Turning a Family Drone Shot Into an AI Enhanced Art Piece
One of my favorite creative experiments brought together what I love most about drone cinematography, AI assisted editing, and storytelling through imagery.
While hiking in the Alberta mountains with my family, I sent up my DJI Mini 3 Pro to capture a simple overhead shot. The six of us stood on a massive rock surrounded by rugged landscape. The frame felt peaceful, honest, and full of life.
Back in the studio, I pulled a still from the video and opened Photoshop. I started testing Generative Expand. I extended edges, reshaped the scene, and used AI to blend textures and tones.
Slowly the rocky mountainside became something unexpected, a glass terrarium on a desk, as if my family was preserved inside it. A real memory reimagined as a symbolic piece. Nature, family, and time contained in a tiny world.
I paired the final edit with Lenny Kravitz — I Build This Garden for Us. The rhythm and tone carried the piece with a sense of creation, connection, and gratitude. A simple family snapshot grew into a story about design and devotion.
AI does not replace emotion. It amplifies it. With tools like Firefly 3 and Generative Expand, even one image can become a layered and living narrative.
This is why I enjoy mixing AI with visual storytelling. Used thoughtfully, it serves the story rather than replacing it. It lets me honor the moment and reveal meaning that was already there.
Check out the piece above. A DJI Mini 3 Pro frame. Photoshop AI. A family portrait turned cinematic art.
Cheers
David Mathew Bonner
Edmonton Video Productions