Meet Dhenesh Annamalai: An enthusiast Aerial Photographer from Salem

WallMag: What led you to first getting started in aerial photography?

I started to take photos in mobile and then I heard about flying drones and then my interest switched to drones. I went through a lot of websites and took social media references to understand how others use this technology to capture images. This motivated me to get into aerial photography. When I first flew my drone, it felt like a bird and that feeling kept me going like the wingless man in the air.

WallMag: Do you remember what it was like your first time shooting from the air?

I shot my first drone image in Yercaud which is near Salem. My first flight was surreal and I have never seen anything like that in my entire life. Be it the hairpin bends or the greenery of the hill and also the slow-moving mist that made me fall in love with this technology and art. This world looks very different and beautiful when we see it from the birds-eye view and I realized it in my very first flying experience.

WallMag: How do you choose your subjects?

It is the most complicated thing in drone Photography. I always choose a subject based on location scouting and being there for a while by studying them. The way we see a boat might look different from the drone's eye view. So, I always try to look at my subjects from a drone's perspective and that helps me in choosing my subjects very well. I believe in this technique because of my experiences with this technology. Most of my subjects have always been fisherman's lifestyle and boats. The surprising element is that every fisherman community has something different to offer when we look at their lifestyle from the sky.

WallMag: Can you talk us through the process of capturing your images? what preparation or equipment is involved in the photography of this type, and how much planning goes into each project? Can you tell us about your gear and drone setup?

Currently, I am using DJI Mavic Pro. Before going to any location, I check the sample works and also go through a complete Google map about that particular place to understand how they might appear when I visit them in real. This is my basic process before any shoot. Apart from this, having extra batteries is a benefit for any Photographer. We should be prepared to handle any climatic changes. So, I always carry a case to protect my gears from rain and challenging weather conditions.

WallMag: Do you mind telling us about one of your drone failures or crashes?

Every drone Photographer would have crashed several times. I also had such experiences. I believe that such experiences always teach us something very valuable. During my initial stages, I was shooting in a no-man seaside and was trying to take my selfie from a drone. All of a sudden there was heavy wind and it was all around, my drone failed to respond to my commands. I saw my drone fly into the sea and say goodbye to me. Though it happened right in front of eyes still I couldn't do anything. So, these kinds of mechanical failures are unstoppable in the aerial field. From this experience, I learned to read about wind speed and predictions especially if I'm shooting near the seaside. I also recommend this to every front enthusiast because a drone is costly equipment and it could disappear within seconds. So prevention and knowledge is the key to avoid such scenarios.

WallMag: Are there any specific locations you would like to photograph from the air, that you haven’t had the chance the visit yet?

Vattavada in Munnar and Meghalaya are my dream destination but I haven't had the chance yet to go there. Hopefully, once the lockdown is over, I might travel to these places.

WallMag: Can you tell us about your editing process as well as what some of your favorite apps are?

I use Photoshop mostly. On my phone, I use Lightroom, snapseed, and polar to do small corrections.

WallMag: In your opinion what will drones or drone technology look like in the future?

I believe Drones are the future for safety, security, and even for commercial purposes. Drones could help a lot in e-commerce deliveries/ food deliveries and many more things. During the pandemic, we all have witnessed the use of drones to change the way in surveillance for police departments. So, I strongly believe there could be more advancements in this field, be it either with technology or many enthusiasts entering into this field.

WallMag: Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring aerial photographers?

I would always suggest, get to know your drone fully. Goto any open ground and practice a lot with successful take-offs at least 15 to 20 reps. This would avoid any major incident for newcomers and make them feel very confident while handling it in tough situations.

WallMag: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

Always listen to your heart and mind. My drone Photography is a result of listening to my heart and mind. I took it very seriously and started to invest a lot of time in understanding and learning that helped me to travel and witness the most beautiful things in my life. I would always suggest everyone follow their passion wholeheartedly. The happiness and joy we get while doing what we love can't be matched with anything else in this world. We all have one life, so why not live it to the fullest of our dreams.

You can follow Dhenesh Annamalai on Instagram to stay updated with his work.