Cinematic FPV

Legendary first person view (FPV) pilot JohnnyFPV has probably done more than anyone on the planet to introduce highly cinematic FPV footage into the main stream.  Whether it's filming commercials for Porsche or shooting FPV footage for the big-budget feature film Red Notice, he is at the forefront of this emerging art form.  No surprise then that he was tapped by the National Football League to help create promotional footage for the 2022 Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, some of which you'll see in this epic video. 

To appreciate how much the art of cinematic first person view (FPV) drone videos has evolved, look no further than this incredible piece by legendary FPV pilot johnnyfpv.  The video features footage that this talented content creator shot for the action movie Red Notice, which was released on Netflix in 2021.  Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, the movie was believed to have carried a production budget of $200 million.  It was once of the first films to feature extensive FPV footage.  This video was a DVOY finalist in 2021. 

Former AirVuz employee Jay Christensen hit the big-time with this fantastic first-person view (FPV) drone video from a famous bowling alley in Minneapolis.  In a single shot, the "cinewhoop" style quad flies into the front door of Bryant Lake Bowl (located just a few km/mi. south of downtown), follows the course of a ball down an alley and then provides a look at the equipment behind the pins.  In the days following its release, this piece became one of the most-viewed FPV videos of all time and was the subject of countless news stories.  This video was a DVOY finalist in 2021. 

Prepare to be blown away by this magnificent one-shot FPV video from the USA's largest enclosed shopping mall, compliments of the legendary Jay Christensen.  Shot with a "cinewhoop" style FPV drone, the video plays off of the 1994 movie "Mighty Ducks: D2", which was shot at the giant mall in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington.  In a continuous shot, he flies through the giant structure, catches up with a roller-hockey "team" cruising through the mall, and heads into the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park in the center of the mall.   

"Cinewhoop" style first person view (FPV) drones - which are light weight and have ducted propellers - are becoming one of the most versatile tools for creative cinematographers.  When flown by skilled pilots, they can be flown both indoors and outdoors, and in close proximity to people.  To see the vistas that these tiny platforms are opening up, check out this amazing piece by contributor and FPV pilot aniacopian.  Stabilized with Reelsteady and expertly edited, you'll see why this video won the Cinematic FPV category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

Legendary first person view (FPV) pilot JohnnyFPV teamed up with Porsche to create this jaw-dropping piece which was produced in connection with Porsche's Drive2Extremes campaign to promote the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo.  Designed to show the ability of this crossover SUV to perform in extreme conditions, the video was shot in the depths of the Finland winter in Lapland, as well as in the white-hot desert of the United Arab Emirates.  The video includes both stunning car-chasing footage as well as highly cinematic establishing shots.   

AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot vitopulverenti was able to get permission from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to fly around the fabled track at the Indy 500 venue.  Located about 10 km (around 6 mi.) west of downtown Indianapolis, the roughly 4 km (around 2.5 mi.) oval track is the largest sports venue in the world; it has a capacity for over a quarter-million spectators. This video earned a nomination in the Cinematic FPV category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

Johnnyfpv is the undisputed king of the emerging art form known as cinematic first-person view.  In contrast to freestyle FPV or competitive FPV racing, with cinematic FPV the pilot's goal is to maximize the visual impact of the video captured. In this he has succeeded spectacularly; his work has appeared in TV commercials, music videos, and feature movies, and he has one of the largest social media followings of any drone pilot.  This video earned a nomination in the Cinematic FPV category at the NYCDFF.

You may have seen drone video of France's Mont Saint-Michel, the tidal island which lies off the coast of Normandy.  However, you've probably never seen anything like this first-person view (FPV) video of the great 8th-century monastery-fortress which sits atop the island, compliments of contributor and FPV pilot Fincky.  He used an FPV racing quad to create a highly cinematic view of one of France's most iconic sites, it's no wonder why this video earned a nomination in the Cinematic FPV category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

First-person view (FPV) pilot jhonyazeir brings us this powerful video of Beirut, Lebanon in the aftermath of a powerful explosion which earned a NYCDFF nomination.  The accidental detonation of a huge store of fertilizer ingredient ammonium nitrate killed approximately 200 people, injured several thousand, and caused an estimated US $10-15 billion in property damage in this Mediterranean port city.  The haunting FPV footage will bring you a unique perspective of the loss created by the tragedy.

DJI's Avata 2 is, perhaps uniquely, a first person view (FPV) drone capable of creating highly cinematic video without the use of a separately mounted action camera.  In this video by top AirVuz contributor ArturCarvalho, you'll see the Avata 2 in action with a tour of a construction site.   As you'll see, the footage is virtually indistinguishable from that provided by even the most recent models in the GoPro Hero action camera line.  This video was picked as a Finalist for the Drone Video of the Week contest.  

Brand-new AirVuz contributor tomjauncey is a legendary content creator; he is the Vice President of Content Creation for the juggernaut travel platform Beautiful Destinations, and has an Instagram following approaching 300k as of late 2020.  For his first upload to AirVuz, he brings us this highly creative video, which incorporates some stunningly cinematic first person view (FPV) drone footage.  It depicts a terrorist attack and is shown in reverse sequence.  This was an easy pick for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in December, 2020.  

