We are often attracted by fancy gadgets or interesting new hobbies, and quickly become addicted to them. But how long can that passion continue?
Yu Shibo became interested in aerial filming when he first saw how a drone (无人机) was operated during a school event in 2016. Although learning aerial filming was harder than he thought, he never gave up.
This year, the 17-year-old, from Qingdao Menaul School, Shandong, posted a video on his WeChat Channel, which received a few hundred likes. The four-minute video shows the boy's hometown-Qingdao with a drone: snowy mountain tops, skyscrapers in the clouds and the sunset over the ocean. Yu tried to show the beauty and romance of his hometown.
The final video took him more than two years until he felt satisfied with it. "Many places in the video were shot many times because an unforgettable scene needs timing and enough luck," Yu said. Most of the time, the weather didn't contribute to getting a perfect view. Aerial filming looks better with fog, sunrises and sunsets.
To catch the perfect time, Yu got used to getting up very early or staying up late. Yu recalled the days he climbed the mountain in snow and fell several times. When he filmed during winter, he didn't wear gloves-which nearly froze his fingers-in order to precisely control the drone. "But all the hardships are paid back when I get astonishing pictures. No pain, no gain."
Some viewers commented that his shooting is professional and skillful. But in fact, Yu learned how to operate the drone and shoot all by himself. "There are a lot of materials accessible for a beginner, but the key point is to act and keep practicing, then you will have more sense about the shooting," said Yu.
