Photographer and student Chia Joel captures vibrant perspectives with his drone photography. (Chia Joel)

“The Internet is changing lives” is an understatement. It’s a valuable, educational resource for any subject—drone photography included.“I was really intrigued and amazed by such views and went to research about the technology available,” 24-year-old photographer Chia Joel, the man behind the , told weather.com. His “random” encounter with a drone video on YouTube struck his curiosity, leading him to immediately get his hands on a drone.It didn’t take Joel long before he was taking stunning aerials of cities. “I played around with the drones a couple of times, say two to three flights, before I got the hang of the flight controls,” he said. After understanding the controls, he experimented with the camera. “Subsequently, it was really just finding the right locations and envisioning the shots in my mind.”Joel gravitates toward color in his work. “Vibrant colors really captivate me, and definitely in terms of my home country Singapore,” he said. “I strive for my work to showcase Singapore’s beauty in a whole new perspective, one that we don’t often see.”(MORE: )

The photographer, who is currently a student in United Kingdom, also takes his drone photography to other cities. “As for my themes around the world, I love traveling and I hope to capture all the amazing wonders of the world in a whole new creative perspective as well,” he said.“When I’m traveling overseas, I would really explore the ground, drive around, check for no-fly zones and try to envision my aerials even before I set up my drone,” Joel said. “I’m someone who really enjoys just taking the train, so while I’m on the train, I would always be [on] the lookout for nice architecture… that I would be able to capture.”Drone photography, however, takes more than creative vision. Weather conditions and drone handling are important to consider when trying to capture the “perfect” shot. For example, Joel experienced some difficulties when flying his drone at the Great Wall of China. “The landing and takeoff space [were] really tight, as I had to be on the [wall] myself, and there were constantly streams of [people] traffic flowing up and down the wall, in all directions, many would come by and take a look at what I was doing, which can be rather distracting and dangerous as well,” Joel said. “Furthermore, the winds were strong and the sun was glaring. This only made it more challenging, but still very fulfilling at the end of the day when I completed my shoot.”Because Joel’s drone is neither water-resistant or waterproof, he must be extra vigilant of the weather forecast. “Before I even head out on any given day, I would have to check the weather forecast for the day, such as the possibility of rain, as well as the wind conditions,” he said. The winds strongly affect the stability of the drone as it hovers.

When weather and creativity are on Joel’s side, he can produce a beautiful aerial image. “I believe that the most important component [is] to develop and create a unique footprint in your aerials, one that brings about the photographer’s own personal flavor to the photo,” he said. “Whether it be a style or a personal tone that people would be able to identify with whenever they come across your photos.”