Top AirVuz contributor Peter Barthelson was a Finalist for the Drone Video of the Week and also made the FPV Pilots to Watch list with this spectacular first person view (FPV) video from Greenland.  Working on a research vessel, he was able to use his FPV quad to film a field of giant icebergs as they floated away from a fjord on the giant island's eastern coastline.  The icebergs are the progeny of the Greenland Ice Sheet, a massive icecap that covers about 80% of Greenland and is the source of most icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Cinematic first person view (FPV) flight has come into its own as a distinctive type of visual drone media.  In contrast to freestyle FPV, which is focused on complex flight maneuvers, cinematic FPV is all about the location.  Whether it's a famous location or just flying around the backyard, cinematic FPV pilots fly for their audience.  In this excellent reel by AirVuz contributor CinestyleFPV, you'll see some outstanding examples of this emerging art form, which is allowing us to see our world in entirely new ways.  

To see the power of cinematic first-person view (FPV) video, check out this stunning piece from the ruins of ancient Rome by former Drone Video Award winner Druno.  He was able to fly his FPV quadcopter through the Forum, the heart of Imperial Rome, and one of the world's most famous archaeological sites.  Opening with a shot of the Colosseum, he heads into the great public square immediately to its northwest (between the Colosseum and the Pantheon), which was the heart of the Roman Republic and later Imperial Rome.  

The once-distinct worlds of gimbal-stabilized aerial videography and first person view (FPV) video content are slowly converging.  In one manifestation of this phenomenon, content creators who once relied exclusively on aerial platforms like the DJI Phantom and Mavic series are delving into the FPV world, using the greater speed and agility of FPV-equipped quads to create highly cinematic content.  Case in point is this magnificent "mountain surfing" FPV piece from AirVuz contributor MikeBishop.tv, the two-time Drone Video Award winner. 

Top first-person-view (FPV) pilot JohnnyFPV teamed up with social media powerhouse Sam Kolder to make this highly creative film from the island nation of the Dominican Republic.   Watch as one of the world's top racing drone pilots puts his skills to the test flying around Sam Kolder, while Sam performs some pretty insane cliff jumps...It's cinematic FPV at its best, and all the more so for its stunning tropical location on the southern coast of this amazing country, the eastern half of the island of Santo Domingo.

Top first-person view (FPV) pilot and drone racer JohnnyFPV, who travels the world making FPV freestyle videos, created this magnificent video from Mada'in Saleh, an archaeological site in northwestern Saudi Arabia.  With full permission from the requisite authorities, he gives us a unique view of one of the most iconic desert landscapes from the vantage of a quad-mounted GoPro. This was the winning video in the 2nd Annual Drone Video Awards in the Cinematic FPV category and was FPV Video of the Year.

For a totally new perspective on Indonesia, check out this fantastic first person view (FPV) trip reel by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot Ivan Merino.  Starting with some shots of his resort room, he then proceeds to fly over, through, and around some of the most iconic scenery in this giant Southeast Asian archipelago.  Rainforests, streams, waterfalls - there's something for everyone.  Perhaps the most impressive sequence starts at the 1:06 mark beginning with a fly-through of a heart shape perched in front of a waterfall.  

Top AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot Loud FPV brings us this highly cinematic FPV video.  It was shot flying very low over a field of rapeseed at sunrise.  It's emblematic of the ongoing shift in FPV content creation from an emphasis on technical flying skills to a focus on video quality.  Notice the smoothness of the footage as the drone effortlessly glides over the endless grain fields.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in late April of 2022.  

The Big Sur coastline in California is known for many things: the memorable drive along Highway 1, the spectacular waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing along the rugged coastline, and abundant hiking opportunities.  But for drone pilot nonexistentjay, this beautiful destination became the perfect FPV playground.  Watch as he dives the cliffs, skims the shore and gives us to-die-for views of the Bixby Bridge and Pigeon Point Lighthouse, making a clear case for his spot on our FPV Pilots to Watch list in February 2020.

Prepared to be blown away by this incredibly cinematic first person view (FPV) piece by top AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot SirM Productions.   What makes this video so incredible is the effortless and highly creative transitions between fire and ice - snow-covered mountains and sun-baked deserts.  The highlight is definitely at the :22 mark; you just have to see it to believe it.  Only 45 seconds long, this masterpiece was an easy pick for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in February of 2021.  

Top first person view (FPV) pilot and Team AirVuz member Gab707 brings us this highly cinematic piece from the forests of Western Canada.  The video was shot with a Blackmagic Pocket Camera mounted on a Shendrones Ichabod Jr frame.  Made by Blackmagicdesign, the camera is a very high end piece of digital cinematography equipment, and despite its name it weighs a hefty 1.5 kg (about 3 lbs.).  It's a major investment and requires some serious FPV piloting skills to fly it, but as you'll see from the video the footage is exceptional.  

Top AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot WestPsydeFPV brings us this stunningly cinematic long-range FPV video from the canyons around Moab, Utah in the Southwestern USA.  Famous for its distinctive canyons and rock formations, Moab is located in the eastern part of the state, near the border with Colorado.  Situated on the Colorado Plateau, the area's attractions include Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June of 2024.  

