Historically-inaccurate drone speared out of the sky by renaissance festival actor
May 12, 2016
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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As if eagles and nets weren’t already enough for drone users to worry about, now we have to deal with javelins, too.
The eagle eyed amongst you might’ve noticed the historically-inaccurate porta-potties in the background of the image above, but it seems they managed to escape the wrath of participants at a renaissance festival in Russia recently, unlike this drone that managed to capture its own death.
While the motive is more than a bit questionable, you have to admire his throwing arm.
Of course, they take historical accuracy very seriously at events like this, and even pulling out your smartphone to grab a quick snap could possibly see you spend a night in the Iron Maiden (and not the good kind with the drums and guitars and Bruce Dickinson), but this person’s reaction does seem a little extreme.
It’s an interesting topic, though, where the line is to be drawn at such events. Obviously, those participating want the experience to be as immersive and accurate as possible (without all the hassle of real blood and actual death), but without visual documentation it’s difficult to promote the events and find new participants as the old quit going.
Ground based photographers have found many ways of blending in at renaissance festivals and re-enactments, but I can’t imagine how you might be able to disguise a drone while still allowing it to fly and function that would be believable and fitting to the period.
Somebody might want to point out the historically-inaccurate horseless carriages parked in the background to this guy, too. I bet he’d have a lot of fun killing those.
What do you think? Regardless of whether or not the drone owner had permission to cover the event, or was perhaps even hired to cover the event, do you think this person’s actions were justified for the sake of the experience and believability of the event? Or a tad extreme?
[via Laughing Squid]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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30 responses to “Historically-inaccurate drone speared out of the sky by renaissance festival actor”
I would have used the same spear to put it through the idiot who did this. the difference is that i would have done it with him tied to a pole at the center of the camp and from the bottom up…. idiot.
only idiot here are the drone idiots…. kudos to the guy who throw the spear.
so im covering and event and just because you felt like it you just poped a drone out of the sky? i would have speared your ass if i found out who did it.
Would there be a historically accurate(-ish) way for a camera drone? A balloon*-based flying camera obscura**, maybe?
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ballooning#Premodern_and_unmanned_balloons
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_obscura#History
Well, this particular ren fest, seems to be more very early medieval (like viking age to battle of hastings[which makes sense, given that this year marks the 950th anniversary of the battle of hastings, and largely thought to be the end of the dark ages]) rather than renaissance.
But, at that time, one of the supposed reasons for the long tunics that came down past the wearer’s knees was to demonstrate wealth. An economy that is so resource poor that having a shirt that goes to your knees demonstrates that you’re wealthy enough to actually waste the money on that level of frivolity, isn’t going to be making big fabric balloons. :)
A photographer with a camera in his hand is unobtrusive, quiet and poses no threat. A drone overhead is loud, obnoxious and poses a severe hazard if there is a malfunction or operator error. A DJI Phantom4 weighs 3lbs. If if fell from 100 meters overhead it would hit the crowd at about 100 miles per hour. A 3 lb mass at 100 miles per hour could easily kill someone.
Agree.
I’m sure having a spear sticking out of it will not help it not fall out of the sky.
If it were at 100 meters he would never have hit it. That drone was only 25-30 feet up.
He damaged property and should have to pay for it.
I read somewhere that the spearman didnt mean to hit it and was surprised when it did and did volunteer to cover tge charges to repair it
Yeah you got to pay to get in. What a way to go out.
Best headline for this article so far HAHA Leonard Lim
HAHAHA!
I can’t stand people who feel so self important that they disregard the rights of others and their property.
Anyone else get that playback error right after the drone gets hit?
I would like to follow this guy to his Corvette and bash in the windshield and see what he thinks of destruction of property then!
What a selfish idiot. He should be prosecuted for that.
His drone was speared. Don’t you think that’s punishment enough?
$1500 drone …I’d be suing for sure. But it’s Russia and they have no laws…lol.
The drone slayer. Drones are watching us everywhere, so sing along, kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoao_TPtvnA
What nobody here seems to ask, before jumping in with their opinions, is whether or not the remote was there officially sanctioned or not. If it was, then the spear thrower is in the wrong. If it’s some bozo using the drone off his own bat then I’m on the spear thrower’s side. The drone would be a a real buzz-killer (get it?) and annoying as hell at that sort of affair.
Actually. I don’t know where you live, but two crimes don’t cancel each other out. When someone is doing something illegal, the proper action is to call the police, not f’n spear them! That’s destruction of property.
With that said, this happened in Russia. So a well thrown spear my actually be the most common and legally justified response they have….
Actually, that question is asked in the article, so each commenter needn’t reads it before ‘jumping in with their opinions. Aslo let’s point out that it’s not a well thrown spear. He hit the drone with the shaft of the spear. It’s face it, a good throw would have landed the tip.
Nevermind all that though. Who the heck throws a spear in public? So what happens when someone gets impaled by a stray spear? Or is that part of the historical authenticity also? It doesn’t matter why he did it, he’s still destroying someone else’s property in an stupidly dangerous way.
Historical accuracy only matters when there’s not enough beer.
Barbaric act…hahaha.
Sherry Revak
“Historically inaccurate drone”? Would the drone need to be steam powered to be considered historically accurate? :P
How about the cars? Aren’t they historically inaccurate? Ha. Ha.
I am going to side with spear guy, drone owners are the new emos “accept me and my compulsion or I will cry in the net… booohooo”