Brisbane City Night Mission - June 2025

Brisbane CBD – Night Bridge and Landmark Capture Client Brief: Document the city’s key lit bridges and landmarks in celebration of a commemorative lighting event Duration: 2 hour night mission Location: Central Brisbane, QLD Objective Commissioned to capture five iconic Brisbane landmarks illuminated in themed lighting across a two hour window. The client sought high quality night aerial footage and stills for promotional, archival and online publication purposes. Preflight Planning and Coordination Prior to launch, I worked closely with the client to clarify: - The purpose behind the lighting and its intended emotional or symbolic message - Media format expectations—stills, motion video, resolutions and framing guidance - Restrictions and safety protocols relating to UAV operations near built up areas and crowds This dialogue allowed me to fine tune my route to maximise flight efficiency and comply with CASA regulations, avoiding take off or hover directly over people while maintaining optimal visibility of each site. Technical Preparation Understanding the complexity of night missions, I: - Re-calibrated camera systems for low light performance - Reviewed ideal aperture, shutter speed and ISO configurations for long exposure skyline work - Ran test flights at similar light levels earlier in the week to simulate conditions Execution Flying under tight time constraints, I successfully navigated between four of the major illuminated locations, with one location not being achieved due to the lighting not being applied. Each scene was framed for dramatic impact while maintaining clarity and composition—a balance achieved through real time adjustments in altitude and exposure. Deliverables Delivered: - High resolution stills of each landmark (day after edit turnaround) - 4K aerial cinematic cut for social media and internal use - Brief written summary on lighting significance for media reference Outcome The client was very impressed with the video and photographs which showed the stunning Brisbane river by night!