Gab Scanu works alone, with a special operating licence for his UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in Australia. The 20-year-old’s drone photography shows a new perspective on well-known locations such as Sydney’s Bondi beach, Mona Vale and other famous coastlines on the country’s east coast. He has also travelled abroad and shot the LA coast at Malibu.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gab Scanu

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Shipwreck near Stockton beach, New South Wales

Gab Scanu, left, and right: legs dangling from a helicopter above a shipwreck near Stockton beach, New South Wales.



The son of a cinematographer, Scanu has inherited a keen eye for photographic composition, capturing both the dramatic and the picturesque qualities of the Australian summer experience.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Maroubra beach, Sydney

Maroubra beach, Sydney



He has developed a unique style and feel, using a combination of post production and drone technology to capture often never-before-seen landscape views.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mahon rock pool, Sydney

Mahon rock pool, Sydney

I feel shooting from a top-down point of view is the most unique perspective as it is one that you don’t see every day and one that very few people have the opportunity to experience for themselves.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest In the middle of the desert

In the middle of the desert



I tend to gravitate towards shooting the coastal landscapes as the colours and textures take a completely different form from what you get at ground level. Shooting from the sky for me is almost like creating a digital watercolour.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Coal Cliff, New South Wales

Coal Cliff, New South Wales



I think the most appealing aspect is the adrenaline and excitement of operating such an amazing piece of technology.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gab Scanu drone photography

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gab Scanu drone photography Photograph: Gab Scanu

Scanu’s kit – drone and tablet



I don’t tend to do much preparation or research when shooting. I prefer to explore places spontaneously and capture them for what they are in the moment. The most research I will do for a shot is probably Googling a location or having a look at an aerial view from Google Maps, to gauge if there are any interesting patterns/textures or colours.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bondi beach, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu

Bondi beach, Sydney



Unless I am working on a commercial job, I usually just take things as they come. If I think something could look cool or interesting from above, I’ll get the drone up to have a look. I tend to go to beaches and other areas to swim or just relax and if I think there is a photo opportunity I will take it. I never place too much stress on setting up a shot or creating something specific. The more open you leave your ideas the more natural the image tends to turn out

The Bronte rock pool is one of Scanu’s favourites and is somewhere he has clearly spent a lot of time.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bronte rock pool, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu

Bronte rock pool, Sydney



The Bronte rock pool shot is definitely my favourite. The water colour, the people, the textures. Everything just screams summer in Australia and my experience of it. Summer for me in Australia is all about the beach and swimming in the ocean and in these amazing rock pools so yes I definitely have spent my fair share of time in Bronte rock pool.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cruise ship, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu

Cruise ship, Sydney



My post production set up is quite simple. I use Adobe Photoshop for editing and Adobe Lightroom for colour. Once I have made my image adjustments in Photoshop I take the file to Lightroom where I play with the colour. Most of the time the colour is simply what I see but each image is different and requires its own colour adjustments to make the image pop. I am currently developing a set of Lightroom presets which will be available for download soon.

Malibu surfers, California



Scanu recently travelled to Los Angeles where he had the opportunity to photograph the Pacific Coast highway and surfers off Malibu.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pacific Coast highway, California

Pacific Coast highway, California

I recently stayed in Malibu for a month over the summer and where we were staying had its own private beach. We would go down to the beach on a nice afternoon and just hang out. It was a popular surfing spot for the other residents of the area and so I thought I would try and capture that sense of the summer lifestyle in my image.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gab Scanu and his pink flamingo poolside, California Photograph: Gab Scanu

Scanu and his pink flamingo poolside, California



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bondi Icebergs club while the pool was closed for cleaning, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu

Bondi Icebergs club while the pool was closed for cleaning, Sydney



For me, actually shooting the landscape is just the first step in my creative process. What I do digitally to my images afterwards is what breaks the boundary between photography and art.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bondi beach skatepark, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu

Bondi beach skatepark, Sydney



I have worked previously in America and throughout Europe and have a lot of travelling planned this year starting with LA again so working outside of Australia is a certainty.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bottles on deck, Sydney Photograph: Gab Scanu