Above the Clouds
Drone cinematography revealing the poetry of mountain landscapes at dawn
Production
- Role
- Director / Operator
- Format
- Horizontal / Real
- Year
- 2024
- Tools
- DJI Inspire 3DJI Mavic 3 ProDaVinci ResolveLRTimelapse
The scene
A personal passion project born from a lifelong fascination with mountains. The goal was to capture the transformative quality of dawn light on mountain landscapes -- that brief window when mist, light, and terrain create something transcendent.
The challenge
Mountain weather is brutally unpredictable. Multiple planned shoots were cancelled due to cloud cover, wind, or rain. Battery life in cold temperatures limited flight time to under 15 minutes per session, requiring precise choreography of every camera move.
The process
Over 30 dawn shoots across 8 months, capturing footage from peaks in the Carpathians, Dolomites, and Scottish Highlands. Each session was planned using weather forecasting tools and topographic maps to predict where mist layers would form. Time-lapse sequences used LRTimelapse for smooth exposure transitions as light changed rapidly.
Visual approach
Desaturated cool tones with selective warmth in the highlights only. The film uses scale contrast extensively: wide establishing shots that make the landscape feel infinite, followed by intimate details that reveal hidden textures. The pace is deliberately meditative.
The documentary was featured on a major outdoor adventure platform and has accumulated over 500K views. It led to commissions from two tourism boards for similar aerial documentary projects.
Edit rhythm
Research & Story
Finding the question worth asking. Subject research, visual references, location scouting.
The Shoot
Camera, light, and performance. Capturing the raw material with intention.
The Cut
Building rhythm in the timeline. Structure, pacing, and the moments between moments.
Grade & Delivery
Color science, sound design, and final output. The film finds its atmosphere.
