For those interested in aerial cinematography, this time-lapse footage by Hong Kong-based production company Visual Suspect should get your attention. The three-minute short-film may not have a narrative, but its central conceit is certainly visually engaging enough to immerse viewers. Low Earth Orbit revolves around landmarks, literally.
According to PetaPixel, the creative minds involved were interested in focusing the unmanned aerial vehicle’s attention on various landmarks and revolving around them at a high altitude. The eponymous title refers to the area of orbit in which satellites, including the International Space Station, revolve around the planet. Presumably, it is this verisimilitude that the creators wanted to capture, with an admittedly far more relatable sense of scale and familiarity of terrain. In other words, satellite footage can often seem far too abstract and removed from our daily recognition, whereas the footage captured here is far more, well, down to earth.
Have a look at this gorgeous compilation of drone footage.
According to PetaPixel, the creators of drone footage said, “Orbital drone movements are the ones with the power to convert two-dimensional images into dancing focal layers escaping out of frame. We wanted to further explore the technique, with high altitude long orbits, along with ones very close to the ground, we call them ‘Orbital drone-lapses.’”
Shot entirely above Folegandros Island in Greece, Low Earth Orbit is “A romantic attempt to step aside for a while gravity and atmospheric forces, bringing these orbits closer to the ground,” according to the creators themselves.
While we’ve seen plenty of drone-footage before, such as the demolition of New York’s Kosciuszko Bridge, one or two flyovers of the new Apple Park Campus, as well as the terribly ominous footage of October’s Sonoma County, California wildfire aftermath, it seems like Low Earth Orbit is the most aesthetically pleasing and reflective. What do you think? What do you like to get out of your drone footage? Chime in below.