A Winning Combination

As night falls on the city, Philadelphia begins to glow.

Combining a magical time of day with the vantage point of a drone can lead to truly stunning images. Drone photography at twilight combines two of my passions—flying a drone and capturing images during the fleeting ambiance of dusk. Not only is it a fun way to take photos, it also has a technical benefit.

Night falls on Logan Circle and the Parkway in Philadelphia.

A photograph taken in a darkening sky requires a longer exposure, and fortunately, the advanced technology of modern drones provides a steady platform to get the exposure just right.

A drone’s-eye view highlights the eclectic mix of building styles on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

I’ve written about how much I enjoy twilight photography before. Having such a short window to shoot, sometimes less than an hour, is an exciting challenge. This time of day makes all buildings look dramatic and visually compelling.

Sometimes a drone doesn’t need to be high in the sky to capture the best angle. The reflection in the water feature of this office building in King of Prussia doubles the amount of twilight.

I took this shot to highlight the location of an apartment complex along the river, but the fantastic view of the Philadelphia skyline is a nice bonus!

Shooting at twilight really emphasizes the activity and bustle of the Canvas Valley Forge at the King of Prussia Town Center.

The streaks of moving cars on the highway add interest to this overview of The Pointe, an apartment complex in West Chester, PA.

The sun sinks below the horizon behind corporate office buildings in Conshohocken, PA.