You will experience the beauty of Switzerland from an entirely new perspective in this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) video by pilot PikaFPV.  The opening shot will pull you right in; it's an amazing sequence skimming over a crystal blue alpine lake.  Then it's on to some epic ridge-diving down the rocky slopes above the lake, followed by a marvelous ride down a ravine; at around the 1:13 mark, where you'll take an amazing dive down a waterfall.  This video was a shoo-in for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in October, 2019.

Top AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot Gav707 can make a credible claim to have invented the genre of cinematic FPV mountain surfing, in which long range FPV gear is used to capture some of the world's most spectacular alpine scenery.  This incredible video is a prime examples of his pioneering work in this area is this piece, which included some very skillful post-production stabilization editing.  This video was picked as the Winner in the Freestyle Flow category at the second annual Drone Video Awards.  

Cinematic FPV has really changed the game in first person view (FPV) flight. Those who may have experienced nausea watching crazy FPV freestyle videos can appreciate the fluidity which is inherent to cinematic FPV flight. This piece by AirVuz contributor and pilot Jlucidar features incredible mountain-scapes, massive bandos, soccer fields, coastal surfing, and so much more throughout France and Switzerland, filmed in a highly cinematic fashion.  This video was an easy pick for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2019. 

When legendary first person view (FPV) drone pilot JohnnyFPV says he has a video that features his craziest FPV experience, you know it is going to be incredible.  In this epic and highly cinematic FPV freestyle video, he takes on the region of Cappadocia in central Turkey.   The area is famous for its fairy tale chimneys and the hot air balloons which fly over them, but you've likely never seen it from this perspective.  This epic, 4K, sixty-second piece is just a teaser for the full-length video he plans to release. 

For first upload to AirVuz, brand-new contributor icelandaerials brings us this absolutely spectacular first person view (FPV) drone video of an erupting volcano in Iceland.  The video was filmed over and around the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which began spewing lava in late March, 2021.  The eruption marks the start of a long-awaited resurgence of volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in southwestern Iceland.  Highly cinematic,  this video was an easy choice for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in March, 2021.  

We guarantee you've never seen micro drone footage quite like this!  First person view (FPV) pilot extraordinaire, KatsuFPV, teamed up with Japanese model group "Onnanocos" to create this brilliant drone video.  Staged in a Japanese high school, he flew a 1.6" drone equipped with a RunCam Split Mini FPV camera through narrow gaps and around the school girls.  The result is a creative, beautiful, and smoothly orchestrated flight. This video was a Winner in our Drone Video Awards' Micro Drone Angle Mode category.

To see how the worlds of aerial cinematography and FPV drone flight are coming together, check out this amazing piece from Iceland by contributor and FPV pilot louishouiller.  He combined footage from a DJI Mavic Pro 2 with that from an FPV racing quad to provide an amazing perspective on some of the world's most beautiful scenery.  Watch how he "sets up" the FPV shots with stabilized footage from the DJI drone to capture some of southern Iceland's iconic sights like its black sand beaches, glacial lagoons, and the famous DC-3 wreck.  

To see how far the art of cinematic first person view (FPV) drone content has evolved, check out this amazing piece by top AirVuz contributor rememorales.  Working with travel company Beautiful Destinations, he used FPV drones to give us a tour of the German amusement park Phantasialand.  Opened in 1967, the park is located in the town of Brühl in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch and was also selected as the Winner of the Drone Video of the Week contest in November, 2021.  

JohnnyFPV is widely considered the first true superstar of the Drone Age.  From his flying roots as a highly competitive first person view (FPV) drone racing pilot, he quickly went on to become the dominant content creator in the world of FPV freestyle cinematic flight.  His work has been used in TV commercials, music videos, and even feature movies, and his Instagram following has exploded to almost 400k as of September, 2019.  This video earned a nomination in the X-Factor category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

Prepare to be completely blown away by this sensational first person view (FPV) drone reel by top AirVuz contributor FrameWorkFilms.  One of the world's top drone piloting companies, FrameWorkFilms has been a leader in the evolving art of cinematic FPV.  The video features a wide range of FPV footage, ranging from highly cinematic shots of scenes ranging from the famous Hollywood sign and LA skyscrapers to some incredible chase scenes.   This was an easy choice for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in October, 2020.  

In the early days of FPV flight, pilots were happy if they could just keep their mini-drones in the air long enough to get a few seconds of GoPro footage.  The resulting videos were novel, exciting to watch, but definitely not cinematic.  How times have changed, in just a few years!  At or near the forefront of this evolution has been talented FPV pilot Flylifeco.  This video from the California desert, which was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in April, 2021, shows us this talented creator at the top of his game.  

City Museum of St Louis, Missouri is a museum whose exhibits consist largely of repurposed architectural and industrial products. Museum founder Bob Cassilly's voice pops up throughout this mystical piece by top first person view (FPV) pilot nurkfpv who was given rare access to fly his micro drone through the legendary museum. It's a moving, inspiring one you won't want to miss. This video was chosen as the Winner in the Micro Drone Acro Mode category in the second annual Drone Video Awards.

Top AirVuz contributor and first-person view (FPV) pilot Nicolas Gaillard accompanied legendary traveler Tom Jauncey on an epic trip to Hawaii, producing this spectacular FPV record of the trip.  Using a highly cinematic filming and post-production style, the video does a fabulous job of showing the natural beauty of the island of Oahu from an entirely new perspective.  There's something for everybody in this amazing piece - coastal cruising along the shoreline, mountain surfing ridge diving through cloudcover, and more.

