What is Third Person Example - FlyingMachineArena

The concept of “third person” in narrative and writing is fundamental to understanding how stories are told. When applied to the context of aerial filmmaking and videography, particularly with drones, the “third person example” takes on a visual and dynamic dimension, offering a unique perspective on capturing events, landscapes, and action. This article will explore the essence of third-person perspective in aerial filmmaking, dissecting its applications, techniques, and the creative possibilities it unlocks for drone operators and storytellers.

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The Essence of Third-Person Perspective in Aerial Filmmaking

In traditional storytelling, the third-person narrator is an external observer who can report on events without being a participant. This perspective often provides a broader view, allowing the audience to understand the context and the relationships between different elements of a scene. When translated to drone videography, the “third person example” refers to a shot where the drone acts as this external observer, filming the subject from a distance that frames them within their environment.

This is distinct from first-person (POV) shots, where the camera is placed as if it were the eyes of the subject, or close-up shots that focus intently on the subject’s details without broader environmental context. A third-person aerial shot typically situates the subject within their surroundings, offering a sense of scale, location, and action unfolding in a specific place. The viewer feels like they are watching the subject from a slightly elevated, objective viewpoint, similar to how a spectator might observe a scene from a balcony or a hill.

Defining the Third-Person Aerial Shot

A third-person aerial shot, in the context of drone filmmaking, is characterized by several key elements:

External Observation: The drone acts as an impartial observer, positioned outside the immediate action of the subject.
Environmental Context: The frame includes not only the subject but also a significant portion of their surroundings, establishing the setting and environment. This could be a vast landscape, a bustling cityscape, or a specific venue.
Sense of Scale: By showing the subject in relation to their environment, the shot conveys the scale of both the subject and the environment, which can be used for dramatic or informative purposes.
Objective Viewpoint: The perspective is generally detached, avoiding the personal immersion of a first-person shot. The audience is made aware of the subject’s actions and their place within a larger narrative or geographical context.
Subject Framing: The subject is usually clearly identifiable within the frame, but they are not the sole focus of the shot to the exclusion of everything else.

Distinguishing from Other Perspectives

To truly grasp the “third person example” in aerial filmmaking, it’s crucial to differentiate it from other common drone camera angles:

First-Person View (FPV): In FPV drone flying and filmmaking, the camera is attached to the drone and transmits a live feed directly to the pilot’s goggles. This creates an immersive experience, as if the viewer is piloting the drone themselves. This is inherently a first-person perspective, offering a highly personal and often fast-paced viewpoint.
Top-Down (Bird’s-Eye View): While offering a broad perspective, a direct top-down shot emphasizes the geometric patterns and layout of a scene rather than the dynamic interaction of a subject within it. It’s an extreme form of an objective view, often used for mapping or showcasing architectural designs.
Subject-Focused Close-Ups: These shots, while potentially captured by a drone, zoom in tightly on a specific detail of the subject. They offer intimacy and highlight specific elements but lack the contextual information of a third-person shot.

The third-person example, therefore, strikes a balance. It’s informative like a bird’s-eye view but also shows the subject’s agency and presence in a way that close-ups do. It’s objective like a bird’s-eye view but offers a more dynamic, narrative engagement with the subject’s movement and interaction with their surroundings.

Applications of the Third-Person Aerial Perspective

The versatility of the third-person aerial perspective makes it invaluable across numerous applications within filmmaking and content creation. Its ability to establish context, showcase action, and convey emotion makes it a cornerstone technique for drone cinematographers.

Establishing Shot and Contextualization

One of the most fundamental uses of the third-person aerial shot is the establishing shot. When a film or video segment needs to introduce a location or a scene, a drone can provide a sweeping third-person view that immediately grounds the audience.

