Cruise Ship Aerial Photography - Explora Journeys Explora I, Southampton
Night drone aerial stills of MSC Explora I arriving and departing the Port of Southampton - a direct commission from Explora Journeys, captured on DJI Inspire 3
Explora 1 Departure
Pre-Production
- Direct briefing with Explora Journeys to confirm objectives, image usage rights and delivery format
- Reviewed MSC Explora I's published arrival and departure schedule and cross-checked with Port of Southampton pilotage
- Permissions and operational notifications coordinated for night drone flight over an active commercial port
- Scouted vantage points and flight paths in advance, factoring in dockside lighting, ship lighting and lunar position
- Prepped the DJI Inspire 3 with the lens and exposure settings best suited to low-light aerial stills, with redundant batteries for back-to-back night sessions
Production
- Two distinct night shoots covering the arrival and departure of MSC Explora I at the Port of Southampton
- Flew the DJI Inspire 3 throughout, leveraging its full-frame sensor and dynamic range to hold detail in deep shadow and ship lighting simultaneously
- Operated within tight timing windows dictated by the vessel's movement and port traffic
- Captured a range of compositions: wide environmental shots of the ship in the port setting, tighter studies of the vessel, and frames built around Explora I's own light signature
Post-Production
- Full RAW workflow to preserve maximum latitude in colour and tone
- Targeted noise management to retain fine detail without softening the image
- Colour grading aligned to the Explora Journeys brand feel while staying true to the conditions on the night
- Final cruise ship aerial photography delivered in print-ready and web-optimised formats
Explora Journeys approached us directly to document MSC Explora I - the flagship of their luxury cruise fleet - as she called at the Port of Southampton. Both her arrival and departure took place under cover of darkness, making this a demanding low-light aerial shoot from start to finish and a clear test of our cruise ship photography capability.
The brief was specific: produce a set of editorial-grade aerial stills that would stand up across marketing, PR and brand channels, in conditions where most drone platforms struggle.
- Direct commission from Explora Journeys
- Two separate night shoots: arrival and departure at the Port of Southampton
- Low-light aerial photography over active commercial waters
- Stills-only deliverable, optimised for marketing, PR and editorial use
- Captured on the DJI Inspire 3 for full-frame, high dynamic range performance
Equipment Used
Filming Locations
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