Wind, Night, and the Magic of Light: How to Create Masterpieces with Drone LEDs

Imagine: a drone with bright LEDs painting a spiral of light in the night sky above an ancient tower! Photographer Will Ferguson shares the secrets of his mesmerizing shots and explains how to create magic with drones. Want to know how he mastered the wind and captivated millions? Read his story!





Will Ferguson, a London-based photographer, became fascinated with long-exposure light painting at the age of 17, when he first picked up a DSLR.

"It all started with a classic shot: cars on a night highway. Then I started to develop further." "I've always been drawn to drone flying, and I now regularly shoot commercial projects with them for my clients," says Will.



When the photographer learned that an LED lighting manufacturer had developed a kit for securely mounting small but powerful LED lights on drones, he was thrilled. Now he had the chance to combine his two main interests—light painting and drone photography.

Ferguson captured a breathtaking swirl of light and a glowing halo around Broadway Tower in Worcestershire. The photographer says this shot has become one of his favorites. The shoot was challenging, as the weather that evening was windy.

"I went to Broadway Hill to create a halo with a drone, but I soon realized that getting a perfect circle in those conditions would be extremely difficult. "The wind wasn't strong enough to interfere with the flight, but it was strong enough to make the drones' halos look like they'd had too much to drink!" the photographer says.



Using a Sony Alpha 7R III camera and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone, Ferguson created a blue light halo and spiral around the tower. He was able to conceal the effects of the wind by flying in a spiral. This made the drone's oscillations from gusts less noticeable. Furthermore, the wind felt stronger at the top of the tower than at the bottom.



The photographer emphasizes that safety remains a key consideration when shooting at night.

"In the UK, drones are allowed to fly at night according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations. However, I always scan the area beforehand during daylight hours to identify potential hazards, such as electrical wires or tree branches that are difficult to spot in the dark," he explains.



"Night photography is the magic of solitude and drama, enhanced by a long exposure," Ferguson shares.



For post-processing, he used Adobe Lightroom to brighten the colors and highlight the lighting.



Finally, Ferguson offers some advice to other aspiring photographers:

Shoot what you're truly interested in. Create as much content as possible and focus on the subjects you're missing in your portfolio. This way, you'll always get high-quality shots and constantly strive for new ideas and improvements. For me, the drone spiral against the Broadway Tower is a prime example of this approach. I simply went out and took a photo because I enjoy it. When I posted the photo, it was unexpectedly liked by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Soon after, brands began approaching me about collaborating on commercial projects. It turns out fortune favors those who create it themselves.



Will Ferguson's project shows how creativity, technique, and passion can combine to create a truly mesmerizing experience. Have you ever tried shooting at night or flying a drone in the dark? What is the perfect blend of technology and art for you? Share your impressions and dreams in the comments.