Saturday morning began with the perfect plan: a quiet outing to practice flying my new drone, the DJI Neo. Having only taken it out a few times, I was eager to get more hands-on experience. The weather seemed ideal—calm, with barely a whisper of wind—so I packed up and headed to one of the most iconic spots on the English coast: Beachy Head. Thankfully, just a 10 minute drove for me.
As I parked and began my walk along the clifftop, conditions still seemed promising. A light breeze, the sun peeking through scattered clouds—it felt like the perfect morning for flying. My goal was clear: capture stunning aerial shots of the famous Beachy Head Lighthouse, framed by the dramatic cliffs and endless sea.
But as I neared the edge of the cliffs, everything changed. What had felt like a gentle breeze turned into gusty, unpredictable winds. The moment I stepped out from the shelter of the scrubby bushes, I realized the conditions were far from ideal. Still, determined not to waste the trip, I set up the drone for a quick test flight.
As soon as the DJI Neo climbed above a few meters, my app lit up with a glaring warning:
“STRONG WIND WARNING
Aircraft unable to return home automatically. Lower altitude immediately and return home manually.”
The wind wasn’t just strong; it was pushing hard out to sea. I realized if anything went wrong, my little drone would be a goner, swept far beyond the cliffs with no hope of recovery.
Cautiously, I decided to stay on the safe side—for now. Instead of sending the Neo out over the cliffs and risking everything, I flew it closer to land, capturing some initial shots of the lighthouse from a safer altitude. It was a good chance to test just how stable the drone could be in these challenging conditions.
My first photo: Beachy head Lighthouse
As the DJI Neo hovered steadily against the gusty winds, I managed to snap my first photo of the morning: the iconic Beachy Head Lighthouse. Framed against the vibrant blue of the sea and looking over the edge of the cliffs.
The photo wasn't taken from the dramatic "over-the-edge" perspective I'd originally envisioned, but it still captured the spirit of the place. The contrast between the rugged coastline and the vivid stripes of the lighthouse made it a rewarding moment—and a good reminder that sometimes playing it safe pays off.
It felt like a small victory in the face of the challenging weather, and it gave me the confidence to keep experimenting, even with the wind trying its best to ground me.
My Second Photo: The Beautiful Winding Beachy Head Road
After a few cautious flights, I turned the drone inland, away from the cliffs, and focused on a different perspective: the picturesque winding road that snakes its way across Beachy Head.
This shot felt like a reward for adapting to the conditions. While the cliffs and the sea may have been the main attraction, Beachy Head has so much more to offer from above.
Taking the Risk: Over the Edge for the Perfect Shot
After a cautious flight along the clifftop, I decided it was time to take the plunge—figuratively, of course—and send the drone out over the edge. The lure of capturing the full grandeur of Beachy Head’s iconic white cliffs and the lighthouse below was too tempting to resist.
As the drone crept over the 500-foot drop, my heart raced. The gusty wind, which had already proven itself a challenge, now felt like an invisible adversary, tugging at the little DJI Neo as it hovered over the sheer expanse. Every small movement of the controls felt amplified, but the view unfolding on my screen made it all worth it.
The stark white cliffs, jagged and majestic, stretched out like nature’s masterpiece against the endless blue of the sea. Below, the lighthouse stood proudly at the water’s edge, its red-and-white stripes contrasting perfectly with the muted tones of the rocky shore.
Capturing this shot was a nerve-wracking yet exhilarating moment.
How the Wind Took Its Toll: The Original Photo
To give you an idea of just how much the wind was impacting my drone, here’s the original, unedited photo. The DJI Neo only has a single-axis gimbal, which stabilizes movement up and down but doesn’t compensate for side-to-side tilts. The result? The drone itself was leaning heavily into the gusts to stay aloft, and you can see the dramatic slant in the original image.
It’s a stark reminder of how much the conditions were pushing the Neo to its limits. After cropping and straightening, the final image looks balanced, but the original tells the real story: a small drone battling winds.
By this point, the biting wind had taken its toll. My hands were numb, but I couldn’t resist taking one final shot before bringing the drone back to review the images.
This shot wasn’t drastically different from the others but gave me a chance to experiment with new compositions. I adjusted the angle slightly, aiming to balance the lighthouse against the sweeping cliffs and the vast expanse of sea beyond. Even subtle shifts in perspective can transform a photo, and I was determined to make the most of this final opportunity.
Just as I was landing, the low battery warning flashed on my screen—a timely reminder of how crucial it is to stay aware of flight time, especially in challenging conditions like these. Battling against that strong wind with a depleted battery could have been a real challenge, so I was relieved to have brought the drone back safely. For those curious, the flight time was around seven minutes—one of the most common questions I get asked.
After swapping in a fresh battery and taking a short walk further along the cliffs to the other side of the lighthouse, I was ready to launch again. With the confidence of a successful first flight under my belt, I hoped I’d have the courage to push the Neo a bit further this time and really capture the dramatic beauty of Beachy Head.
What truly caught my attention was the breathtaking play of light and clouds. The way the sunlight pierced through breaks in the clouds, casting shimmering patterns onto the surface of the sea, was mesmerizing. If I’d been braver, I might have flown the drone lower than the cliff edge, attempting to isolate the lighthouse against that stunning backdrop.
But that challenge will have to wait for another day. For now, I focused on capturing the beauty of the sea and sky—a scene so serene and dramatic that it didn’t need anything else to make it memorable.
I made my way back across the cliffs, setting up for a view similar to one I’d captured earlier—but this time, from the opposite side. The new perspective added a fresh dynamic to the scene, highlighting how even subtle changes in angle can reveal entirely different aspects of the landscape.
At this point, I decided to push the drone to its max altitude of 120 meters. Considering I had taken off from a cliff that’s over 500 feet high, the Neo was now around 272 meters, it felt like a bold move for such a small drone in windy weather.
The image itself, with its sweeping views of the cliffs and sea, seemed to work particularly well in black and white, adding a timeless, dramatic quality to the scene. The absence of color allowed the contrasts between the dark cliffs and lighter skies to really pop, making the landscape feel even more striking.
At this point, I realized I’d been so focused on capturing the lighthouse that I’d forgotten to look around. It’s a lesson I’ve always carried with me from my early days as a photographer: "Look behind you to see what else you can capture." It’s so easy to get lost in the excitement of one subject, but there’s always more to explore.
So, taking that advice to heart, I spun the drone around 180° and was greeted by the breathtaking view of the white cliffs stretching off into the horizon. The scene was just as stunning and actually one of my favorite.
Watch the video on YouTube
As I packed up and headed back, I couldn't help but feel accomplishment, simply because I hadn't lost the drone. Despite the wind, the cold, and the challenges of flying in such a dynamic environment, the morning had been full of rewarding moments. The drone had given me a new way to see Beachy Head—its raw beauty, its unexpected challenges, and the stunning perspectives that only a bird’s-eye view can provide.
In the end, it wasn’t just about the photos I captured, but the experience itself—the reminder to look beyond the obvious, to embrace the unexpected, and to never stop exploring. I’m already looking forward to my next flight, knowing that there’s always more to discover, just around the corner (or, in this case, over the cliff’s edge).
Until next time.
Support
If you like to support my work please check out these link.
Comments
Post a Comment