Check out this fantastic first person view (FPV) drone video from a famous canyon in Central Asia, compliments of AirVuz contributor TonyX.  It's called Charyn Canyon, and it's located in southeastern Kazakhstan, near the border with China.  Formed by the Charyn River, the canyon runs a length of about 50 mi. (around 90 km) in length.  Considered one of the natural treasures of Central Asia, it reaches depths of up to about 1k ft. (a bit over 300 m).  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November of 2023.  

Check out this highly cinematic "bando" first person view (FPV) piece by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot Lukasz Lewenda.  In contrast to most bandos, which are often used to display technical freestyle flying skills, this one is smooth, relatively slow and inside.  The location, which is undisclosed, is rather haunting.  This very creative piece was picked as a Finalist for the New York City Drone Film Festival.  It was also picked for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in September of 2018.

The very versatile ShaggyFPV seems to do it all...from professional racing with the Drone Racing League to putting his skills to the test with fellow pilots Jedey_FPV and ThomasFPV as part of the Dutch Drone Gods. Check out this incredible reel showcasing their exciting commercial work, and it certainly makes the case for FPV playing an increasingly spectacular role in commercial cinematography in the future. Case closed...this pilot's got a lockdown on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in February 2020. 

Take in these stunningly cinematic first person view (FPV) drone views from across France in this fantastic piece by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot Shikijo.  Created using a combination of gimbal-stabilized drone and FPV quad footage, the video will take you over natural scenes in one of the world's most beautiful countries.  You'll be treated to some epic mountain surfing and cliff-diving shots, cruise over the French coast, fly over quaint valleys, and more.  This video was a Drone Video of the Week Finalist in August, 2021.  

Check out this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) drone video from Germany's Black Forest, compliments of top contributor and FPV pilot CinestyleFPV.  Shot in the wintertime, the video will take you skimming over the trees and snowy meadows of this legendary spot, which covers a portion of the state of Baden-Württemberg near the southwestern corner of the country.  Filmed with a GoPro Hero 6 and stabilized with the ReelSteady post-production software package, this video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in March, 2021.  

Located on the shores of mighty Lake Michigan, Chicago Illinois is one of the top-five largest cities in America. Check out its gorgeous skyline as the sun sets in this FPV video by ilya_fpv. He’ll check out the skyline from the lake and give us a view of the Shedd Aquarium, an indoor public aquarium with some 32,000 odd animals. He’ll also show us the home of the Chicago Bears since 1924, Soldier Field, which at 61,500 person capacity is the third-smallest stadium in the NFL.  This was an FPV Pilots to Watch pick in October, 2019.

With the final season of the HBO hit "Game of Thrones" having aired this year, just about everyone has been feeling inspired to create something dynamic in homage to the awarding-winning show,  and that includes cinematic first person view (FPV) drone king Gab707. This mountain surfing flight, set to the score for “Dragonstone,” is a gorgeous, dragon-inspired flight by the AirVūz and DRL pilot. In it, he runs straight through a glacier in the Alps Mountains!    This video made the FPV Pilots to Watch list in April, 2019.

Check out this amazing video from Vietnam, which combines footage from a DJI Mavic Air as well from a first person view (FPV) racing drone.  Beautifull edited, the video covers several different locations in this Southeast Asian country: Cat Cat Village in the northwestern Lào Cai Province; Sa Pa, one of the main market towns in Lào Cai; and the magnificent HaLong bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the country's northeastern coastline which is famous for its gigantic karst limestone miniature islands.  

Prepare to be blown away by this spectacularly cinematic first person view (FPV) drone view of the Alps Mountains region of Europe, compliments of talented content creator and FPV pilot CinestyleFPV.  Most of the video consists of epic FPV mountain surfing sequences, as he takes his mini-quad out over the magnificent ridges of the great mountain chain in  Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.  This video was picked by the AirVuz editorial staff for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in late September of 2021.  

PimpmyKwad got VERY creative to make this drone video from Norway's Lofoten Islands, which earned him a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in October, 2019.  He used both an aerial cinematography and a first person view (FPV) racing drone to create this amazing aerial portrait of Nufsjord, a fishing village in the municipality of Flakstad.  Using both perspectives, the video beautifully captures the mountainous terrain here that's filled with beautiful greens and yellows from the trees, smoke covered peaks, and gorgeous sunset hues.

This mountain session is impressive to say the least! Take a cruise down the sharp edges, rocky hills, and incredible peaks that stick out through the clouds in this FPV video by Felix Matheron. The advent of long range mountain surfing has really changed the game as far as cinematic FPV is concerned and this mountain line is certainly one of the pieces that will impress audiences for some time to come. This highly cinematic piece earned the talented contributor a spot on the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2019.

Explore the Portuguese island Madeira by FPV drone with this fantastic video by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot david_zalka.  The video rotates between shots of the Madeira coastline and its mountainous interior.  At the :39 mark, you'll see fly through the rock arch at the Ponta do Rosto viewpoint near the island's eastern tip.   At around the :55 mark, there's an epic canyon dive, and at around the 2:40 mark you'll "thread the needle" of a giant rock formation.   Other highlights include shots from Madeira's interior rainforest.   

