiful, like someone from Apple had designed it. It’s pure style.
Q: Where did you fly it for the first time?
A: I live in Hungary, where the weather is very cold and windy this time of the year. It’s snowing, everything is bare and looks extinct, so it was a challenge to go out. But the drone is fast. It can reach incredibly high speeds and I haven’t even tried out the sport mode yet.
I’ve stuck with shooting bird’s-eye view photos for now, but there are many projects I want to do. I want to go abroad again. I also have projects planned in Hungary, one of which is called U5, where somebody stands with an umbrella in different places. These pictures will be uploaded to 500px too. The umbrella 500 project will be comprised of photos of different people holding umbrellas, but which hide the person. It’s people-made textures meets nature.
Q: What is your favourite part of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone?
A: It’s more advanced in pretty much every way, compared to older versions. But my favorite part of the Mavic 2 is the camera. Hasselblad itself is great—DJI chose well.
Q: Was there anything that surprised you about the Mavic 2?
A: I thought it would be more complicated and harder to use, but with the GO 4 application, it’s really not hard. I watched the DJI Tutorials and learned how to set up and use it for the first time in only a few hours.
Q: What kind of photography is this drone best suited to?
A: I would recommend it for every photographer; it’s good for portraits and travels, and it’s useful in every branch of photography because of its high resolution. But it’s perfect for weddings and events. Shooting weddings with drones is very popular in Hungary. It shows a new perspective and how many people were there. You can also take creative photos of the married couple. I would also recommend it for extreme sports because of its intelligent flight modes.
Q: Where would you most like to take it to shoot, if you could go anywhere?
A: I would fly around the earth with it—but just in sections, of course. I heard Canada is one of the most creative countries in the world. Toronto specifically is where I dream of visiting. There are a lot of sights to see there, such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum.
For more information DJI’s drones and products, visit dji.com, and keep up with the latest tips, regulation links and instructional videos to ensure a safe flight with DJI’s Fly Safe resources.
What’s your favorite aerial shot? Share a link with us in the comments below!
