Filming a Concert on a Glacier with My DJI Inspire 3

An Epic Drone Project in the Heart of Alaska

As a professional videographer and 无人机驾驶员 based in 阿拉斯加州, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some incredible projects, but filming a concert on a glacier with my DJI Inspire 3 drone has been one of the most extraordinary experiences of my career.

The concert featured singer Hope, a cancer survivor, and was organized by my friend Robert, a helicopter pilot who lost a friend to cancer. Robert had previously filmed a music video with Hope on a different glacier, and when he asked me to be a part of this project, I jumped at the chance.

“He asked me if I’d be willing to come and do drone work for it, to hopefully… like, Hope had a whole record deal that fell through because of the cancer treatment she had to take care of, and so this is kind of hopefully redeeming some of that for her,” I explained in my recent video.

Breathtaking Visuals and Logistical Challenges

The remote glacier location offered stunning visuals but also presented logistical challenges. We had to transport all the equipment and the 50 concert attendees to the site by helicopter, which required careful coordination with the helicopter pilots.

“We always talk about our flight paths in and out, what altitudes everybody’s going to be at,” I said. “Having a handheld [radio] like this and being able to key the mic off of while I’m flying the drone makes a huge difference in being able to communicate in real time with the pilots that I work with.”

Capturing the Grandeur with My DJI Inspire 3

Throughout the video, I showcased stunning aerial shots captured by my DJI Inspire 3, demonstrating the drone’s capabilities in capturing the grandeur of the Alaskan landscape and the unique concert setup.

“The drone is a beast. Really am glad I got it even though they might be banning them,” I remarked. “It’s a fantastic drone. The footage coming off of it is just unbelievably gorgeous.”

An Unforgettable Experience

Reflecting on the project, I can’t help but emphasize the significance and uniqueness of the experience.

“This really is one of the coolest projects I’ve been involved with so far,” I said. “Brilliant reason to have the Inspire 3 for sure, but also just a very unusual, very cool project.”

This glacier concert project not only allowed me to push the boundaries of what’s possible with aerial cinematography but also to be a part of something truly meaningful. It’s experiences like these that remind me why I fell in love with drone photography and videography in the first place.