Boulder, CO - An Aerial Adventure

Project Overview

Boulder, CO - An Aerial Adventure was commissioned by a local real estate agency as a marketing piece to showcase Boulder's natural beauty and the University of Colorado campus. This 5-minute aerial film captures the city's iconic Flatirons and CU Boulder campus following the season's first snowfall.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect—fresh snow blanketed the mountains and surrounding trees, creating a pristine winter landscape that highlighted Boulder's unique position between urban campus life and dramatic natural terrain. This project served as both a love letter to the city and a demonstration of what's possible when preparation meets opportunity.

Creative Approach

Capturing the Perfect Moment

I had been monitoring weather patterns for weeks, waiting for that first significant snowfall. When it finally arrived, I knew I had a narrow window to capture the Flatirons before foot traffic and melting diminished the pristine conditions.

Key creative decisions:

• Golden hour timing - Filmed during late afternoon to capture warm light against cool snow tones
• Varied altitude perspectives - Moved from intimate tree-level shots to expansive wide angles revealing the full mountain range
• Smooth, deliberate movements - Used slow, cinematic pans and reveals to let viewers absorb the landscape
• Natural pacing - Allowed shots to breathe, matching the serene winter atmosphere

"The challenge wasn't just flying the drone, it was knowing when to hold still and let the landscape speak for itself."

Role & Collaboration

This was a solo aerial cinematography project where I handled all aspects of production—from flight planning and permissions to shooting and post-production color grading.

My role included:

• Pre-production location scouting and FAA compliance
• Drone operation and cinematography (DJI platform)
• Post-production editing and color correction
• Delivery coordination with the real estate agency

I worked closely with the agency to understand their marketing goals while maintaining creative control over the visual storytelling. The brief was simple: show why Boulder is special. The execution required technical precision, creative vision, and a bit of luck with mother nature.