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Drone technology makes images like this possible without a satellite or helicopter. Mark says he is inspired by the ever-changing natural beauty of the coast.
Initially it was the practical and fun applications of drones that got people excited, but increasingly photographers are exploring their possibilities as a creative tool, including Stanmore Bay photographer Mark Yelavic.
He first used a drone 10 years ago and says the technology has advanced fast since then.
“It was very basic – you had to attach your camera to the bottom of the drone and the range was around 600-700m,” Mark says. “Now it’s done with your phone, connects to Wifi and can go up to 7km away.”
He is now on his sixth or seventh drone, saying he has put a few “into a watery grave”. But mostly getting new drones has been about keeping up with the latest technology. His current drone is around 70 percent smaller than his first one and the camera quality is rapidly improving.
Mark has always been interested in visual arts – as a 13-year-old he stole his parents’ Handycam to take videos of his friends skateboarding.
A scholarship to Avalon Film Studios for film and media studies followed, and he then worked for Sky TV as a sports cameraperson.
These days he is in IT, which, he says, “pays the bills and allows me to buy drones”.
His first use of drones involved experimentation and real estate videos. But his creativity was unlocked as the camera became integrated with the drone controller.
“I used to strap a GoPro to the bottom of the drone, so you couldn’t see what you were filming and had to wait and see what you had,” Mark says.
“Once the camera allowed you to look at a bird’s eye view, I began exploring Stanmore Bay and noticing beautiful rock formations and the way the ocean meets the sand from this whole new aerial perspective. It’s totally captured my interest and is forever changing.”
His work became more and more abstract and artistic with one of his recent images, of his son floating in a “secret” rock pool, causing huge interest online.
“In the past to get these images you had to hire a helicopter, but drones have vastly reduced that cost and time barrier and made it super accessible to photograph from a height. I can just walk to the beach and take these images in my lunch break.”
The recent lockdown gave him the opportunity to walk about more with his camera and he is now offering art prints for sale, and hoping to one day have an exhibition at Estuary Arts Centre.
“I want my photos to showcase the Hibiscus Coast and encourage people to explore – get away from the computer and go and look around with your kids.”