Top AirVuz contributor zippomaker has done a great job of bridging the gap between the worlds of "traditional" drone aerial videography and cinematic first person view (FPV) flight.  In this outstanding piece, which earned him a spot on the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in June of 2020, he takes us on an FPV ride through a public square in Spain.  The video was captured as part of his work on a documentary about the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated social distancing measures which gripped Spain and much of the world in 2020.   

Apparently first time's the charm for this group of talented drone pilots from Italy. so watch their inaugural showreel and prepare to be impressed. Using backdrops from around their native Rome, they add an extra layer of excitement to the mix with their no holds barred flying around ruins, landmarks, motorcross bikes, jetskis, and so much more.  It's a lot to be proud of in a first reel and a blast to watch, so it's clear why Dirty Seagulls were picked for our FPV Pilots to Watch list in February 2020.

Top contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot Flylifeco was one of the pioneers of cinematic FPV, in which the goal of the pilot is to create highly watchable, smooth video content.  That's reason enough to check out this epic reel, which includes some of his best footage from 2021.  As has become popular with the emerging cinematic FPV genre, the video features some great "setup" shots from a gimbal-stabilized platform to lay out the scenes of the FPV flights.  This reel was picked for the Pilots to Watch list in late 2021.

Talented content creator and first person view (FPV) pilot L. Morandini brings us this highly cinematic FPV video of an erupting volcano in Spain's Canary Islands.  It's actually a volcanic ridge called Cumbre Vieja, and it's located on La Palma, the fifth-largest of this archipelago off the coast of North Africa.  Having erupted twice during the course of the 20th century, the ridge began erupting again in September, 2021.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in December, 2021.  

First person view (FPV) pilot Angelo Re brings us this unique aerial tour of his home city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The video was shot while the city was virtually deserted during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020.  This enabled him to safely garner some unique views of the Steel City's iconic riverfront downtown.  Check out some of Pittsburgh's most well-known sights by FPV, including the Fort Pitt Bridge, Fifth Avenue Place, the Renaissance Hotel, the H. J. Heinz Company complex, and more.  

JohnnyFPV is at the pinnacle of the FPV world.  He is a competitive racer, having competed on multiple DRL seasons and enjoying lots of airtime on ESPN.  Where he stands apart though is with his highly cinematic freestyle content.  He has traveled the four corners of the world, making epic videos and helping to create content for TV shows, commercials, and even feature-length movies.  This epic FPV compilation reel earned Johnny FPV  a nomination in the Showreel category at the 6th Annual NYCDFF.

The Winery Vivacno Museum of Wine Culture is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria on the banks of the Ebro River in Rioja, Spain. The winery produces Tempranillo, Granciano, Garnacha, and many other delicious grapes and wines. The La Rioja community of northern Spain is renowned globally for its wine industry that ranges from small local wineries (bodegas) to major commercial producers. Pilot Blackwolf_fpv takes his quad through Dinastia Vivanco in this freestyle flight.

The Store is a rocky hill on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isla of Sky in Scotland. Likely the most famous walk on the island, the “Old Man” is a large pinnacle that stands high and can be seen from miles around. It’s one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. You can see why in this quick FPV video by louishouiller. He’ll ride a line across the rock face, taking in the phenomenal views from an incredible and impressive angle.  This was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in August, 2019.

While Norway is likely one of the most-droned countries, the vast majority of the aerial footage captured here is on gimbal-stabilized aerial videography platforms like the DJI Mavic series.  Far less common is a very different type of aerial footage: that from first person view (FPV) mini-drones.  Case in point is this FPV piece from OMJ FPV, whose highly cinematic footage from the area around Lake Lovatnet in Vestland County in Western Norway earned him a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in August, 2020.  

Japan's Volcano Island is foreboding for most visitors - considering the oppressive heat, humidity, and volcanic ashes - but this remote spot called out to drone pilot Print FPV for some freestyle action. The island is in stark contrast to the Tokyo metro, to which it is approximately 750 miles south. Aside from a few empty roads, there are few signs of life of the 650 odd residents, making it a perfect playground for FPV and creating a video that would place this talented pilot on our FPV Pilots to Watch list in January 2020. 

Located in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, the Great Mosque of Central Java can be seen by first person view (FPV) drone, courtesy of AirVuz contributor BanzaiFPV. The mosque covers 25 acres and has three central buildings arranged in the shape of a U with the domed mosque at the centre. In the central courtyard are six hydraulically operated umbrellas; closed in this video, they are used to protect worshipers from the rain or sun and represent the six tenets of iman. This video made the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November, 2019.

In this excellent person view (FPV) piece by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot SE_FPV, you'll see the effect that the ReelSteady post-production stabilization software has on FPV footage.  The software took the footage from a GoPro Hero 5 Session and stabilizes it, in effect compensating for the lack of a gimbal on FPV racing quads.  Beginning with some great tree-proximity work and then shifting to a concrete jungle setting, it's a highly cinematic piece which was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in July of 2019.

This is an intense and majestic first person view (FPV) mini quad dive, courtesy of top AirVuz content creator and FPV pilot JZFPV. The (second annual) Drone Video Awards nominee headed to the mountain and canyon-filled area of Southwest Utah to dive the orange, rocky outback. The ridge line cruising he cuts between the dives is also inspiring due to his abilities and because of the incredibly dynamic location choice. Hats off to you, JZFPV, for this incredible, 4K, FPV freestyle flow flight. 

