https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/ 2026-10-31 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/birds-eye-view-kinsmen-lake-strathmore-ab-2026-09-21-1790054395 2026-09-22 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/09/1790057379_BirdseyeviewKinsmenLakeStrathmoreAB20260921.jpg Birds eye view, Kinsmen Lake, Strathmore, AB, 2026-09-21 Fall aerial shot of Kinsmen Lake, September 2026. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/george-freeman-park-aerial-view-strathmore-ab-2022-05-25-1789320036 2026-09-13 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/09/george-freeman-park-aerial-view-strathmore-ab-2022-05-25-1789320036.jpg George Freeman Park, Aerial View. Strathmore, AB, 2022-05-25 One of my first drone panos I shot in 2022 with my new to me DJI Mini 2. It was a wondrous thing then and remains so for me. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/kinsmen-park-at-dusk-strathmore-ab-2022-05-20-1786900021 2026-08-16 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/08/kinsmen-park-at-dusk-strathmore-ab-2022-05-20-1786900021.jpg Kinsmen Park at Dusk, Strathmore, AB, 2022-05-20 This one is special. Why? It was my very first drone shot that turned out well, and it was with my new DJI Mini 2. I had such a case of the nerves flying my expensive new toy over the water. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/looking-downtown-strathmore-ab-2022-05-21-1785979529 2026-08-06 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/08/looking-downtown-strathmore-ab-2022-05-21-1785979529.jpg Looking Downtown, Strathmore, AB, 2022-05-21 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/last-light-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-07-08-1783632105 2026-07-09 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/last-light-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-07-08-1783632105.jpg Last light, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-08 Last night's muted sunset from 5m above Lower Gray Pond, looking North, Northwest. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/small-storm-big-attitude-nw-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-07-08-1783558401 2026-07-09 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/small-storm-big-attitude-nw-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-07-08-1783558401.jpg Small storm, big attitude, NW of Thomas Drive, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-08 A storm that looked bigger than life from the ground, but precocious from up above at 122m. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/flaming-wisps-of-cotton-looking-east-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-07-04-1783281020 2026-07-05 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/flaming-wisps-of-cotton-looking-east-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-07-04-1783281020.jpg Flaming wisps of cotton, Looking East of Thomas Drive, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-04 Last night's sunset legit looked like parts of the sky were on fire. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/muted-sunset-looking-north-of-thornbriar-green-strathmore-ab-2026-07-03-1783168218 2026-07-04 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/muted-sunset-looking-north-of-thornbriar-green-strathmore-ab-2026-07-03-1783168218.jpg Muted sunset, Looking north of Thornbriar Green, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/that-came-out-of-nowhere-thomas-drive-looking-nw-strathmore-ab-2026-07-01-1782958548 2026-07-02 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/that-came-out-of-nowhere-thomas-drive-looking-nw-strathmore-ab-2026-07-01-1782958548.jpg That came out of nowhere, Thomas Drive looking NW, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-01 The room suddenly started to get dark, then I looked out the window, then I went running for the drone because the wind hadn't hit yet. It did, when I was up 120m. I'm lucky I still have a drone after. Wind warnings out the wazoo. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/here-comes-the-hammer-nw-of-thornbriar-green-strathmore-ab-2026-06-16-1781678164 2026-06-17 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/here-comes-the-hammer-nw-of-thornbriar-green-strathmore-ab-2026-06-16-1781678164.jpg Here comes the hammer, NW of Thornbriar Green, Strathmore, AB, 2026-06-16 This was a right bastard of a storm. Dumped several inches of what was thankfully small hail, so no damage to vehicles, just flower beds. Some buildings around the area lost their roofs. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/shot-across-the-bow-looking-south-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-09-1781098202 2026-06-10 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/shot-across-the-bow-looking-south-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-09-1781098202.jpg Shot across the bow, Looking south of Thomas Drive, Strathmore, AB, 2026-06-09 "Oh, hon, look at the sky" my wife said to me last night. I peeked out through the blinds and raced downstairs to grab the clamshell case holding my DJI Mini 3 drone. Storm clouds were rolling and lightning was flickring. The wind was also up and I couldn't get the drone over 40m high for that reason, but it only got the odd warning at that level, which worked. However, as the famous quote goes, it was "a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing." Not a drop hit last night. Pity, we could use the moisture. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/top-o-ta-mornin-to-ya-looking-south-east-from-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-09-1781010371 2026-06-09 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/top-o-ta-mornin-to-ya-looking-south-east-from-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-09-1781010371.jpg Top o' ta mornin' to ya, Looking south east from Thomas Drive, Strathmore, AB, 2026-06-09 Got the drone up five minutes too late. I'm truly not a morning person. