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Out of Ignorance Comes Understanding – the Human Factor

Posted by Abbe Lyle on Jan 26, 2015 2:30:52 PM

It was a beautiful, if cold, morning and I was off on a mapping expedition with Mark Johnson. We each brought along a Phantom and an Inspire (both DJI products) so we could fly a little later in the day. It took us a while to drive to the spot, and we ended up on a long winding road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  The mist had settled, and our location was above it. I was enamored with the view and decided to launch Amelia for some aerial shots prior to starting to help Mark.  All was well, and I was incredibly happy with the aerials when suddenly I heard a gunshot! My mind considered, for a moment that it was a hunting expedition, but in reality my blood ran several degrees colder! I had read of several situations where drones have been shot out of the sky, but never dreamed this would happen to me. No, it was not happening to me, was it?  My hands started shaking and I was finding it hard to control Amelia! Bring her home Abbe bring her back RIGHT NOW! BANG, another shot was fired, no doubt in my mind now. Luckily this shot also missed! My hands are visibly wobbling at this point and I have to navigate through telephone wires and trees. I bring her down as I hear yet another shot.  Thank goodness she, and I (although a little less so) are in one piece. A gentleman approaches with a shotgun with the breach open, and appears visibly angry and shaken all at the same time. I immediately apologize, as it seems the safest course of action, but he is clearly feeling violated. I must emphasize here that I never once felt in danger, as he was extremely careful with his gun. However, I was acutely aware at this point that I had in fact flown over his property, and I had the feeling that he simply felt threatened by Amelia. My jelly like body went through the adrenalin induced automated action of putting my precious Amelia carefully away in her box. She has had so many adventures; I love my inanimate object with her pink stripes and her brave attitude!

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Topics: Inbound Marketing, Marketing with passion, Flying drones, Drone laws

Bringing the Passion Back to the Workday! – Work Hard Play Hard

Posted by Abbe Lyle on Sep 12, 2014 2:55:12 PM

So what is the work hard play hard mentality? Is it the idea that we work so hard and complete our responsibilities so that we can then go play? I don’t think so! To me I don’t just work to play, I am fulfilled in my work and it encourages me to push my limits and find a creative outlet that allows my skills at work to grow.

 As a creative director I constantly want to push the envelope. My latest passions are infrared photography (I have a Canon 1Ds Mk II converted to capture infrared images), which involves a tremendous amount of post processing and pushes me to the limit of my creative ability. And more recently I purchased a DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ quadcopter or ‘drone’ (as they are so affectionately called) and am perfecting my flying skills with the help of an awesome teacher who also embraces the same work hard play hard mentality. 

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Topics: Work hard play hard, Marketing with passion

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