The Dolomite Mountains in northeastern Italy are home to some of Europe's most spectacular alpine scenery.  Part of the Southern Limestone Alps, the Dolomites reach modest altitudes (the tallest peak, Marmolada, is 11k ft. above sea level or about 3.3k m) but with relatively high prominence.  In this outstanding video by AirVuz contributor SirM Poductions, you'll be treated to a highly cinematic aerial tour of the Dolomites by first person view (FPV) drone.  This video was picked for the FPV PIlots to Watch list in June of 2023.  

Top contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot vasiliz lights up the Pyrenees Mountains region with this highly cinematic FPV piece.  He uses his tremendously smooth flying skills to his advantage in this piece as he takes us over the snow-capped trees, diving down the mountains and through an empty chair lift.  Demonstrating the power of cinematic FPV to give us a new perspective of our world, this video was picked as a Finalist at the second Annual Drone Video Awards for FPV Freestyle Flow. 

While there's no universally agreed-upon definition of "Cinematic FPV", we know it when we see it.  And we definitely see it in this stunning coastal cruising piece by top AirVuz contributor PimpmyKwad.  Filmed at sunset, this is FPV flight optimized for the viewing experience, which is the essence of cinematic FPV.  His silky-smooth flight takes him way out over the water to a number of mini-islands, approaching each one for maximum cinematic effect.  The flight demonstrates precise control but at the same time is almost hypnotic.

Mountain Surfing is a term of art in the world of first person view (FPV) drone piloting - it basically means flying a racing drone over mountain ridges and down slopes and (of course) capturing it in HD video.  In this video, contributor and FPV pilot ARI3S FPV takes on one of the highest peaks in the Scottish Highlands: Bidean nam Bian.  With a peak elevation of 1.15k meters (about 3.8k ft.), it's the highest peak in County Argyll in the western Highlands. It's located just south of the town of Glen Coe.  

The mountains and fjords of Northern Norway made a perfect canvas for AirVuz contributor bjarnerimi fpv to use for this epic and highly cinematic long-range first person view (FPV) video.  Part of Nordland County (the southernmost of the three counties of the official Northern Norway region), this area of stunning natural scenery is brought to life from an entirely new perspective with his MB Epic 262 configured for long-range flight.  This video earned a spot on the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in May of 2020.  

Brand-new AirVuz contributor airflex production spent six weeks traveling through France to create this magnificent first person view (FPV) aerial "Tour de France".  Beautifully edited, this highly creative piece features epic FPV shots from around this giant West European country, ranging from historic bridges to mountain ridges, forests, statue parks, and the stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean coastline.  He also skillfully mixes in shots taken from a gimbal-stabilized drone.  Highly creative, it's well worth a watch.  

An overseas department of France, Guadeloupe is a group of exotic, tropical islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The islands’ volcanic soil, mixed with the heat and rainfall they see, are what produce that incredibly lush and diversified vegetation. Filled with forests, swamps, waterfalls, sandy beaches, and gorgeous waters the islands are a top tourist destination. PikaFPV takes us on a first-person-view drone journey through one of the islands in this video that earned him a spot on our FPV Pilots to Watch list. 

Check out this fantastic cinematic first person view (FPV) video of an iconic spot on the USA's Mississippi River, compliments of champion FPV racer and content creator NurkFPV.  The winner of the FPV Video of the Year at the second annual Drone Video Awards took his racing quad out over the great waterway near Hannibal, Missouri.  Watch as he "weaves" through a railroad bridge, works the gaps in a grain storage facility, and makes it all look easy; for this, he got a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in July, 2019. 

Bøyabreen is a glacier in the Fjærland area of Norway. Located inside of Jostedalsbreen National Park, it is a branch of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, the largest in continental Europe. The park was established in 1991 by royal decree and named after the glacier it surrounds. Lervik FPV was out in the park and knew he needed to fly Bøyabreen, giving it his full attention in this 4K, cinematic FPV piece.  This video was selected for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2019.

Check out this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) video from the French coast, compliments of AirVuz contributor Raphael Rablat.  The video was shot around the sand dunes near Biville in the Manche, the westernmost of the five departments of the region of Normandy.  The town lies on the western tip of the Cotentin Peninsula (also sometimes called the Cherbourg Peninsula), the landmass which forms the eastern side of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel.  This video earned our contributor a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June, 2020.

For a first upload, new contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot Rafn FPV brings us this fantastic 2020 FPV showreel, which was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in January, 2021.   The video opens with some phenomenal coastal cruising footage, followed by a fantastic shot of a stadium fireworks show.  Then you'll chase a BMX biker hitting an epic jump, drift cars, and a foilboarder.  Next you'll head inside for "cinewhoop" style office and gym tours, and more.  Further on you'll dive a skyscraper and fly through a tunnel.  

AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot Kenny Dorion created this spectacular cinematic FPV video of the French Alps town of Annecy at a virtual standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.  With its outdoor spaces virtually empty of people, the video brings a unique perspective to the largest city in the Haute-Savoie Department.  Once called the Pearl of the French Alps, Annecy is located at the northern tip of its namesake lake, about 35 km (around 22 mi.) south of Geneva.

