As the FPV drone catches up with the four figures bombing a hill, the clouds thin, we are dropped into the Mediterranean blue, and it’s time for the Mirador crew to bring us their new perspective on skateboarding.
Back in 2020, they pushed the medium of skate filming to the next level with an FPV drone passing through Gabriel Fortunado’s legs as he nose-mannied off a large drop many wouldn’t mess with. It’s been difficult to imagine how they might build on this sort of trickery in their next offering.
For ‘Mirador II’ the focus is pushing the medium further, and it is certainly not clear how far there is yet to go. Featuring skating from Gabriel Fortunato, Marek Zaprazny, Jorge Simoës, and Kevin Bækkel on perilous rails where no filmer could possibly stand, the drone simply glides by, taking it all in. On perilous rails where no filmer could possibly stand, the drone simply glides by, taking it all in. The swoops and twirls of the FPV drone prove that the skater’s prowess requires a talented filmer to match. In how many hill bomb clips is the VX1000 filmer, following at speed with a camera in hand, the unsung hero. The pilot is brought to the fore in ‘Mirador II.’
If VX1000 diehards feel unsure about all of this, perhaps full loops mid-air will help to convince them? Marek Zaprazny’s lines prove that as with the VX1000 camera, you can get close to ledge tech with the FPV. The real benefit being that you can then swoop back out and reflect on the spot from a greater distance. Just think of all those times watching skate videos and wondering how the spot looked in real life. Never again. The FPV drone gives us a perspective of spots like never before.
Lines are filmed in innovative new ways too. The ollie down one set, then fs shuv the next is shown from the front so that the spot is revealed gradually. As Marek passes over a bar, the viewer travels below. A backside flip that might look one way in a photograph takes on a whole new dimension with this new technology.
Taking cues from nature documentaries, the drone chases down its subject, whether that’s during a fun-looking hill bomb or through a kicker gap with the skater. Here it’s not only the tricks that are exciting. The camera captures church facades and architecture from striking new angles. There’s something potentially eerie about the raw footage, without the familiar sound of wheels rattling on cobbles, and hopefully, some of it will be released on social media. With music, the edit leaves us hyped to go out and experiment with how we film tricks. No doubt there’s a long way to go with exploring what can be done with the FPV drone. These guys are definitely at the forefront, pushing the boundaries.