Videos

You are very welcome to take a look at my YouTube channel. I must warn you that I haven’t posted very much on there yet. Up until now, my attention has been focused more on other projects. However, I do have a variety of interesting ideas for YouTube videos in the future. Rather than just jumping headfirst into these video projects, I have decided to experiment with the equipment I have and establish the best workflows that will fit into my busy life. The resulting videos will appear on YouTube in due course, where each series will be grouped in its own dedicated playlist. In the meantime, feel free to subscribe to my channel. By doing so, you will receive a notification each time I add a new video. You can access my channel via the following link…

www.youtube.com/@kierongribbon

I am also experimenting with various hand-held filming methods for capturing B-roll footage similar to that from a low-flying drone. The results of these experiments will be appearing in my upcoming videos.

My views on drones

At the present time, I have absolutely no plans to get involved in capturing wide overview footage using drones. The places that interest me most, from a video-making perspective, are generally tranquil, scenic locations where people go to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and to escape from the stresses of everday life. Not only does flying a drone in these places go against what draws me to them, there is also a very strong possibility that doing so would annoy other recreational walkers and disturb the local wildlife. I, myself, on a number of occasions, have had a peaceful view spoiled by a pesky drone buzzing around me.

Don’t get me wrong, drone footage can look epic and is a very easy way to get likes on YouTube and social media with minimal skill and talent, but the more of it we see, the more people will be tempted to buy a drone of their own. And before we know it, every mountain summit, every park, every beach, and every beauty spot in Ireland will be infested with these little buzzers. Swarms of them, ruining the great outdoors for everyone.

For now, this all might sound a bit far-fetched, but it will happen if we let it. I remember when I first took up hillwalking in the 1990s when nobody had a mobile phone. Now everybody has one on them at all times. Will there soon be a time when every recreational walker also carries a mini drone in their backpack because they were inspired by those epic-looking videos on the internet? Let’s hope not. As a responsible person who loves the great outdoors, I will do everything I possibly can to prevent such a disaster. In fact, I would go so far as to ask everyone who genuinely appreciates the outdoors to unfollow any YouTube channel or social media account which posts or promotes drone footage of tranquil, scenic places. I realise that my position on this matter could also reduce my own social following, but the issue I am raising here is far more important than that.

I do believe it is totally acceptable for established and reputable production companies to capture drone footage for cinema and television projects, as well as tourism marketing material commissioned by a relevant government body. Likewise, I support the life-saving contribution drones can make in emergency situations. Under no other circumstances would I endorse the flying of drones in scenic, tranquil places. Anyone who flies a drone in these special places purely to get social media likes is there for the completely wrong reason. They clearly don’t understand the outdoors, nor do they care about the people who go there to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Having said all this, I am ashamed to admit that I actually did consider buying one of those ultralight tracking hover cameras to film very short and specific B-roll footage of myself walking. However, as I encounter more and more drones on my walks, I decided not to go down that route. Getting that epic shot will never justify an intrusion into other people’s precious quiet time in the outdoors.