Summertime truly is when all the best FPV footage is taken. The ability to travel mixed with the wider variety of interesting locations makes it the perfect time to fly. Take this best-of summer compilation by FPV pilot Fornell FPV. He’ll take us out to the water, opening with freestyle flights through the beach, around ancient bridges and up a giant dam. Then we’ll head out to check out some sailboats, a jet boarder, motocross riders, drift car racers, plus more in this fun show reel, which was an FPV Pilots to Watch pick in October, 2019.

Many people are familiar with the ancient Chinese tradition, the Lantern Festival. The festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar and features not just lanterns, but all kinds of beautiful, intricate glowing works of art. The festival has inspired various Chinese Light expositions, like the one you'll see here in this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) video by AirVuz contributor Microcine, which made the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November, 2019.  

ReelSteady GO is all the rage in the FPV community. The software uses the GoPro’s gyro data instead of traditional image analysis, meaning near-flawless results on virtually any shot. With the advent of more intelligent quads, better pilots, and software like ReelSteady GO pilots are capable of cinematic level FPV footage. This 4K piece by Jakob JFPV is a perfect example of this leap in FPV action, taking us on a realistic flying mission.  This video earned him a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in August, 2019.  

Former DVOW winner backpackpassion brings us this stunning first person view (FPV) drone video from northern Austria.  The video was filmed in the Salzkammergut, also known as the Austrian Lake District, which extends east from Salzburg into the state of Upper Austria and is home to some of the most popular resort areas in Central Europe.  The featured locations in the video include Schiederweiher, Langbathsee, Signalkogel, Hochleckenhaus and Loser.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June, 2020.

As one of the most visually appealing countries, it's no surprise that Norway has become a magnet for drone pilots of all types.  Recently, this has included first person view (FPV) drone pilots, who have been able to capture stunningly cinematic FPV footage from this stunningly beautiful country.  As a great example of this phenomenon, check out this fantastic piece by top AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot chrissbergan.  With fantastic shots skimming mountains and fjords, this video made the FPV Pilots to Watch list in May, 2021. 

First person view (FPV) drone pilots are increasingly able to show off some of the world's premiere travel destinations from an entirely new perspective: from high definition cameras mounted to racing drones.  Case in point is this fantastic video from southern Indonesia by AirVuz contributor and pilot Gareth Hayman.  He was able to fly his racing quad over some of the most exotic spots in Southeast Asia, capturing epic footage from the storied island of Bali, its "satellite" Nusa Penida, and large easter neighbor Lombok.    

Like a number of talented aerial videographers, top contributor chrisnorway has expanded his filming repertoire by mastering first person view (FPV) dones, which requires a much higher level of piloting skills.  In this beautiful video, you will ride along with him in his DJI FPV drone to explore the landscapes of Western Norway.  The video was shot in and around Rogalund County, which covers a section of the southwest Norwegian coast and extends some ways inland.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June of 2022. 

Check out this fantastic first person view (FPV) aerial tour of West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, West Virginia, compliments of AirVuz contributor Angelo Re.  Using an FPV-equipped racing quad, he will take you over and around this beautiful campus in the Appalachian Mountains foothills in the northern part of the state.  Established in 1867, the public land-grant university has enrollment of about 27k on its main campus, of which roughly 80% are undergraduate.  In 2012, its athletics program joined the Big 12 conference.  

As one of the world's leading lights in cinematic first person view (FPV) flight, legendary pilot JohnnyFPV can lay legitimate claim to having been the first FPV to tackle certain uniquely epic and challenging travel destinations.  One of them is Iceland.  In this fantastic piece, you will see his FPV highlights of a trip to the North Atlantic Ocean island nation specifically for the purpose of capturing its intense natural beauty via racing quads.  Watch as he hits glacial gaps, tears up volcanoes and black sand beaches, and more. 

Drone pilot JZFPV has got us feeling like a bird indeed, and most likely the happiest of them all as he cruises around the otherworldy views of Sedona, Arizona. The gorgeous rock formations pushing up from the grounds of the Arizona desert give this pilot plenty of obstacles to artistically cruise around. Watch as he surfs along the ridges, dives down the cliffs, and rolls around in the gaps between proving that amongst everything else cool about this geographic gem, the best place to be is in the air. 

Take thirty-seconds to check out this quick clip of Monument Valley in the heart of winter, courtesy of pilot NonexistentJay. The red-send desert region lies on the Arizona-Utah border and is known for the tower sandstone buttes like the ones you see here. Frequently used as a filming location for Western movies, the valley experiences cold winters and hot summers. You can see a little snow on the ground as NonexistentJay takes his FPV drone through the desert, earning himself a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in December, 2019.

The beauty of California makes a perfect backdrop for this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) mini-tour of the Golden State by talented AirVuz content creator Lucid Box Films.  The first few sequences were shot in the state's interior, including some nice footage of the Mojave Desert.  At about the :30 mark, you'll dive the US Bank Tower (aka Library Tower) in downtown LA, the city's tallest skyscraper for nearly three decades.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2021.   