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/stormy-weather-looking-south-west-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-04-1780640824 2026-06-05 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/stormy-weather-looking-south-west-of-thomas-drive-strathmore-ab-2026-06-04-1780640824.jpg Stormy weather, Looking south west of Thomas Drive, Strathmore, AB, 2026-06-04 This was our first real thunderstorm of the year followed by a pleasant, soaking rain for half an hour. It was wonderful. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/partial-aerial-looking-east-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779769227 2026-05-26 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/partial-aerial-looking-east-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779769227.jpg Partial aerial looking east, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No 2, AB, 2026-05-19 A partial view of Prairie Oasis Park n Special Areas No. 2, Alberta. I wanted to get more shots, but I was getting non-stop wind warnings. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/now-open-for-the-season-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-04-20-1776694424 2026-04-20 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/now-open-for-the-season-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-04-20-1776694424.jpg Now open for the season, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2026-04-20 This is the first reflection shot of 2026 from Lower Gray Pond a.k.a. "That Damn Pond". It's a 40 second flight from my front door and I use it more than I should because, well, I'm lazy. And it is one of the best spots in town for reflection shots. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/dusk-falls-at-the-lesser-pond-gray-park-strathmore-alberta-2023-09-24-1776041304 2026-04-13 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/dusk-falls-at-the-lesser-pond-gray-park-strathmore-alberta-2023-09-24-1776041304.jpg Dusk Falls at the Lesser Pond, Gray Park, Strathmore, Alberta, 2023-09-24 The wind was down and the sky was blooming with life so I flew the drone half a kilometer away for a skylife. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/it-s-about-damn-time-storm-over-gray-ponds-strathmore-alberta-2023-07-30-1776040836 2026-04-13 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/it-s-about-damn-time-storm-over-gray-ponds-strathmore-alberta-2023-07-30-1776040836.jpg It's About Damn Time, Storm over Gray Ponds, Strathmore, Alberta. 2023-07-30 I had waited for over two months for a workable storm shot with my drone that year. The skies just did not cooperate. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/aerial-view-p-h-elevator-sharples-alberta-2023-05-20-1776040480 2026-04-13 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/aerial-view-p-h-elevator-sharples-alberta-2023-05-20-1776040480.jpg Aerial View, P&H Elevator, Sharples, Alberta. 2023-05-20 Elevated view of the old grain elevator in Sharples, Alberta. The air was full of forest fire smoke that day and I could only spend five minutes at a time outside of the vehicle. It was that bad. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/well-hello-there-sunrise-from-120m-above-thornbriar-green-strathmore-alberta-2023-12-22-1776040034 2026-04-13 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/well-hello-there-sunrise-from-120m-above-thornbriar-green-strathmore-alberta-2023-12-22-1776040034.jpg Well Hello There, Sunrise from 120M above Thornbriar Green, Strathmore, Alberta, 2023-12-22 Sunrise as seen from above Thomas Drive in Strathmore looking east. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/that-looks-like-a-refill-on-the-way-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-06-01-1775282141 2026-04-04 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/that-looks-like-a-refill-on-the-way-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-06-01-1775282141.jpg Here comes the rain again, Strathmore, AB, 2024-05-21 Incoming storm system. Again. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/sunset-over-the-lower-pond-gray-ponds-strathmore-alberta-2023-09-08-1775281947 2026-04-04 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/sunset-over-the-lower-pond-gray-ponds-strathmore-alberta-2023-09-08-1775281947.jpg Sunset Over the Lower Pond, Gray Ponds, Strathmore, Alberta, 2023-09-08 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/sun-tipping-the-horizon-gray-park-strathmore-ab-2022-10-16-1775187852 2026-04-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/sun-tipping-the-horizon-gray-park-strathmore-ab-2022-10-16-1775187852.jpg Sun Tipping the Horizon, Gray Park, Strathmore, AB, 2022-10-16 It's so rare to find the water that calm. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/when-your-rainbow-blows-strathmore-alberta-2023-05-11-1775187747 2026-04-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/when-your-rainbow-blows-strathmore-alberta-2023-05-11-1775187747.jpg When Your Rainbow Blows, Strathmore, Alberta. 2023-05-11 One of the justifications for getting the drone was to capture gorgeous, sky-filling rainbows. Yeah. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/ember-on-the-horizon-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-06-21-1775187581 2026-04-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/ember-on-the-horizon-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-06-21-1775187581.jpg Ember on the horizon, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2024-06-21 Some of my favourite shots are the ones where the sun just tips the horizon. The clouds as sort of a weird eyebrow over the sun also works for me. