Describing the The DJI Mavic Pro as a device that is extremely portable, very small, very capable and reasonably priced, Grant — of Ronin Photography — was just getting started with the drone before things took a turn for the worse.
The sun was just poking above the Humber Valley’s hills, and not a lick of wind was in the air when he was flying the drone in Steady Brook.
A professional photographer by trade, there was specific shot Grant was chasing a shot of the area from the opposite side of the river.
After a couple of flights, as well as actually getting his desired picture, Grant decided to take one last trip just for fun.
Within seconds of it disappearing around a corner, he lost visual control with the drone through the remote. Automatically, the drone’s programming asked Grant if he would like it to return through autopilot. He chose yes, not knowing what had caused the signal loss.
The power meter was showing 93 per cent. Everything should be working. But, the drone never came back.
Disappointed in what happened, Grant initially searched the shores of Steady Brook splashing around the icy waters in hip waders. While he does hope the drone may fly again, or at least be replaced, what he really wants are the photographs.
In a Facebook post, he simply asked for people to keep an eye out and offered a reward to anyone who found it.
He said reaching out on social media came, not really knowing what else to do. Initially he hesitated, afraid people might think this was his just desserts for flying the drone above a river, or near people’s property like some kind of snoop.
Instead, he said, the response has been overwhelming and positive. The post on his personal Facebook page alone has generated 230 shares. Kids and adults alike are searching their yards and the riverbanks, keeping an eye out for this tiny drone and updating him constantly. Then, after posting a plea for help to the nearly 5,000 followers on his professional page, Grant has had commercial divers offering their services out of the blue.
Grant said diver Brooke Davis is heading this weekend to the area to spend some time searching the river.
Getting Davis's equipment out from the east coast was nearly another issue, but Grant said he had a ride sorted before he knew it, and yet the offers of support keep coming.
“It’s been constant, writing people back saying thank you so much but it’s already covered by so many amazing people.” he said. “It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible.” The community support has been a silver lining to a bad situation, he said, like a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
In the meantime, Grant continues to try and get in touch with DJI, the company who manufacture the drone.
Describing the The DJI Mavic Pro as a device that is extremely portable, very small, very capable and reasonably priced, Grant — of Ronin Photography — was just getting started with the drone before things took a turn for the worse.
The sun was just poking above the Humber Valley’s hills, and not a lick of wind was in the air when he was flying the drone in Steady Brook.
A professional photographer by trade, there was specific shot Grant was chasing a shot of the area from the opposite side of the river.
After a couple of flights, as well as actually getting his desired picture, Grant decided to take one last trip just for fun.
Within seconds of it disappearing around a corner, he lost visual control with the drone through the remote. Automatically, the drone’s programming asked Grant if he would like it to return through autopilot. He chose yes, not knowing what had caused the signal loss.
The power meter was showing 93 per cent. Everything should be working. But, the drone never came back.
Disappointed in what happened, Grant initially searched the shores of Steady Brook splashing around the icy waters in hip waders. While he does hope the drone may fly again, or at least be replaced, what he really wants are the photographs.
In a Facebook post, he simply asked for people to keep an eye out and offered a reward to anyone who found it.
He said reaching out on social media came, not really knowing what else to do. Initially he hesitated, afraid people might think this was his just desserts for flying the drone above a river, or near people’s property like some kind of snoop.
Instead, he said, the response has been overwhelming and positive. The post on his personal Facebook page alone has generated 230 shares. Kids and adults alike are searching their yards and the riverbanks, keeping an eye out for this tiny drone and updating him constantly. Then, after posting a plea for help to the nearly 5,000 followers on his professional page, Grant has had commercial divers offering their services out of the blue.
Grant said diver Brooke Davis is heading this weekend to the area to spend some time searching the river.
Getting Davis's equipment out from the east coast was nearly another issue, but Grant said he had a ride sorted before he knew it, and yet the offers of support keep coming.
“It’s been constant, writing people back saying thank you so much but it’s already covered by so many amazing people.” he said. “It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible.” The community support has been a silver lining to a bad situation, he said, like a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
In the meantime, Grant continues to try and get in touch with DJI, the company who manufacture the drone.
