In the rapidly evolving world of aerial filmmaking, the term “Garlic Knot” has emerged as a sophisticated shorthand for one of the most complex and visually arresting flight maneuvers a pilot can execute. While the name might suggest a culinary origin, in the context of high-end cinematography, it refers to a multi-axis flight path that combines a tight orbit, a vertical ascent, and a synchronized gimbal pitch. The result is a shot that appears to “wrap” around a subject, creating a sense of depth and three-dimensional immersion that static shots or simple orbits cannot replicate.
The Garlic Knot is more than just a trick; it is a foundational technique for cinematographers looking to break the “drone look.” As consumer drones have made basic aerial photography accessible to everyone, professional filmmakers have had to innovate, developing maneuvers that require a high degree of manual skill and an intimate understanding of spatial geometry. Mastering the Garlic Knot is often seen as a rite of passage for aerial directors of photography (DPs), signaling a transition from basic flight to true cinematic artistry.
The Anatomy of the Maneuver: Deconstructing the Path
To understand what a Garlic Knot is, one must first deconstruct the physics of the movement. At its core, the maneuver is a hybrid of a helix and a point-of-interest (POI) orbit. However, unlike a standard orbit where the drone maintains a consistent altitude and distance, the Garlic Knot requires the pilot to vary both parameters simultaneously while introducing a third element: the “twist.”
The Spherical Orbit
The foundation of the Garlic Knot is the spherical orbit. In a standard circular orbit, the drone moves on a flat 2D plane. In a spherical orbit—the “knot” portion—the drone moves across the surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding the subject. This means that as the drone moves laterally around the subject, it is also moving vertically (either ascending or descending) and adjusting its distance (radially). This creates a path that resembles the curved, interlocking structure of a physical knot.
Gimbal Synchronization
The most difficult aspect of the Garlic Knot is the gimbal work. To keep the subject perfectly centered while the drone is changing altitude and distance at varying speeds, the pilot (or a dedicated gimbal operator) must counter-pitch the camera. If the drone is ascending while moving closer to the subject, the camera must pitch down at an accelerating rate to maintain the composition. This synchronization is what gives the shot its “tight” feel, pulling the viewer’s eye into the center of the frame while the background appears to warp and swirl around the subject.
The “Twist” (Yaw and Roll Integration)
What differentiates a high-quality Garlic Knot from a messy spiral is the integration of yaw and roll. In FPV (First Person View) cinematography, this is often achieved by “snapping” the roll of the drone to align with the horizon as it rounds the apex of its curve. In traditional cinema drones, this is done through subtle yaw adjustments that ensure the subject remains the anchor of the frame even as the perspective shifts 180 or 360 degrees.
The Cinematic Purpose: Why Use the Garlic Knot?
In aerial filmmaking, every movement should serve the narrative. The Garlic Knot is not merely a display of pilot skill; it is a powerful storytelling tool used to evoke specific emotional responses or to highlight the scale and importance of a subject within its environment.
Creating a Sense of Isolation or Grandeur
The Garlic Knot is particularly effective at isolating a subject. Because the camera is constantly moving in multiple directions, the parallax effect is maximized. This means that objects in the foreground and background move across the frame at different speeds, creating a profound sense of depth. When executed around a person standing on a mountain peak or a lone vehicle on a desert road, the “knotting” motion emphasizes the subject’s isolation, making them appear as the center of a swirling universe.
The Reveal and the Wrap
One of the most popular uses of the Garlic Knot is as a “reveal” shot. The maneuver starts low and close to the subject, hiding the surrounding landscape. As the drone begins its ascending orbit, the camera slowly “unknots” its perspective, revealing the vast environment behind the subject. This transition from an intimate close-up to a wide-angle vista in a single, fluid motion is a hallmark of high-budget commercial and feature film cinematography.
Breaking the Linear Perspective
Human vision is naturally linear, and most traditional camera movements (pans, tilts, dollies) mimic this. The Garlic Knot, however, introduces a non-linear perspective. By moving in a curved, multi-dimensional path, the drone captures angles that are impossible for a ground-based camera to achieve. This creates a “dreamlike” or “otherworldly” quality, which is why the maneuver is frequently used in music videos and high-concept branding films where the goal is to captivate the audience through visual novelty.
