Teen drone operator captures once-in-lifetime video of iceberg's collapse
Matt McCann | CBC News | Posted: June 16, 2015 8:29 AM | Last Updated: June 17, 2015
Kelan Poole took a drone on the flight of its life and came away with incredible footage of an iceberg foundering just off the coast of southern Labrador.
Last week, after days of waiting for the right weather — no wind and no rain — the Grade 11 student headed to a point on the edge of St. Lewis that overlooks the water, and flew the drone out toward four icebergs floating in the bay.
I had the controller white-knuckled, just making sure I get that shot. - Kelan Poole
It was Poole's first time flying the drone over the ocean, and as it hovered there, one of the icebergs began to collapse just as he pointed the drone's camera at it.
"I don't remember it, it was that intense," he said.
"The lady beside me just told me what was happening. I didn't see it in person. I had my eyes glued to the screen, which shows me what the drone is seeing. I had the controller white-knuckled, just making sure I get that shot."
But Poole said he did hear it.
"It sounded like thunder," he said. "You could hear it all through the community."
Drone footage of icebergs is becoming more popular, particular as use of the remote-controlled aerial devices becomes more common.
Last month, Paul Dolk captured dramatic aerial footage of icebergs near Torbay.
And last year, Ben Davis took viewers on a spectacular drone flight through an iceberg arch.
'Whole new perspective'
Poole says he was nervous at first, because drones can drop out of the sky, or fly away if something interferes with its signal.
He also said his father was against it at first, worried about losing an expensive piece of equipment.
But there are safeguards that will return it to the operator on its own in some circumstances.
"When I came back and showed him the video, he changed his mind pretty quick," Poole said.
"It's just amazing to see it from a whole new perspective. You know you're seeing something that no one without a $200,000 helicopter can see."