When I started flying drones and capturing aerial images, my goal was first of all to share beautiful landscapes and create relaxing musical videos that invite people to travel and discover new places.
Over time, I became more aware that looking for beautiful images should never come at the expense of nature, wildlife or the peace of a location. A photo or a video, however beautiful it may be, is not worth it if it disturbs animals or damages the environment.
With that mindset, I discovered Nature First, a movement created by photographers who share a simple but essential idea: nature must always come before the image.
This philosophy fits perfectly with the way I fly. I always try to respect the places I visit, avoid disturbing wildlife, respect people’s privacy and leave no trace behind me.
An experience in Finland made this conviction even stronger.
During a stay in Rovaniemi, I had planned a hike of about five kilometres to reach the beautiful frozen waterfalls of Korouoma. Before every flight, I always take time to prepare the project carefully and check the local regulations. Because it was a natural park, I contacted the Finnish national parks service to ask whether flying a drone there was allowed. I also told them that if it was not permitted, I would naturally respect their decision.
I did not really expect to receive an answer, but they took the time to reply. They explained that at the time I was visiting, in November, there was no particular breeding or nesting period for birds. I was therefore allowed to fly, provided that I respected other visitors and kept noise disturbance to a minimum. I was delighted and even kept their email with me in case of an inspection.
By chance, I did the hike twice with two different groups. The first visit helped me notice an important detail: there was absolutely no mobile network in the area. On my second visit, despite having permission and despite the guide being completely open to the idea of me flying the drone, I finally decided to leave it in my bag.
I knew that without a connection I was taking the risk of losing some safety functions, and I did not want to risk a fly away. I am also a very poor climber, and the idea of retrieving my DJI Mini 4 Pro from the top of a tree or from the bottom of a frozen waterfall was not exactly appealing! So I gave up on that flight, even though it was not an easy decision.
These situations are part of drone flying. Sometimes it is better to come back without images than to take unnecessary risks.
Fortunately, my stay in Finland gave me another opportunity. After a full week under cloudy skies, without seeing the northern lights, the last day turned out to be absolutely beautiful. The sky was clear, the temperature was around -15 °C, and my small DJI Mini 4 Pro handled the cold perfectly. I was able to make a beautiful flight above Rovaniemi and create one of the videos I am most proud of today.
I do not pretend to be perfect, and I am still learning. Joining the Nature First philosophy is not about lecturing anyone. It is simply a way of remembering that we all have a role to play in protecting the places that inspire us.
Today, this approach is naturally part of Fly-WithMe and of the way I live my passion for drones, photography and travel.
Because in the end, nature will always come before the image.
Below, you can watch my video filmed in Finland, near Rovaniemi.