As we wrote about in our previous web post, Java Post Production helped create the latest commercial for SGI, promoting the "Heads Up" campaign against texting and driving. You can read more behind-the-scenes info about that HERE.

Java Post Aerial Photography was also part of the production process, providing aerial shots for the commercial.

Let's look behind the scenes at the aerial approach to this cemetery shoot.

Java Post's Trevor Bennett readies our DJI S900 hexacopter. This is one of several UAVs flown by Java Post Aerial Photography, depending on the requirements of the project.

On the right side of the image above, you can see the water truck operator providing the "rain" for our grim graveside scene. Flying a UAV so close to so much water was tricky, as the electronics of UAVs can be quite susceptible to moisture. So, we deliberately kept the water spray pointed more to the rear of the scene, away from the flight path of our UAV. Later, Java Post Production added digital rain as a visual effect to the foreground of the scene.

In the shot above, the Java Post Aerial Photography crew used the UAV almost like a camera crane, slowly raising the camera up behind our group of actors.

And here is a freeze frame of how that shot appeared in the finished commercial, after colour grading had been done and extra digital rain had been added.

One of the great things about using UAVs for photography is their versatility. Not every shot has to be done from several hundred feet above the ground. In the hands of experienced, skilled operators - such as the certified UAV pilots at Java Post Aerial Photography - a UAV can be used quite low to the ground, just as a camera dolly or camera crane would be used...AND with far less set-up time required. 

Here are a few frames from aerial shots that weren't used in the final commercial. Above, you can really see the deluge of water being pumped over our actors. Those poor folks were soaked to the skin and then some, but they were great sports about it.

As the Java Post UAV soars higher over the location, you can see crew members and other pieces of equipment.

Boy, the actors around the grave site are really getting a good hose-down from our water truck operator (upper right corner). 

Our UAV camera is looking straight down onto our cemetery location, revealing not only the actors and parked hearse, but also crew members, equipment, and a portable screened tent we had nearby in case the early-morning mosquitoes were active.

Coming in a little closer, you can see our two-person flight crew on the right side of the photo. Java Post Aerial Photography uses with a two-person crew. Both of our operators - Trevor Bennett and Jack Tunnicliffe - are certified UAV pilots, but, in this two-person configuration, one will fly the UAV and the other will operate the camera.

The pilot and camera operator will coordinate their movements to get the shots required, in much the same way that a camera operator on a movie will coordinate his movements with the camera crane operator. The UAV is just a much, much higher camera crane.

More importantly, we find this two-person crew to be a much safer way to conduct our flights, as each person can concentrate on one aspect of the operation.

This direct, overhead aerial shot was considered for the commercial, and even made it into one of the first edited versions. However, if never made the final cut.

And here is that same shot with a black and white colour grade, done for an initial visual effects test early on in the post-production process.  Obviously, because our UAV was flying higher than the spray from the water truck. the "rain" wouldn't appear to fall from above the camera, like real rain would naturally do. So, in this visual test, Java Post Production added digital rain falling from above the camera's position. You can see the streaks of the falling rain in this freeze frame image.

To see the completed SGI commercial, CLICK HERE. To see more work done by Java Post Aerial Photography, CLICK HERE.