Geographical Placement: A drone soaring over a mountain range, revealing a lone hiker in the distance, immediately places the viewer in a remote, majestic environment. Similarly, a shot of a drone flying above a city skyline, with a specific building or street highlighted, serves to orient the audience.
Environmental Storytelling: The environment often plays a crucial role in storytelling. A third-person shot of a car driving through a desolate desert landscape, or a group of kayakers navigating a rushing river, uses the environment to amplify the mood and narrative tension. The vastness or danger of the surroundings becomes an active element in the story.
Scale and Scope: For events like concerts, festivals, or sporting competitions, a third-person aerial shot provides a breathtaking overview of the scale and energy of the gathering. This shot can convey the magnitude of the event and the collective experience of the attendees.

Showcasing Action and Movement

Beyond static context, the third-person aerial perspective excels at capturing subjects in motion, highlighting their interaction with the environment and their own internal dynamics.

Tracking Shots: A common application is the tracking shot, where the drone follows a moving subject (a runner, a cyclist, a vehicle) from a third-person vantage point. This allows the viewer to see the subject’s progress and their relationship to the terrain they are traversing. The drone can maintain a consistent distance and angle, creating a smooth, cinematic flow.
Revealing Narrative Progression: In scenarios involving a journey or a quest, a third-person aerial shot can effectively illustrate the progress of a protagonist. Imagine a drone following a person walking from a small cabin towards a distant mountain peak; this visual narrative clearly communicates their goal and the effort involved.
Highlighting Interaction: When multiple subjects are involved, a third-person aerial view can capture their interactions within a broader context. For instance, a drone filming a drone race from slightly behind and to the side of the lead drone allows viewers to see the pack, the track, and the competitive jostling.

Conveying Emotion and Atmosphere

While objective in its observation, the third-person perspective can powerfully evoke emotions and contribute to the overall atmosphere of a scene.

Isolation and Vulnerability: A wide third-person shot of a single individual dwarfed by a vast, empty landscape can powerfully convey feelings of isolation, loneliness, or vulnerability. The sheer scale of the environment emphasizes the subject’s smallness.
Freedom and Exhilaration: Conversely, a dynamic third-person shot of someone surfing a wave, with the drone capturing their movement from a slightly elevated and trailing position, can convey a sense of freedom and exhilaration. The fluid motion of the subject against the backdrop of the ocean creates an aspirational image.
Epic and Grandiose: For grand vistas and dramatic landscapes, a third-person aerial shot can imbue a scene with a sense of epic scale and natural grandeur. Filming a lone climber ascending a towering cliff face from a third-person perspective amplifies the dramatic and heroic nature of their endeavor.

Creative Techniques for Third-Person Aerial Shots

Mastering the third-person perspective in drone filmmaking involves not just positioning the drone but also employing specific camera movements and framing techniques to enhance the narrative and visual impact.

The “Orbit” or “Point of Interest” Shot

This popular technique involves the drone flying in a circular path around a stationary or moving subject.

Cinematic Reveal: Starting with a wider third-person view of the subject and their surroundings, the drone then smoothly orbits them, gradually bringing them into sharper focus or revealing more of their environment as it circles. This creates a sense of unveiling and intrigue.
Dynamic Character Study: For a subject who is performing an action or is the focal point of a scene, the orbit shot allows the viewer to see them from multiple angles without feeling disorienting. It’s a way to explore the subject and their interaction with the space they occupy.
Maintaining Subject Focus: The drone operator must skillfully keep the subject centered in the frame throughout the orbit, often using the drone’s intelligent flight modes or precise manual control.

The “Follow” or “Tracking” Shot Variations

While a basic follow shot keeps the subject in the frame, advanced third-person variations add layers of complexity and storytelling.

Leading the Subject: The drone flies ahead of the subject, looking back at them. This can create a sense of anticipation or show the subject’s destination.
Following from the Side/Rear: The drone maintains a consistent distance and angle from the side or rear of the subject, capturing their movement and interaction with the environment. This is ideal for showcasing journeys, races, or any activity involving forward progression.
Rising/Descending Follow: The drone can ascend or descend while following the subject, dynamically changing the perspective and revealing more or less of the environment as the shot progresses. This adds a sense of depth and evolution to the scene.

“Reveal” and “Conceal” Techniques

Third-person shots are excellent for strategic reveals and concealments that build suspense or deliver impactful moments.

