DJI Mini 3 Pro at Night: How I Captured Ecuador’s Most Dangerous Waterfall in ATTI Mode

Hello there, fellow drone pilots! Long time no read! A few weeks ago, I was at “El Pailón del Diablo” (Devil’s Cauldron), one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Ecuador. I had traveled there to take some real estate photographs in the city of Baños and took advantage of the opportunity to do a night tour at this magnificent waterfall.

A “mini flight” over the Cauldron

The equipment I brought along for flying was my trusty DJI Mini 3 Pro. I know what you’re thinking – “a Mini for night shooting?” Yes! These small but mighty drones can deliver spectacular results when you know how to work with their limitations rather than against them.

One of the most challenging aspects of flying over waterfalls is dealing with the many wind currents that push the drone upward, which can cause it to crash against the stone walls and fall to a certain death. I’ve seen it happen to others before, and TRUST me, watching your drone disappear into the darkness of a churning waterfall is not the kind of memory you want to take home!

The feared ATTI

First thing I did was carefully inspect the height of the trees and the waterfall to avoid flying too low while still capturing great shots. Then, I waited for the drone to pick up enough GPS satellites to fly safely, but, darn it, the drone never managed to get a GPS lock, and I had to fly in ATTI mode!

Have you ever flown in ATTI mode at night? It’s like trying to find your way through a maze blindfolded! Without GPS assistance, every little drift and movement becomes your responsibility. Your thumbs become your drone’s lifeline, and every second feels like a minute.

What can you do to overcome the height?

Obviously, with a small sensor and not wanting to push the ISO, I recorded everything at 24 FPS and 4K to later post-process all the material in DaVinci Resolve. This combination gives you enough data to work with while keeping noise levels manageable. Remember, it’s always better to have slightly darker footage that you can brighten in post than ultra noisy footage that you can’t fix!

When flying small drones, you always need to be careful with wind currents, as they can throw you off course, especially if you’re flying in an area with magnetic interference and don’t have a good GPS signal. In these cases, it’s most advisable to record in 4K for later editing to 1080p and always use common sense—don’t risk going too low with the drone.

I’ve learned from experience that patience is your best friend during these challenging flights. Take your time, plan your moves, and always have an escape route. Flying at night means your depth perception is compromised, so what seems like plenty of clearance might actually be dangerously close.

Once again, composition is going to be a huge help. A static shot of a waterfall won’t be as attractive as an approach shot while rotating the drone or lowering the gimbal. Think about how to tell a story with your drone movements – maybe start wide to establish the scene, then slowly move in to reveal details that would otherwise be missed. This creates a sense of discovery that viewers absolutely love!

Don’t burn it!

Obviously, the result of recording a waterfall at night being illuminated by external lights will always be impressive, but at the same time, you need to protect your image by avoiding highlights or overexposed areas, as that information probably can’t always be recovered. In these cases, you should record in Log or underexpose slightly.

Something I’ve found particularly effective is to do several test flights before the actual recording session. This helps you understand the wind patterns and identify potential danger zones. And speaking of danger zones – always mark your home point with something visible like a small LED light. This gives you a reference point when returning in the darkness.

The idea behind these flights is to demonstrate that extraordinary results can be achieved with low-cost equipment. You don’t need a Mavic 3 or an Inspire to capture breathtaking footage. What you need is vision, creativity, and the courage to try something different!

As an extra safety measure, you should be on the lookout to see if anyone else is flying a drone at the same time as you. A collision in the middle of darkness over a waterfall would be very sad indeed.

In the end, its all about inner peace

Going to waterfalls brings peace and can have great positive effects on our minds and souls. There’s something almost magical about the combination of rushing water, mist, and the excitement of capturing it all from perspectives that were impossible just a few years ago. I find that these challenging shoots recharge my creative batteries like nothing else.

It’s always important to carry dehumidifier bags with you to store your drone after flying in conditions where there’s a lot of humidity in the environment or dew. Remember that the most delicate part is the camera, and internal condensation can cause all your shots to look unfocused or very low in sharpness. I learned this lesson the hard way after a similar shoot left my lens foggy for days – don’t make my mistake!

Above all, remember to have fun. Here, I had the opportunity to be the first person to fly a drone at night over this waterfall. Being a pioneer comes with responsibilities but also with incredible satisfaction. There’s nothing quite like knowing you’re creating something truly unique.

Was I scared? Tremendously!

But that desire to explore, to experiment, to record and to show others what my eyes—what my drone’s eyes—see makes me push forward despite the fear. And isn’t that what being a creative is all about? Pushing boundaries, creating new possibilities, and sharing moments of wonder with the world?

Which waterfalls have you flown over? What tips can you share with me? Drop me a comment below – I’m always looking to learn from fellow adventurous pilots!