Experience of Shooting at Karnataka NMPT Port – A Lesson Learned and Applied

Every shoot teaches something new — and my experience at Karnataka NMPT Port was another chapter of learning, planning, and execution in the world of 360° Virtual Reality filming.

Before the shoot, we prepared a complete shoot script and storyboard, planning each shot carefully. As always, we obtained all necessary permissions from the Port Authority and the Police Department for drone operations — because safety and compliance come first in every professional project.

Flashback: The Lesson from ONGC Shoot

In one of my earlier projects with ONGC, I faced a tough situation — my drone was damaged during an eagle attack, but fortunately, I managed to save all the data. That experience became an important lesson for me, one that completely changed the way I plan every drone shoot today.

Facing the Sea Challenge

At the MNPT port, our ground-level 360° footage was beautifully captured using the Insta360 Pro 2. The real challenge came when we had to take aerial 360° drone shots above the sea. The risk was huge —

“If the drone falls into the sea, we don’t just lose the drone or camera — we lose the most valuable thing: the DATA.”

Unlike on land, there’s no chance of recovering even the scrap from the sea. So this time, I decided not to take any chances.

Smart Precautions to Protect the Data

To avoid any data loss, I created a backup strategy during the shoot itself:

• After every single flight, while changing the drone battery, I also changed the memory card.

• This ensured that even if something went wrong in the next flight, the data from the previous one was already safe.

• I arranged for one helper dedicated to onsite backup — as soon as I landed the drone, he would copy and secure the footage before we resumed the next flight.

Instant Backup, Instant Relief

Instead of waiting till the end of the day, we took immediate backups during the shoot. This way, we minimized risk, maintained peace of mind, and ensured that no matter what happened — our hard-earned footage was always safe.

Conclusion

Every shoot brings a new challenge and a new lesson. The NMPT Port project not only gave us stunning aerial 360° visuals but also reinforced one golden rule —

“In filmmaking, especially in VR and drone shoots — data safety is as important as the shoot itself.”

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What was the main challenge of shooting at Karnataka NMPT Port?

The biggest challenge was capturing aerial 360° shots over the sea using a drone. If the drone fell into the water, we risked losing not just the drone and camera, but also the valuable data — with no chance of recovery.

2. How did you ensure data safety during the drone shoot?

After every flight, we changed both the drone battery and memory card. This allowed us to secure the footage instantly and avoid losing any data if an accident happened mid-shoot.

3. Which camera and equipment were used for the shoot?

We used the Insta360 Pro 2 for ground-level 360° filming and a professional drone setup for capturing 360° aerial footage. DRONE WITH INSTA 360 X4

4. Why was instant data backup important?

Instant backups prevented data loss in case of drone failure. Our helper was on-site to copy footage after each flight, ensuring full protection of every shot.

5. What was learned from the ONGC shoot experience?

During a previous ONGC shoot, a drone was damaged by an eagle attack. That incident taught us the importance of real-time data safety and precautionary planning, which we applied successfully at MNPT Port.

6. What permissions were needed for this project?

We took official drone flight permissions from the Port Authority and local police, ensuring full legal and safety compliance before flying near restricted coastal zones.

7. What is the key takeaway from this project?

Always plan for data security first. The MNPT Port shoot reminded us that in VR filmmaking — saving your footage is as critical as capturing it.