Bandy is often described as “football on ice,” but for the modern aerial cinematographer, it represents one of the most challenging and rewarding subjects in the realm of sports filmmaking. To understand what Bandy is, one must look beyond the skates and sticks and see the massive tactical geometry of the game. Unlike ice hockey, which is played in cramped rinks with high boards, Bandy is played on a vast sheet of ice roughly the size of a professional soccer pitch. This immense scale, combined with the blistering speed of the players and the small, high-visibility orange ball, creates a unique set of requirements for aerial filmmakers seeking to capture the essence of the sport.
Capturing Bandy from the air is not merely about tracking movement; it is about documenting a high-speed chess match. The sport’s reliance on long-distance passing, rapid transitions, and wide-set tactical formations makes traditional ground-based cameras struggle to convey the full narrative. This is where aerial filmmaking becomes the primary tool for storytelling, utilizing specific flight paths and creative angles to bridge the gap between the individual athlete’s intensity and the team’s strategic symphony.
The Cinematic Scale of the Bandy Pitch
To define what Bandy is through a lens, one must first respect its dimensions. A standard Bandy field measures up to 110 meters in length and 65 meters in width. For a filmmaker, this vastness provides a literal blank canvas of white ice, which serves as a high-contrast background for the players. However, this scale also introduces the “empty space” problem. Without a sophisticated flight plan, drone footage can easily become lost in the expanse of the ice.
The Tactical Top-Down Perspective
The H3 “God’s Eye View” is the most critical shot in Bandy cinematography. By positioning the drone at an altitude of 30 to 50 meters directly above the center circle, filmmakers can capture the 11-on-11 formation as it shifts. In Bandy, players do not use “dump and chase” tactics; they use complex skating arcs to open up lanes. A static or slowly drifting top-down shot allows viewers to see these lanes opening in real-time. To execute this effectively, the gimbal must be locked at a strict -90 degrees, and the pilot must use subtle yaw movements to follow the flow of play without inducing motion sickness in the audience.
Establishing the Environment
Bandy is deeply rooted in winter culture, often played in outdoor stadiums under heavy floodlights or amidst falling snow. Creative aerial filmmaking uses these environmental factors to set the mood. A low-altitude “reveal” shot—starting behind the stadium architecture or a snowbank and rising rapidly to showcase the illuminated ice—immediately establishes the “cold-weather gladiatorial” atmosphere of the sport.
Advanced Flight Paths for High-Speed Tracking
The ball in Bandy is small, hard, and can reach speeds exceeding 150 kilometers per hour during a “stroke” (the Bandy equivalent of a shot). Tracking this motion requires more than just a fast drone; it requires anticipatory flight paths.
The Lead-and-Chase Maneuver
One of the most effective techniques for capturing a breakaway in Bandy is the parallel lead-and-chase. Instead of following directly behind a player, the pilot positions the drone roughly five meters to the side and three meters ahead of the lead attacker. This “profile” view captures the player’s effort, the spray of ice from their skates, and the vast field ahead of them. As the player approaches the goal, the drone transitions into a “wrap-around” motion, orbiting the player to capture the strike and the goalkeeper’s reaction in one continuous, cinematic sweep.
The Corner Stroke Orbit
The corner stroke is one of the most dramatic moments in Bandy. Up to 11 defenders stand on the goal line, ready to rush out as the ball is played in. To film this, an orbital flight path is ideal. By setting a Point of Interest (POI) on the goal mouth and executing a wide arc as the ball is struck, the filmmaker captures the explosive “fanning out” of the defenders against the concentrated drive of the attacking team. This requires precise throttle control to maintain altitude while the centrifugal force of the orbit pulls the drone outward.
Technical Considerations: Filming on the Ice
Filming Bandy presents a unique set of technical hurdles, particularly regarding light management and equipment endurance in sub-zero temperatures.
Managing High-Contrast Environments
The primary challenge in Bandy cinematography is the ice itself. It acts as a massive reflector, bouncing stadium lights or sunlight directly into the sensor. To achieve a professional, cinematic look, the use of Neutral Density (ND) filters and Polarizers is non-negotiable. A Circular Polarizer is particularly effective on ice, as it cuts through the glare and allows the camera to see the texture of the skate marks, adding a layer of grit and realism to the footage. Furthermore, filming in 4K at 60 or 120 frames per second is essential; the speed of Bandy is so high that standard 24fps often results in “ghosting” of the ball and sticks.
Battery and Signal Integrity in the Cold
Bandy is a winter sport, and cold weather is the enemy of lithium-polymer batteries. Professional aerial filmmakers must utilize battery heaters and “insulation stickers” to maintain optimal operating temperatures. In a 90-minute Bandy match, flight times are often reduced by 30-40%. Additionally, large-scale Bandy arenas often feature significant steel reinforcement in the stands, which can cause multi-path interference. Maintaining a clear Line of Sight (LOS) and using high-gain antennas is vital for ensuring the live feed doesn’t stutter during a crucial goal-mouth scramble.
The Art of the Narrative: Creative Angles and Transitions
What distinguishes a professional sports film from a simple recording is the ability to tell a story. In Bandy, the story is often found in the transitions between long-range strategy and close-quarters combat.
The “Skate-Level” Skim
For a truly immersive experience, pilots can employ FPV (First-Person View) drones to perform “skate-level” skims. By flying just inches above the ice at speeds of 60-80 kph, the drone mimics the perspective of a player. This angle emphasizes the incredible skating proficiency required in Bandy. The proximity to the ice creates a sense of “motion blur” in the foreground that makes the footage feel significantly faster and more dangerous, providing a visceral counterpoint to the high-altitude tactical shots.
Capturing the “Swirl”
Bandy is famous for its “swirls”—where players loop back toward their own half to reset the play. This circular motion is a hallmark of the sport. An aerial filmmaker can mirror this by using a “counter-yaw” technique. As the player loops left, the drone orbits right. This creates a dynamic “parallax” effect, where the background appears to move at a different speed than the subject, highlighting the player’s agility and the fluid nature of the game.
The Future of Bandy Cinematography: AI and Automation
As we look toward the future of how Bandy is documented, technology is playing an increasingly central role. The sheer size of the pitch makes it an ideal candidate for AI-driven tracking systems.
Autonomous Follow Modes and Ball Tracking
Current innovations in AI allow drones to lock onto specific shapes and colors. In Bandy, the bright orange ball and the distinct uniforms of the players provide the perfect high-contrast targets for autonomous follow modes. Future broadcasts will likely utilize “mesh networks” of drones that hand off tracking duties as the ball travels from one end of the 110-meter field to the other. This ensures that the action is never out of frame, even during the most chaotic transitions.
FPV Integration in Live Broadcasts
We are already seeing the integration of FPV drones in professional Bandy leagues in Sweden and Russia. These drones, capable of extreme maneuvers and high speeds, provide the “impossible” angles—flying through the goal frame or following a long-distance “hail mary” pass from the goalkeeper to the striker. The result is a viewing experience that feels more like a choreographed action movie than a traditional sports broadcast.
In summary, when asking “what is Bandy sport,” the answer for a filmmaker is that it is a masterpiece of movement, scale, and speed. It is a sport that demands the very best in aerial filmmaking technology and creative execution. By mastering the flight paths, managing the technical rigors of the cold, and utilizing the latest in AI tracking, cinematographers can finally give this “winter football” the epic visual treatment it deserves, capturing every sweep, strike, and swirl in breathtaking detail.