MEET MY DRONE -- A DJI MINI 4K. THERE IS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGY PACKED INTO THIS LITTLE GUY!

Meet My Drone!


For quite some time now, I have been considering purchasing a drone.  I have seen posts on social media where rock imagery enthusiasts have used drones to access and photograph sites that are impossible to access in any other manner.  I follow a gentleman’s blog and he routinely uses drone photographs and footage to enhance his descriptions of beautiful and remote places that he visits during his travels.  So recently, I noticed an entry level (yet well appointed, with a 4k camera) drone on sale and I purchased it.  It is a DJI Mini 4K and it has many great reviews online, and lots of supporting videos on You Tube.

I received my drone on Saturday, October 25, 2025.  The next day I unpacked it, downloaded the owner’s manual and began charging the batteries.  I also watched a couple of different you tube videos and, on the morning of Monday, October 27, 2025 I felt I was ready to make my maiden flight with my little drone.  I must admit I was quite nervous, but as I got the drone airborne and I saw how stable it was, and how responsive it was, my nervousness began to subside.  Below is my very first recorded flight.  As you can see, I launched my drone from the street outside my front gate, flew it down my driveway, through the back yard then over the dry lake bed.  The movements are somewhat jerky, but I am confident that with some adjustments to the factory setting on the Expo and Gimbal controls, and with some practice, I will be able to produce videos that are much smoother and much more enjoyable.  Here is the video of my very first recorded flight…

I have ordered, and received, a carrying case, two extra batteries, and a 256k micro SD card.  So, I should be all set to start refining my skills with the drone.  I mentioned rock imagery applications, but I also have another project in mind.  Lake McQueeney, the lake I live on, has been dry for over three years as we rebuilt our dam.  We have received word that the dam will be completed as early as January of 2026 at which time the lake will be refilled.  So my plan is to make several high altitude videos that document the last stages of the the dam construction as well as the lake while it is dry, then make a series of videos while the lake is being refilled.  That is my plan — we shall see how it goes!  Below are a few photographs I took with the camera function on my drone.  I thought you might enjoy seeing them as well.   

DJI MINI 4K DRONE ON THE LEFT, MY CONTROLLER (WITH TWO JOY STICKS) ON THE RIGHT. THE CONTROLLER USES MY CELL PHONE TO ALLOW ME TO SEE WHAT THE DRONE IS SEEING ON THE SCREEN OF MY CELL PHONE.
STANDING IN MY BACK YARD, WITH THE DRONE HOVERING NEARBY IN FRONT OF ME.
MY WATERFRONT BULKHEAD, DOCK, AND BOATHOUSE AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY MY DRONE.
THIS SHOT, TAKEN FROM FARTHER AWAY, SHOWS A LARGER AREA OF THE SHORELINE, INCLUDING THE WATERFRONTS AND BOATHOUSES OF SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS. VERY COOL, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF!!