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April Featured Photographer: Keith Perry of Hudson Valley Drones

Date Published: April 15, 2020

What is your name and where can people find your work?

My name is Keith Perry, and I'm the owner of Hudson Valley Drones. You can check us out on Facebook or Instagram, or at our website at www.hvdronesny.com.

Describe your perfect staycation in Dutchess, or your idea of a fun weekend in the County.

My girlfriend and I love to hike and get outdoors with our dog Henry - so a climb up Mount Beacon to the Fire Tower would be a great start. Refuel afterwards somewhere on Main Street in Beacon (maybe a coffee at Bank Square), and then hang out down on the river at Long Dock Park. Can't forget a nice stroll over the Walkway as well!

What equipment do you use in your photography?

There are a few different drones that I'll use given the application. Most of the shots that I post on Facebook and Instagram were taken with a Mavic 2 Zoom. Depending on client specifications, I'll often use an Inspire 2 with X4S or X5S camera.

What is your favorite place to photograph in Dutchess and why?

I love shooting at the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The river is relatively narrow there and the two bridges (the Mid-Hudson and the Walkway) make for some incredible photo ops. Pair it with a passing barge, train or the Poughkeepsie Train Station and you've got a ton of different opportunities that are only limited by your imagination. Bonus points for shooting at dawn or dusk when the accent lights on the bridge are lit up.

Do you have somewhere on your list that you want to photograph in Dutchess, but haven’t gotten there yet?

I'd love to get up to Ferncliff Forest in Rhinebeck – it looks very picturesque and has some incredible views over the river and even across to the Catskills.

Give us a few photography tips!

This first point is mostly aimed at drone photographers: know and follow the rules. But more importantly, just get out there and take photos. Experiment and make mistakes. Emulate photography styles that you like, but make it your own. 

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