This excellent video by first-person view (FPV) pilot elbuhofpv will give you a new perspective of the great city of New York, which went into near-lockdown in the second half of March 2020 as it became the US epicenter of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.  Showing the city in the happier times before the storm hit, he was able to film a pair of jetskiers plying the waters that surround Lower Manhattan.  Check it out for some epic views of the city's skyline from the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more.

Check out this highly cinematic first person view (FPV) tour of the town of Arbon, Switzerland, compliments of AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot TripleF Productions.  Using an FPV-equipped racing quad, he flew over and around the town, which is located in the Canton of Thurgau in the northeastern part of the country.  The town is located on a peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Constance, one of the largest and most important lakes in Central Europe, which serves as the border between Switzerland and Germany to the north.  

The GoPro Hero 8 is something of a game-changer for first person view (FPV) pilots.  With built-in stabilization, the new camera obviates the need for post-production image stabilization.  Witness this spectacular piece from top AirVuz contributor and FPV Pilot to Watch in January 2020, ChileVuela.  He mounted his GoPro 8 onto one of his racing quads and set out for a rock formation called the Devil's Fang (Quinquili) in Chile's Andes Mountains.  It's situated in the southern Araucanía Region, not far from the border with Argentina.  

Check out this amazing first person view (FPV) drone tour of Vilnius, Lithuania, compliments of AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot Martas Tankevicius.  Using his FPV mini quad, he takes us all around this important cultural center, which is both the largest city and the capital of the small Baltic republic.  Picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in June, 2020, highlights include an epic dive of the 326 meter (about 1.07k ft.) Vilnius TV Tower, a cruise through the Old Town, the Vilnius Castle Complex and the White Bridge, and more.  

Imagine flying over the snow-capped trees precariously placed along the edge of a cliff, then soaring down the rocky sides to glide over the sea as the sun creeps up over the Atlantic.  Contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot LevesqueFPV does just that with his flowing FPV flight around the town of Percé in the Canadian province of Quebec.  The this iconic spot is on the Gaspé Peninsula, the great landform northeast of Quebec City which forms the southern side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  

For obvious reasons, flying a first-person view (FPV) racing drone over molten lava is.  definitely NOT for beginner pilots.  If something goes wrong in this situation, retrieval is, shall we say, problematic.  Keep that in mind as you watch this epic FPV piece from AirVuz contributor and FPV pilots Black WIngs Movies.  Using a 5" frame quad and the new DJI FPV system, they ventured out over the red-hot lava of an erupting volcano in Reunion Island in the western Indian Ocean.  Highly cinematic, it will not fail to amaze you.  

Talented AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) pilot Flylifeco was in the vanguard of FPV pilots making the transition to a much more cinematic style of FPV video.  In this piece, he takes us back to Colorado, where he began this evolution, for a stunningly cinematic look at the one of the USA's most scenic states.  Beginning with an epic shot cruising up a roaring stream, he then will take you into the mountains for some epic dives.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in July of 2021.  

Western Norway is home to some of the world's most spectacular natural scenery.  With its majestic mountains, glistening fjords, roaring waterfalls, and alpine meadows, this region is one of Europe's top tourist destinations, and for good reason.  In this fantastic first person view (FPV) drone video by AirVuz contributor and pilot Lervik FPV, you'll get a highly cinematic perspective of the area around Jordalsgrenda in Møre og Romsdal County.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2021.  

The French Riviera, aka Côte d’Azur, is one of the most breathtaking areas in the world. Located along the Mediterranean coastline in the southeastern corner of France the area was one of the first modern resort destinations. Its rolling hills, majestic waters, and idyllic towns are what make it so magical. For FPV pilot Escape Fpv, it’s the landscape in the French Riviera that drew him there and enabled him to create this cinematic flight, a flight that made him an FPV Pilots to Watch in April of 2019.

For a great example of how the medium of first person view (FPV) drone footage is evolving in a cinematic direction, look no further than this fantastic piece by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot FAHAD_FPV.  He took his FPV-equipped mini-drone out over the spectacular Darbat Valley (Wadi Darbat) in the Middle Eastern country of Oman.  The valley is located near Olalah, Oman's second-largest city, which is located near its southern border.   Not surprisingly, this video was picked for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in July of 2020.

Austria is widely considered one of the world's most beautiful countries, so it's perhaps not surprising that it's being discovered by cinematically-oriented first person view (FPV) pilots to use as a canvas.  That's exactly what AirVuz contributor janwido did in this fantastic piece, which was shot flying over a lake known as Weissensee.  The long, narrow lake is located in the southern state of Carinthia in the Gailtal Alps.  This highly cinematic piece was picked for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in June, 2020.

AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot Fincky is one of the world's most talented cinematic FPV content creators.  In this fantastic piece, you'll see how he's upped his game by adding some VERY cool VFX tricks to his FPV flight footage.    Starting with some beautifully smooth and cinematic FPV footage over the floor of a desert, he adds a series of CGI images to create a truly "other-worldly" visual impression.  This very creative video was chosen for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in March, 2020.  

For a first upload to AirVuz, new contributor MansourFpvDz brings us this excellent first person view (FPV) drone video from the Sahara Desert in Algeria.  The video was filmed in Brézina, which is located in the El Bayadh Province in the northwestern part of this giant North African country.   Located a relatively short distance from the border with Morocco to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, this marks the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, which covers all of the country but for a small coastal strip in the north.