The Drone Dish: KAPtureDM

Kevin A. Powers joins Ryan Hoag on this episode to talk about everything from the Marines to Bigfoot! You might recognize Kevin's work through his photography company, KAPture Digital Media. They have aerial photography and video solutions for just about everyone, from the chief of police to whale watchers!

Check out all of Kevin's uploads here
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And for more amazing aerial views, check out AirVūz.com READ FULL VIDEO TRANSCRIPT HERE: Ryan: Welcome to the Drone Dish, today we have professional videographer, Kevin Powers, also known as KAPture DM. Good afternoon, Kevin Kevin: Good afternoon, Ryan, how's it going today? Ryan: Doing well, hey thanks for joining us. Now, most of the Drone Dish people we have on our show have a passion for photography, and while you may have that you have a little different back story that involves drones. [00:00:30] What's that all about? Kevin: So, I was in a Marine helicopter squadron, spent a lot of time in and around the helos both in combat and here in California. In 2012, saw my first Predator land. Of course, it's on land so it taxis in and stops and nothing happens. So, I got kind of a futuristic look at things there. Since then I've taken that Marine contact, that network group, and basically we're just trying to make it more [00:01:00] efficient and essentially save as many lives as we can by putting the drones in the air, properly, instead of just being the everyday photographer. Obvious, that's my passion is to help make it more efficient for those helping us. Ryan: With finding familiarity with drones through the Marines, you've developed a business and ... Called KAPture DM. What exactly do you guys encompass with that? Kevin: So, we are actually still figuring out it ourselves- which is part of the fun of [00:01:30] being on the ground floors. Right now, we're ... Literally after this I'm going to go meet with one of the Chiefs of Police here in San Diego to talk about the FLIR XT and how it can help them keep their helicopter out of the air and essentially anything else that comes along. Whether it be simple real estate shoot or helping someone at an event, we pretty much will do it all. I love being outside. I love flying, so at the end of the day, it's kind of all the same to me. Ryan: Now, you [00:02:00] talk about FLIR, which is thermal imaging, to those that may not know. When you combine FLIR, that imaging piece, with drones, you get videos like yours. FLIR thermal catches [inaudible 00:02:14]. What other videos have you been able to capture using that FLIR imaging? Kevin: So, we've actually tested it quite a bunch. So last week I was with that same Chief and essentially he tried to hide in the woods, while I had the FLIR camera going around [Dontime 00:02:30] [00:02:30] and we could not see him with the regular camera. As soon as we popped up that thermal imaging part and we saw him within five seconds. So, right now, we're building a lot of use case scenarios to present to all the chiefs next month. Ryan: I imagine Search and Rescue would be another outfit that could utilize that FLIR imaging. Kevin: Absolutely. I mean, I can cover the same ground with the UAV that it would take four guys on their feet, [00:03:00] up to maybe two hours to do. Ryan: So, will big foot finally be found? Is that what you're getting at? Kevin: I've seen a couple of creatures out there, that could resemble him, but this could be the way to find him, I don't know. Ryan: One of your videos that impressed me was Sierra at Tahoe, Buckle Up Big Air. That was an amazing perspective seeing those ski jumpers from the drone perspective. How did you get the okay to do that? Kevin: So, Ryan, that actually took some time. If you go on Sierra at Tahoe's website, right at the top, [00:03:30] in big letters "Absolutely No Drones Allowed." So, there's friend connections actually- I got to talk to the marketing team and over the course of a couple of weeks, we volunteered to go up and do it, in exchange, basically, for being able to fly the actual competition. There were Olympians in there, pro riders, so that's why what you saw was so impressive. Ryan: Now, Kevin, you've uploaded nearly 50 videos on Air Views. Do you have a favorite? Kevin: [00:04:00] I do. It's my Hawaii one, because Hawaii's also my favorite place I've been. I've been around the globe twice in the past year, and that is by far my favorite place. I got to fly on three islands, 18 different locations and I got to make that one big three plus minute video out of it. That to me is my favorite because it also encompasses the most fun I've had while I was flying. Ryan: It has to be just incredible to be able to capture whales. And your whales migrating North video, that's the one that caught [00:04:30] my eye, and actually the first one I had on my list. I've never seen whales up close- I've seen dolphins, sharks, but never whales. What was that experience like? Kevin: That was actually amazing. We know, they come right over ... I mean, it's literally right over here from where I live. They come right up the channel by Point Loma through the La Jolla Cove and keep going North. That just ended, they come back South in a couple months, but I can literally, stand on the shore in La Jolla Cove and for that video you saw, those four whales, [00:05:00] they were no more than one mile off-shore. Ryan: Now, I have to tell you right now, I love the t-shirt, you're rocking the Air View shirt, and the hat. What's GPC? Kevin: So, GPC is the most professional, custom case company out there right now. They will water jet cut a Pelican Case, essentially, for whatever UAV camera, GoPro, it doesn't matter what you have, they'll make it for you. I worked with them to make the first Matrice [00:05:30] 100 case, which they are now selling pretty consistently. They've been good to me since, so I really try and rep them wherever I go. Ryan: You just had a pretty sweet opportunity, along with nine others, to capture some Southern California fireworks. What was that experience like? Kevin: That was actually amazing. We really discovered something when we all work together. We had FBD guys, we had Inspire, we had Phantoms, but essentially, everyone was a professional. Within [00:06:00] the 20 minute show, we each had to swap batteries once. So, we had to land 10 of these things, take them back up, all in about a 100 foot area of the sidewalk. We did it without incident. Action Drone USA, was actually the company that was asked by the city to do it, so they brought the rest of us together, and we made it happen. We got the video to open the 11:00 pm news, that night, by making an edit within 20 minutes of landing. Ryan: Awesome. And kapturedm.com is where we can see more [00:06:30] of your work? Kevin: That's us. Ryan: Alright, well, Kevin we really appreciate you taking the time to be on the Drone Dish. We love what you do for the Air Views community and we look forward to more uploads soon. Kevin: Absolutely, Thank you. Ryan: Love the shirt.