2026 Dates:
Saturday May 9 | August 15 | November 21
9 AM- 4 PM
Course Description
This course introduces participants to the artistic, technical, and practical dimensions of drone-based photography and videography. Through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on training, students will gain visual literacy, explore different drone applications, and practice real-world filming techniques.
A microcredit certificate will be issued to all participants from CIFAL York.
Course Outline
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Apply visual literacy principles to aerial photography
- Capture cinematic footage with drones in natural environments
- Understand FPV workflows in real estate, events, and security contexts
- Navigate basic flight controls and regulations
- Collaborate in hands-on drone operations
- Career and Entrepreneurship Focus
Key Course Features
- Creative and Technical Integration: The course merges visual literacy and composition techniques with hands-on drone operation to produce powerful visual narratives.
- Real-World Applications: The program connects drone media to real-world sectors including:
- Real estate and architectural visualization
- Event and tourism videography
- Public safety and emergency response
- Creative content production and storytelling
- Hands-On Learning Experience: A significant portion of the course is devoted to practical exercises, where participants will:
- Conduct supervised drone flights
- Practice aerial photo and video capture
- Experiment with FPV perspectives
- Review and critique footage with instructors
- Collaborative Environment: Work alongside like-minded peers in a supportive and dynamic learning environment, fostering creativity and innovation.
Target Participants
The target participants for this course are individuals interested in exploring the creative and professional applications of drone technology across media, environmental, and entrepreneurial fields. This includes students and practitioners in film, media production, communication, environmental studies, and digital design, as well as photographers, videographers, and content creators seeking to expand their visual toolkit. The course also welcomes youth, community innovators, and entrepreneurs who wish to develop marketable drone skills applicable to real estate, tourism, events, and public communication. Importantly, it is designed to be inclusive and accessible to beginners, providing a supportive learning environment for participants from diverse backgrounds who may have limited prior exposure to drones or technical equipment. Through its combination of theory, practice, and mentorship, the course empowers participants to integrate drone-based visual storytelling into their creative, professional, or community projects.
Course Instructors
Ryid Gilani
Ryid Gilani is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University and the lead drone pilot at Door 24, a full-service media agency. He has operated at major venues and large-scale events across the city, including VELD Music Festival, RBC
Amphitheatre, and Rogers Stadium. Ryid brings both technical depth and real-world insight to his teaching.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flythroughlenses/
Course Syllabus
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Session 1: Drone Fundamentals & Flight Basics
This session introduces students to the core foundations of drone flight.
Topics Include:
- What a drone is and how it works
- Key system components
- How drones maintain stability in the air
- Understanding stick inputs
- GPS-assisted features
- Basic flight awareness and safe operating habits
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Session 2: Aerial Photography & Camera Fundamentals
This session focuses on building visual literacy and understanding how drones capture images and video.
Topics Include:
- Principles of exposure
- Using ND filters and motion blur for video
- Composition fundamentals for aerial photography
- Altitude, angle, and perspective
- Common aerial movements
- Industry applications of drone photography and videography
- Rules and regulations for safe aerial imaging
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 3: Introduction to FPV Drones & System Fundamentals
This session introduces students to First-Person View (FPV) drone flight and how it differs from traditional GPS-stabilized drones.
Topics Include:
- What FPV is and how it differs from stabilized drones
- Core FPV system components and how they work together
- Manual control fundamentals and flight dynamics
- Different FPV drone types and use cases
- Industry applications of FPV
- Safety principles and regulatory awareness
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Session 4: Building Control & Cinematic Awareness
This session focuses on developing the mindset and decision-making skills required for responsible and cinematic drone operation, whether flying FPV or traditional stabilized drones.
Topics Include:
- Planning safe and intentional flight paths
- Environmental awareness and spatial judgement
- designing smooth, controlled movement
- Fundamentals of one-take shot planning
- Operating responsible around people and public spaces
- Professional coordination and communication practices
1:00 – 2:00 PM — Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Hands-On Outdoor Drone Training
In this guided outdoor session, students will gain real flight experience using microdrones such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Activities Include:
- Conducting pre-flight safety inspections
- Practicing safe takeoff and landing procedures
- Developing stable hover control
- Performing controlled straight-line and square-pattern flights
- Learning smooth altitude changes and directional turns
- Capturing simple photo and video compositions while airborne
- Live FPV demonstration in manual mode
Registration
Registration Deadlines:
Saturday May 2 | August 8 | November 14
Minimum enrollment to run the course: 10
Maximum enrollment: 40
Registration Fee
General Admission: $150.00
Full-Time Students: $50.00
To register for any of these sessions, please visit please purchase a ticket through Eventbrite:
Course Coordinator
Mx. Francesco del Carpio, CIFAL York - fdcarpio@yorku.ca