The following drone video of Los Angeles, by Ian Wood, allows those who don’t know Los Angeles well – and maybe some long-time residents – to see the city in a new light. I know my image of LA was mostly of a city of traffic jams and smog. But that has changed! If anything, this video shows LA as a colorful and creative place.
Wood’s video is clear evidence that we can learn a lot about our environment with this new drone technology.
Soundtrack
The video has a great soundtrack: BLu ACiD’s electro-blues adaptation of “If You Ain’t Never Had The Blues” by Boo Boo Davis!
Wood’s Protocol for Shooting Drone Videos
Wood’s “drone protocol” includes:
- Avoid busy periods, rush hours, special events, etc.
- Avoid sensitive areas or anything that can be misconstrued without prior permission.
- Avoid crowds. Small groups only from the periphery with ground spotters and two-way radios.
- No flights near airports, TFR areas and restricted airspace (FAA class B, C, D).
- Be prepared for local air traffic below 400ft including awareness of helipad locations.
- Operate at or below roof lines to assure separation from air traffic.
- Avoid “loitering” next to residential homes and apartments.
- Respect residential areas for quiet and right to privacy.
- Eliminate any material that inadvertently reveals someone in a place of privacy.
Places Shot by Wood in this Video
The following locations/murals/buildings are included in this video can also be seen on a Google Map created by Wood:
- Bumblebee Mural
- Jeff Soto Mural
- Wolves Mural
- Lincoln Mural
- Mural
- Starry Night Mural
- Bates Motel
- The Hollywood Roosevelt
- Knickerbocker and Patron Signs
- Villa Bonita Apts
- El Royale
- Montecito Apts
- Academy Theater
- Traction
- The Broadway Sign
- Santa Monica Pier
- Santa Monica Cliffs
- The Georgian Hotel
- Crossroads of the World
- LA Opera Mural
- Shepard Fairey Mural
- Great Wall of Los Angeles
- Calle de la Eternidad
- Arclight Hollywood Cinemas Cafe
- LA Opera
- Bergamot Station Mural
- LA Library Gardens
- Highway Cloverleaf & Overpass
- Griffith Observatory
- Los Feliz Blvd
- Hollywood Reservoir
- Hollywood Sign
- Olympic Coliseum
- Expo Park Rose Garden
- Kyoto Garden
- Baldwin Hills Oil Derricks
- Mariachi Square
- Barnsdale Art Park
- Tristan Eaton Mural
- Ralph Ziman Mural
- Hollywood Bowl Overlook
- Sunset Tower Hotel
- Garcia House
- Chemosphere
- Bullocks Wilshire Building
- Bestia
- LACMA Urban Light
- The Wiltern
- Westlake Sign
- Wilshire Professional Building
- Wilshire Colonnade
- Bryson / Royale
- Park Plaza
- Municipal Light and Power
- Beverly Wilshire
- Civic Center
- 76 Gas Station
- Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall
- Ruben Salazar Park
- Golden Gate Theater
- Pan American Bank
- Car commercial bridges
- Southwest Museum
- Pasadena City Hall
- Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home
- Automobile Club of America
- Fine Arts Building
- Los Angeles County General Hospital
- Arroyo Seco Tunnels
- Ennis House
- Hollywood Motel
- Trianon
- Crest Theater
- Capitol Records Building
- Pacific Design Center
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Union Station
- Sears
- Fox Westwood Theater
- Paseo Miramar Trailhead
- Broadway Rooftops
- First National Bank
- El Capitan
- Hollywood Athletic Club
- Topanga Overlook Trailhead
- Art of Chase Mural
- Fintan Magee Mural
- Venice Canals
- Kobra Mural
- Love Wall
- Spring Street Rooftops
- Samitaur
- Gabba Gallery
- Building with Sign
- Getty Museum
- The Getty Villa
- Garfield Building
- Kim West Mural
- Vhils Mural 1
- Vhils Mural 2
- El Mac “Blessed Are The Meak”
- Helms Bakery
- Adamson House Museum
- Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA, United States
- Point Dume State Beach, Malibu, CA, United States
- Eastern, Orpheum, Liberty in one shot
Ian Wood’s Overview of the Video
The following is Wood’s explanation of the video on Vimeo:
This is the city-wide follow up to my aerial exploration of downtown Los Angeles from last year. And much like with downtown, I continue to be awestruck by how much of this vast city I have partially or completely overlooked before undertaking this video. And like most voyages of discovery, I’ve realized there’s so much more to find.
Packing it all into one short-form video has been nigh impossible and much didn’t make it for safety, privacy or simply because I couldn’t make it 30 minutes long! Notably missing are: LAX Theme Building, both Gettys, some Lautner homes, numerous beautiful buildings, the Gabba gallery, many murals that vanished before I got to them, and much of downtown featured in last year’s video.
The music is BLu ACiD’s electro-blues adaptation of “If You Ain’t Never Had The Blues” by Boo Boo Davis and is used with permission. I felt it fitting to a city of eclectic styles and influences, equal parts refined and rough edges. The version used here is my own extended edit. Download the original song here: itunes.apple.com/us/album/if-you-aint-never-had-the-blues/id1006196698?i=1006197030
Droning For Good
With all the controversy about drones, it’s important to remember that they can be (and often are) used responsibly. As with many emerging technologies, the laws struggle to keep up and we must employ a common sense approach to their use that is respectful to community, safety and the law.For queries regarding my aerial filming, please contact me by email, aerial@ianwood.com.
Ian Wood’s Video of LA
