Drone Photography & Videography Intensive Course

2026 Dates:

Saturday May 9 | August 15 | November 21

9 AM- 4 PM

Course Outline

Course Instructors

Ryid Gilani

Ryid Gilani is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at TMU, with a research focus on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of respiratory flows. During his MASc at TMU, he began exploring his passion for drone technology through the ZON100/DG8116 course. During the course, Ryid took his hobby of flying drones more seriously and gradually turned it into professional work.
He built a strong portfolio showcasing the creative and technical applications of FPV drones, which led to opportunities with Door 24, a leading Toronto media agency, where he now leads their drone operations.
Since then, his work has been featured at major Toronto venues and events, including VELD Music Festival, Cabana Pool Bar, Budweiser Stage, Fairmont Royal York, and Rogers Stadium, where he was the first pilot to fly FPV inside the venue. Ryid enjoys combining his engineering background with creative filmmaking to capture perspectives that bridge technology, art, and storytelling.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flythroughlenses/

Course Syllabus

9:00 – 9:45 AM

Session 1: Visual Literacy and Photography Foundations (Peyman):

• Principles of Exposure
• Quality of light (Color & mood in videography and photography)
• Composition
• Aerial perspectives vs ground-based photography
  

10:00 – 10:45 AM

Session 2: Understanding Aerial Camera Perspectives (Peyman):

• Top-down (“God’s eye”) compositions
  
• Depth, distance, and subject framing from above
  
• Creating mood using altitude and angle
  
• Using shadows, textures, and patterns
  
• Orbit shots for dynamic composition
  
• Pull-in / pull-out for reveals
  
• Fly-throughs and tracking shots
  
• Transition shots (rise-up, pan-to-reveal, dive-to-scene)
  
• Matching frame rates with shot purpose
  
  

11:00 – 11:45 AM

Session 3: FPV Applications I (Ryid):

• Hook & Introduction
  • Open with an FPV highlight clip (30–60 sec): fast, dynamic, immersive.
  • Define FPV (First-Person View) and contrast it with standard drones (GPS, auto-level, gimbal-locked).
  • Explain how manual control creates fluid, bird-like, one-take motion, agility, proximity, and flow.
  • FPV is flow state.
• System Breakdown
  • Show a drone on screen or table, briefly point out key parts:
    • Drone – custom-built, tuned for agility and precision
    • Goggles – the pilot’s eyes, receiving a live feed from the onboard camera
    • Video Link + GoPro/HD Camera – difference between live feed and recorded footage
    • Radio Transmitter – direct manual control over every movement
    • Batteries – the drone’s power source, swapped per flight
  • Plug in goggles or HDMI out, show live feed to class.
    • Let students see the real latency and field of view.
    • Mention how this setup allows flying through tight spaces.
    • Maybe a brief demo with a microdrone.
• Applications of FPV
  • Real Estate – smooth one-take walkthroughs of interiors
  • Live Events – flying over crowds, through stages, or venues
  • Action Shots – capturing fast motion or athlete POVs
  • Security / Inspection – agile flights through warehouses or chase intruders.
• Understanding Stick Inputs & Flight Dynamics
  • Show the radio and explain the four primary inputs:
    • Throttle (y-axis left): controls altitude / lift.
    • Yaw (x-axis left): rotates the drone (heading).
    • Pitch (y-axis right): tilts forward/back for forward or backward motion.
    • Roll (x-axis right): banks left/right for lateral movement.
  • Demonstrate with stick overlays on screen — how combinations create motion curves.
  • GPS or stabilized drones auto-level; FPV = no auto-correction – smooth arcs rely entirely on pilot input.
  • Discuss how pilots tune rates, expo, and stick feel to match the cinematic look they want.
• Choosing the Right Build for the Shot
  • Match drone type to purpose:
    • Micro / Sub-250 g cinewhoop: tight indoor spaces, real-estate fly-throughs, close to/over people.
    • Medium cinewhoop: Outdoor shots that require flying close to people or expensive objects.
    • 5-inch freestyle: fast-paced, high-energy shots like co or action scenes.
  • Payload considerations: GoPro vs built in camera.
  • Flight characteristics: weight, prop guard design, noise, and acceleration all affect the feel of the shot.
  • Explain how selecting the right build is like choosing the right lens for a camera, each changes mood, motion, and proximity.
• Regulations & Safety
  • Spotter requirement – FPV must maintain visual line-of-sight via observer.
  • Know your limits; plan flights responsibly.
  • Normal Basic/Advanced Operations apply if flying sRPAS.

12:00 – 12:45 PM

Session 4: Flights over people, one take shots, and flying with other pilots (Ryid):

• Show some Concert Clips
  • Ask students what they notice about the flights.
• Understanding the Environment
  • Flying over people isn’t just about control,  it’s about reading human movement.
  • Before every flight:
    • Study the crowd rhythm,  how they move, jump, or shift when music hits.
    • Visualize safe flow lines, fly across or around people rather than directly above dense groups.
    • Anticipate distractions, flashing lights, smoke machines, strobes, or reflective stages, pyro, confetti.
• Composure & Pilot Mindset
  • Discuss the mental state of flying in live environments:
    • Music, lights, pyro, adrenaline, must filter it out.
    • Focus on the horizon, not the chaos.
    • Calm pilot = stable shot.
    • If tension rises, climb, reset, and re-enter.
• Cinematic Choices for Immersion
  • Share specific movement styles that make over-people shots cinematic, not reckless:
    • Low parallax passes: skim just above heads for depth and scale.
    • Orbiting performer: gentle roll + yaw for dynamic 3D reveal.
    • Vertical contrast: dive into the crowd, rise to reveal venue size.
    • Whip-pan with lighting cue: match stage strobes or beat drops.
• One-Take Shot Design
  • Show one take videos and ask students what they notice.
    • Walk the site and map a route that flows naturally through spaces. Avoid repetition — every move should reveal something new.
    • Plan smooth entrances/exits: start behind walls, props, or structures for reveals; finish by flying out of a window, doorway, or rising to a wide reveal.
    • Use the environment: look for natural transitions — windows, gaps, hallways, height changes — to keep motion interesting and continuous.
    • Work with people: coordinate with actors or performers so they interact with the drone (passing, following, or reacting) to add energy and realism.
    • Key takeaway: a great one-take tells a story through movement
• Working Alongside Other Pilots
  • Pre-flight coordination: assign zones, altitude layers, and timing.
  • Frequency management: confirm VTX channels and power before powering up.
    • Whether using FPV transmitters or standard 2.4/5.8 GHz control links, make sure each pilot has a clear, interference-free channel.
    • Only one pilot powers on at a time, and confirms video or control signals are stable before launch.
    • Stay clear of other active pilots when powering up,  don’t turn on your controller right beside someone flying
  • Communication: clear radio calls,  “arming,” “in air,” “landing.”
  • Predictability: maintain consistent paths; avoid crossing lines of sight.
  • Professional etiquette: share airtime respectfully, stay composed, always prioritize safety.

12:45 – 1:30 PM — Lunch Break

1:30 – 2:00 PM

Guest Speaker Session: Franco Recchia

2:00 – 4:00 PM

Hands-On Drone Workshop:

• Pre-flight briefing & safety checks
  
• Outdoor flying practice
  
• Photo & video capture exercises
  
• FPV demo flights
  
• Real-time feedback and peer review

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:

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Saturday, November 21, 2026

Course Coordinator

Mx. Francesco del Carpio, CIFAL York - fdcarpio@yorku.ca