I am thinking of putting together a drone video of campus sights.

Good thing or bad thing in your opinion? Risk level for getting into trouble?

Please understand before answering this that I do not consider that I have a *right* to do such a thing. Only that it could make for a nice video.
I also would intend doing it at a time of absolute minimum foot traffic...which frankly would be almost nobody at all for the day or time I have in mind. I guess my real concern is really just somebody showing up and putting a stop to it for whatever reason (probably not a terribly *good* reason)..however, being a hassle-wary person, I could do without that.

I would probably contact the Uni admin department and ask them if this is ok first - just so they are aware of what you are doing, etc.

john.lambert4@o Posted at 2015-6-12 09:48
I would probably contact the Uni admin department and ask them if this is ok first - just so they ar ...

Hi John. Y'know, there's a voice on one shoulder that's prompting me to do just that. But there's another voice prompting me that the real world outcome of such an approach, at this institution anyway, is that they are unlikely to know who to refer the question to, or even quite what is actually being asked.

So there's a part of me thinks that if I go that route I might just get a "no" because they probably won't really have a clue what else to say, whereas if I just went ahead, there might never be any problem at all. It is kind of a dilemma.

lightpanther Posted at 2015-6-12 10:06
Hi John. Y'know, there's a voice on one shoulder that's prompting me to do just that. But there's a ...

Yes I know where you are coming from - I could just see the receptionist answering the phone giving you that response!  I guess where I'm coming from is that the University grounds are private property, and if you're not a student there (general public) then you may need permission first.  If you are a student or staff member there, then you'd probably be right.  I work at a private school and have flown my Phantom 2 here a few times and didn't ask permission, and no one said anything.  :-)

john.lambert4@o Posted at 2015-6-12 10:14
Yes I know where you are coming from - I could just see the receptionist answering the phone givin ...

I'm a student and also temporary faculty. But I can't even find a "photography on campus" policy. All I can find is a permission form for YOU giving THEM permission to use you in photographs.

I'm going to be filming at my college alma mater this weekend...with an employee just for safe measure.

Could be difficult getting actual permission...
If you have a friend in The Students Union, try explaining the facts and situation to them first.
They may help get you through the loop holes and any red tape you may encounter.
I would really enjoy seeing your video, when & once you get it finished. ;-)

The ideas are nearly as endless as the various types of people, who fly these beauties.
Which is also cool, and interesting to me.

RedHotPoker

lightpanther Posted at 2015-6-12 10:06
Hi John. Y'know, there's a voice on one shoulder that's prompting me to do just that. But there's a ...

In some cases, it is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission

I contacted our local university and, after speaking with several people, got permission to video. I reassured them I had no interest in going anywhere near the dormitories.
The University Police showed up before I even took off, verified I was who I said I was, and then left me alone.
This was one of my first video's:

scrufytam@gmail Posted at 2015-6-13 00:16
Lander University

Haha, the dormitories.

Gotta love the way the minds of suspicious people work...

salota8550 Posted at 2015-6-13 09:04
it's nice you got permission, it is always better and saves you if something goes wrong or at leas ...

It was P2V+, This video was made in fall of 2014. It was one of the first videos I ever did and edited.

Happy that permission was granted and you had fun flying and filming.
That was cool to watch. Many interesting sights and old established land mark buildings.
Thanks for sharing.

RedHotPoker

RedHotPoker Posted at 2015-6-13 14:06
Happy that permission was granted and you had fun flying and filming.
That was cool to watch. Many i ...

I don't think it's a bad thing that you asked permissions. However, at the same time, when photographers ask permission for situations when they don't actually need to, within the law, it has the potential to erode the basic rights that photographers have.

Unless I'm mistaken, Lander is also a public campus. Again, unless I'm mistaken, photographers have a right to take (noncommercial) pictures or videos in such a context, with the exception of plausibly "private" or "sensitive" areas (dormitories, business offices) and provided that they do not plausibly interfere with other activities. The fact that the camera is an aerial one, or attached to a "drone," is,imo, neither here nor there in this equation.

Not saying that I would not ask for permission. I'm not sure. But I'm also not sure in this circumstance that there is a right to deny it. I think they would actually need some cause for believing there was criminal intent.

lightpanther Posted at 2015-6-14 03:57
I don't think it's a bad thing that you asked permissions. However, at the same time, when photogr ...

Lander is a public University. I asked permission as a courtesy and to keep from being bothered by security should someone complain.
In a lot of situations, I believe and practice that its better to ask forgiveness than permission, but with the bad press that UAV's already get (though most are unfounded), I decided not to risk it.

I also have video of our local Hospital (Self Regional Healthcare). Can't publish it yet, it's part of a bigger project.