Drone 606 A View from Above

Drone 606

A View from Above

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Beginning in 1858, aerial photography found its place in the world with Gaspar Nadar’s first hot air balloon-mounted camera, allowing viewers to better understand what our world looks like from above. By 1903, rockets were being utilized for aerial photography, paving the way for an insightful future filled with magnificent images.

In the early 2000s, drones became available to the general public, developed by hobbyists and shared globally through a shared interest in exploring our vast and wonderful world. With the helping hand of photographic science, images produced through aerial photography have become sharper, clearer, and more easily accessible bringing the joy of the bird’s-eye view to our everyday lives.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to drone aviation as a hobby. One person may find drone photography to be more their pace, while someone else may enjoy first-person-view drone racing or exploration. As drone technology advances, so do the opportunities for enthusiasts—with more capable drone operations, improved cinematic hardware, and increasingly durable materials.

Drone photography hobbyist Austin Manis began his aerial journey by uploading images and videos to the “Drone 606” Facebook page one year ago, capturing the Ashland area and neighboring communities with captivating cinematics to share with everyone. Within just a year of running Drone 606, Manis has provided the Tri-State region with insight into the world of drone cinematics and an ever-changing view of our daily lives.

With images and videos depicting places such as the McConnell House of Wurtland, Kentucky, a nighttime video of the riverfront fireworks display, boat outings along the beautiful Ohio River, aerial views of surrounding cities, and school sports stadiums, a new perspective is now available to the public. For those looking to see our area from a new point of view or discover a tourist destination they may not have access to, Drone 606 has made it possible with easily accessible uploads.

Future content provided by Drone 606 may include cinematic documentaries and aerial coverage of public events, as Manis continues to pursue his artistically driven vision of our Appalachian region. Local happenings such as the “Heritage on the River” tour—a local boat tour on the Ohio River showcasing antique boats—and local football games are on Mr. Manis’ list of future events he plans to cover.

Drone coverage of ship displays, such as with “The Belle of Cincinnati” filmed at the Portsmouth Riverfront by Drone 606, is a fantastic example of Appalachian and Midwest artistic fusion. The 1:29 video of the Belle of Cincinnati provides viewers with a personal and intimate portrayal of a master-crafted vessel, professionally filmed and artistically depicted—giving the world an experience to remember, right from the screens of our phones and computers.

A growing artistic scene has emerged around aerial drone photography, and Drone 606 is quickly becoming a notable member of that community, now boasting 5.2K followers on Facebook.

Anyone interested in viewing Manis’ work—or who may have requests, suggestions, or input for Drone 606—can reach him through the Drone 606 Facebook page or by email at drone606@outlook.com. Whether you're interested in boats, sports, local events, or regional culture, Drone 606 likely has something for you to enjoy.

As Drone 606 continues to fly over the region, wonderful images of our surrounding communities are making their way to your screens.