Winter is here! The magic of Little Nahant Island
Woke up to a winter wonderland after a snowstorm and knew it was the perfect day to create something special. I took my DJI Mini 4 Pro out to film Little Nahant Island—snow-covered coastlines, quiet streets, and the Boston skyline in the distance. This time, I went for a long, uncut cinematic shot inspired by those Apple TV-style landscapes. Added snowfall effects and a beautiful soundtrack in editing. Hope you enjoy this peaceful winter flight!
2/9/20252 min read
A Winter’s Dream: My First Long Drone Shot Over Little Nahant Island
The morning after a winter storm always holds a certain kind of magic. When I woke up and looked out the window, my neighborhood was blanketed in a thick layer of soft, white powder—it was the kind of morning I’d been waiting for. I knew this was the perfect opportunity to create a different kind of drone video. With my DJI Mini 4 Pro ready to go, I set out to capture the serene beauty of Little Nahant Island in a way I hadn’t before.
Until now, most of my videos have been dynamic montages made up of short clips, each showing a burst of movement or energy. But this time, I was inspired by the long, scenic videos on my Apple TV—the ones that run several minutes, slowly revealing stunning landscapes in a way that pulls you in and lets you just... breathe. I wanted to do the same: create a long, continuous shot that unfolds gently, revealing the beauty of a snow-covered coastal scene.
I’ve always wanted to film Little Nahant Island—technically a small peninsula at the far end of Nahant Beach. With the snow softening the landscape, and the sky clear after the storm, the timing was perfect. Flying manually, I started on one side of the island and panned slowly across its shoreline, orbiting around the peninsula to show the snowy coasts, the clusters of quiet houses, winding streets, and rocky outcrops that make this spot so special.
What made this flight truly cinematic was the Boston skyline in the distance. The subtle parallax effect created by the drone’s movement—foreground houses drifting past as the distant city hovered steadily in the background—added depth and atmosphere that I think keeps the viewer engaged and curious about what’s coming next.
Once I got back to my editing software, I paired the footage with a beautiful ambient soundtrack that matched the length of the video and added some snowfall effects for a little extra winter magic (since you can’t really fly in the snow... at least not safely—lol).
I’m really happy with how my first long-form drone video turned out. It feels peaceful and immersive, like taking a slow flight over a winter wonderland. If you’ve got a few minutes to relax and take in the view, I hope you enjoy this snowy, cinematic journey over one of my favorite coastal spots
