Pushing the Boundaries of FPV with VFX

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.  

Drones with high-quality video cameras, combined with the more recent growth in accessible artificial intelligence applications, are making it possible to create stunning new types of content.  Witness this amazing piece by top contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot b1z10_fpv.  Using the Kaiber A.I. package, he created this apocalyptic "tour" of the great city of Venice using AI-generated VFX.  This video was picked by the AirVuz editorial staff for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in May of 2023.  

Making the most of the #stayathome situation caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus, FPV pilot Fietfpv took a little time to launch his iFlightMegabee cinewhoop and fly through a beautiful and eerily quiet city park in Jakarta, Indonesia.  He cruised along the park paths, over the lush landscaping, and through the empty seating areas, showing off his superb FPV flying sills.  Then, he made the edit next-level by mixing in some fun electric animations.  This video made the FPV Pilots to Watch list in March of 2020.

Cinematically-oriented first person view (FPV) drone pilots have started to adopt 360 degree cameras in their flight videos, allowing for some mind-blowing special effects.  These cameras allow the pilot to put the drone itself "in frame", allowing us to see the quad in flight as if we were viewing it from a boom extension.  This VFX trick enables the creation of some incredibly creative content, as you'll see in this amazing
piece from AirVuz contributor and 360 degree camera manufacturer insta360.  

Clearly inspired by the hit Netflix show, Stranger Things, AirVuz FPV Team Pilot nurkfpv brings us “Weirder Items.” Set against the megahit show’s theme music, he’ll use his stellar micro quad skills to fly through an abandoned building and forest, using his impressive editing skills to meld the two views together with VFX. Although hard to describe in words, it is easy to see why this micro drone video leaves an impression on anyone who watches it.  That's why we picked it for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November, 2019.   

After only a few seconds of watching the video we have to ask, are you confused yet? This trippy piece is brought to us by first person view drone racing pilot mrgilchen. He’s combining his flying skills with a wide open landscape and the technology behind Insta360. The action camera allows users to include 360-degrees of footage in their videos. That’s how mrgilchen is able to bring such a variety of angles and how he’s able to distort the video, providing a very unique viewing experience. 

Check out this first person view (FPV) drone tour of the Texas Renaissance Festival, compliments of top AirVuz contributor LiftedMedia.  The video features fly-through's and fly-by's of some of the festival's top attractions.  There's even some VFX in the mix - check out the shots at the :39, :55, and 1:00 marks, among other places.  The video was put together with the assistance of top FPV pilots nurkFPV and betoFPV.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November of 2021.   

Star Wars fans will very definitely want to check out this outstanding "tribute" video by AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot Shamkhal_fpv.  The VFX-enhanced video depicts an epic aerial combat sequence in which an Imperial Fleet TIE Fighter pursues a Rebel Alliance X-Wing Star Fighter as they cruise along a mountain ridge on some planet in a galaxy far, far away.  This video was picked by the AirVuz editorial staff for a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in February of 2023.  

As first person view (FPV) footage continues to improve in quality, talented FPV pilots are getting increasingly creative with their video editing skills.  In that vein, check out this fantastic piece by AirVuz contributor and FPV pilot filmnamics.  His intro has his quad flying through a "window" onto a beach for an epic FPV cruise along the shoreline.  In recognition of his FPV piloting and video editing skills, this talented content creator was tapped for the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in February, 2021.  

AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot LiftedMedia won a spot on the FPV Pilots to Watch list in May of 2023 with this outstanding VFX-enhanced FPV view of the USS Texas battleship near Houston, Texas.  Commissioned just before the outbreak of the First World War, the Texas later saw extensive service in multiple theaters in World War II, ranging from convoy service to supporting the D Day landings in France and participating in the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa.   It's now a floating museum.  

The advent of the cinewhoop drone is giving first person view (FPV) pilots an ability to create movie-like content by adding computer-generated imaging (CGI) to their FPV footage.  This allows pilots to produce stunningly creative videos like what you'll see in this piece by new contributor and FPV pilot elstevedore.  He used a custom-built HD micro-drone to film the Children's Fairlyland, a non-profit children's theme park in Oakland, California.  He then added a CGI "pixie" to follow around the park. 

Top first person view (FPV) drone pilot and 2021 Drone Video of the Year Finalist Patrick Conroy brings us this spectacular FPV drone reel.  The video opens with an epic "gap" shot flying through a rock formation somewhere in the Southwestern USA, followed by some excellent chase shots involving a dune buggy, a biker, and (yes) a full-scale airplane.  Other highlights include a giant music concert and some great ski chase sequences.  The video makes very clever use of VFX special effects as well.  

While 360 degree cameras have been around for several years, it's only recently that they have reached a level of weight and durability that makes them suitable for FPV mini-quads.  With their ability to continuously film their entire surroundings, one of the great "tricks" that can be performed with this application is to put the quad itself in the video.  It makes for a truly "Star Wars" feel, and can take a great FPV video to the next level.  Witness this coastal "cruising" piece by contributor and camera manufacturer insta360.

Just when you thought Timelab.pro couldn’t get better, they release a drone video like this. The two-time Drone Video of the Year winners have put aside the regular camera drone and taken out a first person view (FPV) micro quad for a ride through Hong Kong. This train-ride-meets-video-game-meets-cinewhoop video’s only problem is it’s too short!  An easy selection for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in September, 2019, this video will leave inspired and wondering, “what just happened?!”

First-time AirVuz contributor and first person view (FPV) drone pilot droneify brings us this excellent FPV piece which uses some very creative editing.  The theme of the video is fractals, a mathematical concept which shows up in the natural world in the form of phenomena where patterns repeat themselves regardless of scale.  Applied to FPV footage, it makes for a mind-blowing viewing experience, and put this talented content creator on the AirVuz FPV Pilots to Watch list in February, 2021.