Pulling Back for Context: A shot might begin with a closer third-person view of a subject engaged in an activity, and then the drone gradually pulls back, revealing the vastness of their location or the larger scope of the situation.
Flying Over/Behind Obstacles: The drone can fly over or behind elements in the foreground to reveal the subject and their environment. For example, flying over a row of trees to reveal a hidden cabin, or emerging from behind a mountain peak to show a valley.

Utilizing Camera Tilt and Roll

The subtle manipulation of the camera’s tilt and roll can significantly enhance the narrative impact of a third-person aerial shot.

Nose-Up/Nose-Down Tilt: A slight upward tilt can emphasize ascension or aspiration, while a downward tilt can convey gravity or descent. This is often combined with tracking shots.
Roll for Dynamics: While less common in purely third-person observation, a controlled roll can add a dynamic flair to certain action sequences, making the viewer feel the energy of the movement. This must be used judiciously to avoid disorientation.

Technical Considerations for Third-Person Aerial Filmmaking

Achieving compelling third-person aerial shots requires more than just creative vision; it demands a solid understanding of drone capabilities, environmental factors, and the technical nuances of aerial cinematography.

Drone Selection and Capabilities

The choice of drone significantly impacts the types of third-person shots that can be executed.

Camera Gimbal Stability: A high-quality gimbal is paramount. It ensures that the camera remains stable and level, even during drone movement, which is essential for smooth, professional-looking third-person shots. Advanced gimbals offer 3-axis stabilization for buttery-smooth footage.
Flight Performance and Control: For complex maneuvers like orbits and dynamic tracking shots, a drone with responsive flight controls and sufficient battery life is crucial. Drones capable of higher speeds and agile movements open up more creative possibilities.
Intelligent Flight Modes: Many modern drones offer intelligent flight modes designed for specific cinematic shots, such as “Point of Interest” (orbit), “ActiveTrack” (subject tracking), and “Waypoint” navigation. These can automate complex third-person movements, allowing the operator to focus on framing and storytelling.

Lighting and Environmental Factors

The environment and lighting conditions play a critical role in the success of any aerial shot, including third-person perspectives.

Golden Hour and Blue Hour: Shooting during the “golden hour” (shortly after sunrise and before sunset) or the “blue hour” (after sunset) provides soft, warm, or cool lighting that can dramatically enhance the mood and visual appeal of a landscape and its inhabitants. This lighting often complements third-person shots by adding depth and texture.
Weather Conditions: Wind, rain, and fog can all affect flight safety and image quality. Operators must be aware of weather forecasts and plan accordingly. However, certain atmospheric conditions, like fog, can also be leveraged creatively in third-person shots to create a mysterious or ethereal mood.
Line of Sight and Obstacles: Maintaining a clear line of sight between the drone and the controller is essential for safe operation. Operators must be aware of potential obstacles such as trees, power lines, and buildings that could interfere with flight paths or frame compositions.

Framing and Composition Principles

Applying established principles of cinematography to aerial third-person shots is key to creating visually compelling narratives.

Rule of Thirds: While the drone provides an elevated view, applying the rule of thirds to place the subject off-center within the frame can create a more dynamic and aesthetically pleasing composition.
Leading Room and Headroom: When tracking a subject, providing adequate “leading room” (space in front of the subject in the direction of movement) helps the viewer anticipate where they are going. “Headroom” (space above the subject) should be considered to balance the composition and convey the environment effectively.
Depth and Layers: Effective third-person shots often create a sense of depth by layering elements within the frame – foreground, mid-ground, and background. A drone’s ability to move through these layers allows for dynamic reveals and a more immersive visual experience.

In conclusion, the “third person example” in aerial filmmaking is a powerful storytelling tool. By positioning the drone as an external, objective observer, filmmakers can establish context, showcase dynamic action, and evoke a wide range of emotions. Mastering the techniques and technical considerations associated with this perspective allows drone operators to elevate their craft and create truly engaging visual narratives from the sky.