Mastering the Technical Execution
Executing a Garlic Knot requires a combination of hardware proficiency and muscle memory. While modern flight controllers and AI-assisted modes can automate parts of the process, the most “organic” and cinematic Garlic Knots are almost always flown manually.
Stick Coordination and Muscle Memory
For a pilot, the Garlic Knot is a “four-finger” maneuver. The left stick handles altitude and yaw, while the right stick handles pitch and roll (assuming Mode 2). To execute the knot, the pilot must apply a steady amount of yaw and roll to maintain the orbit, while simultaneously pushing the pitch stick forward to close the distance and the throttle up to gain height. The complexity lies in the fact that these inputs are not static; they must be adjusted in real-time to compensate for wind, momentum, and the changing distance to the subject.
The Importance of Frame Rates
Because the Garlic Knot involves significant lateral and vertical movement, shutter speed and frame rate are critical. To avoid “judder” or strobing in the background, many cinematographers prefer to shoot the Garlic Knot at higher frame rates, such as 60fps or even 120fps, and then slow it down in post-production. This “overcranking” smooths out the motion and allows the viewer to appreciate the intricate parallax shifts that happen as the drone completes its knot.
Safety and Spatial Awareness
The Garlic Knot is a high-risk maneuver because it often requires the drone to fly close to the subject while the pilot’s focus is split between the monitor and the physical drone. Furthermore, because the drone is moving in a complex arc, it is easy to lose track of obstacles that might be in the flight path but out of the camera’s field of view. Professional teams often use a visual observer (VO) to track the drone’s physical position while the pilot focuses entirely on the framing of the “knot.”
Equipment Considerations for the Perfect Knot
Not all drones are created equal when it comes to executing this specific maneuver. The hardware used can significantly impact the fluidity and “tightness” of the shot.
Gimbal Performance and Range of Motion
A drone with a limited gimbal tilt range will struggle to maintain a Garlic Knot, especially during the high-altitude portion of the orbit. Drones with a 360-degree rotating gimbal are ideal for this, as they allow the camera to track the subject independently of the drone’s heading. This allows the pilot to focus on the flight path while the gimbal operator ensures the “knot” remains centered.
Sensor Size and Depth of Field
The visual impact of a Garlic Knot is largely dependent on the bokeh and the separation between the subject and the background. Large-sensor drones (Micro Four Thirds or Full Frame) provide a shallower depth of field, which enhances the swirling background effect. When the background is slightly out of focus, the movement of the drone feels more pronounced, making the “knotting” action feel faster and more dynamic.
Propulsion and Agility
Weight-to-power ratios are also a factor. A heavy, sluggish drone will “drift” during a tight orbit, making the knot look sloppy. Highly agile drones with high-torque motors are preferred because they can change direction and velocity instantly, allowing for the “tight” transitions that give the Garlic Knot its name.
The Future of the Maneuver: AI and Automation
As we look toward the future of aerial filmmaking, the question arises: will the Garlic Knot remain a manual skill, or will it be relegated to a software preset? Recent advancements in autonomous flight technology, such as AI-driven subject tracking and waypoint “curve” interpolation, have made it possible for even novice pilots to approximate the maneuver.
However, many professional cinematographers argue that AI-generated knots lack the “soul” of manual flight. A computer-generated path is mathematically perfect, which can sometimes look sterile. Manual flight allows for subtle variations in speed and framing—a slight “lean” into a curve or a momentary pause at the apex—that add a layer of human intention to the shot.
Regardless of how it is executed, the Garlic Knot stands as a testament to the sophistication of modern aerial filmmaking. It is a maneuver that challenges the pilot, pushes the hardware to its limits, and provides the audience with a perspective that is as complex and satisfying as its namesake. For anyone serious about the craft of cinematography from the sky, the Garlic Knot is not just a shot; it is the ultimate expression of flight and film.