Letting Go

At 12FPS, the final weeks of 2015 have been less of a conclusion than an intriguing prologue. If you ever need to shake up your perspective, try exploring familiar surroundings from 300 feet up. Our San Francisco and Santa Fe offices acquired quadcopters early last month, and we have no doubt that they will transform the way we make things in 2016. Here’s what the Rio Grande Gorge looks like when you have wings:

 Meanwhile in San Francisco, Dwight captured the city’s glass-and-steel canyons from above in this eye-popping video. We’re still identifying all of the ways we can use these peculiar creatures, but for this New Year’s post, I want to talk about the moment right before liftoff. Most of us have never piloted a machine like this before, and although modern drones are pretty sophisticated in their takeoff and landing procedures, there’s still a moment of nervous energy as the propellers start to spin. Hurling an expensive robot into an 800-foot gorge will get you sweating.

So far, the quadcopters have always made it back to base with beautiful footage to share. As we push them to new heights and explore uncharted spaces, we’re learning to trust our instincts. How will you push your boundaries in 2016? It’s never too early to take the first leap!