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/shore-leave-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-06-10-1775187414 2026-04-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/1775187637_ShoreleaveLowerGrayPondStrathmoreAB20240610.jpg Shore leave, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2024-06-10 Everyone's favourite pond at Grey Park. There is a dirty great condo being built at left now, I'll never get this shot again. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/spring-skies-are-back-again-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-03-1775187266 2026-04-03 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/spring-skies-are-back-again-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-03-1775187266.jpg Spring skies are back again, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2024-05-03 The pond across from my home. I photograph it a lot. Too much. Way too much. And not nearly enough. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/looking-southwest-at-nightfall-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-07-1774678590 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/looking-southwest-at-nightfall-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-07-1774678590.jpg Looking Southwest At Nightfall, Strathmore, Alberta, 2024-03-07 I have promised myself I'm doing more night shots this year. They're just neat to look at. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/blue-and-gold-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-15-1774677450 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/blue-and-gold-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-15-1774677450.jpg Blue and Gold, Strathmore, Alberta, 2024-03-15 It was feeling like spring two days before and then this. Blah. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/fire-along-the-sky-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-13-1774677188 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/fire-along-the-sky-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-13-1774677188.jpg Fire along the sky, Strathmore, Alberta, 2024-03-13 I live for sunsets like this, but also find them challenging. The sensor in the DJI Mini drones seems to be overly sensitive to red and likes to blow it out. Takes some juggling the EV setting to keep that from happening. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/alpenglow-to-the-east-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-16-1774676701 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/alpenglow-to-the-east-strathmore-alberta-2024-03-16-1774676701.jpg Alpenglow to the east, Strathmore, Alberta, 2024-03-16 It is so very dead and brown in March in Alberta. Blah. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/alpenglow-looking-south-from-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-26-1774676394 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/alpenglow-looking-south-from-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-26-1774676394.jpg Alpenglow, Looking South from Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2024-05-26 The trees in the foreground of this image are now gone. There is a gaping wound where an apartment building will soon appear. We have a housing shortage and it's needed, but what a goddamn awful place to put it. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/it-s-a-new-day-looking-east-strathmore-ab-2024-06-08-1774676147 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/it-s-a-new-day-looking-east-strathmore-ab-2024-06-08-1774676147.jpg It's a new day, Looking East, Strathmore, AB, 2024-06-08 I may have crept above the 120m limit, but as there were no witnesses, no one can say for certain. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/reflections-tom-sadler-bridge-strathmore-ab-2024-06-02-1774676008 2026-03-28 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/reflections-tom-sadler-bridge-strathmore-ab-2024-06-02-1774676008.jpg Reflections, Tom Sadler Bridge, Strathmore, AB, 2024-06-02 This is one of those shots that gives me the willies to take because I was hovering my DJI Mini 2 very close to the surface of the water. It had a tendancy to drift slowly down toward the water as its down-facing camera didn't work well with wet stuff. I had to make sure I watched the altitude on the drone, gently nudging it up as needed, but not so much as to introduce alignment errors into the merged panoramic. Honestly, I probably should have just waded into the canal instead. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/underwhelmed-again-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-27-1774107284 2026-03-21 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/underwhelmed-again-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2024-05-27-1774107284.jpg Underwhelmed again, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2024-05-27 My usual habit when I take these is to fly about 10m out over the surface of the pond and hover about 1m above. This is not a place I can get to on foot because the perimeter of the marsh isn't quicksand, but it's close to it. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/localized-showers-strathmore-ab-2024-06-10-1774105866 2026-03-21 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/localized-showers-strathmore-ab-2024-06-10-1774105866.jpg Localized showers, Strathmore, AB, 2024-06-10 Did you know that it's not technically illegal to fly your microdrone above 120m in Canada? You can, they just don't like it you do. I only do it occasionally, and while monitoring local ATC to be safe. https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/another-shot-of-the-icy-hot-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-01-18-1774077633 2026-03-21 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/another-shot-of-the-icy-hot-lower-gray-pond-strathmore-ab-2026-01-18-1774077633.jpg Another shot of the Icy Hot, Lower Gray Pond, Strathmore, AB, 2026-01-18 https://hekeepsdroningon.ca/page.php?slug=photographer 2026-03-22