Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Turner.
Hi Micah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was younger, I always loved to take pictures. It was a fascinating hobby of mine. I always tried, with my iPod touch at the time, to get pictures that I could use as the wallpaper for my phone. I loved looking at and taking landscape photography. Around when I was 13, my grandparents, who I’ve been living with since I was 7, helped me buy a Parrot AR.drone 2.0. I was so excited every day to get home from school and fly it. One of the things I loved to do with it was to get pictures of the marshes and trees around where I live in the areas around the Vernon River. The drone was very unstable and had a 1080 resolution camera, not very ideal for taking pictures.
Throughout my middle school and high school years, I continued to take pictures with my phone always looking for that great wallpaper shot. Within my high school years, after researching for cameras one day, I came across more professional drones that are used for professional photography. One was the recently released DJI Mavic 2 Pro housing one of the best cameras you could currently, at the time, put on a portable drone of that size. But with its amazing capabilities, came a hefty price tag. But for my 16th birthday, as a surprise, my grandparents got me the drone. I instantly fell in love with learning how to maneuver it, how to take great pictures, and was finally able to take those long-awaited wallpaper shots.
A little off-topic but in 7th and 8th grade I chose to do a Science Fair Project on the effects of Storm Sewer drains on the marshes and wetlands around the savannah. For the project, I mapped out several different strategic sites around savannah testing for pH levels, salinity levels, nitrates, nitrites, and the dissolved oxygen in the water. Throughout this project, when visiting these sites I was devastated to see the amount of trash and waste that was flowing into our marshes. I remember one site by my house, me and my mom decided to take a trash bag to collect some of the trash while out taking samples for testing. At the end of the day, we brought back four trash bags full of waste including bottles, cans, plates, all hazardous to the organisms that live in these wetlands. We even found and brought back several plastic planting pots and even a tire.
The marshes of Coastal Georgia and around the Savannah area are very delicate and need to be preserved to their natural state. This project helped show me how delicate and fragile these habitats are. With aerial photography and videography, I am able to capture and display the amazing yet fragile ecosystems which we call home. With some of the very first pictures I took, I was amazed to see the patterns that the rivers make within the marsh grass, the way the water flows along the banks of our homes. Savannah has a very beautiful and unique landscape that drones have allowed us to see from a new perspective.
Started in December of 2018, originally Micah Turner Photography, Coastal Elevation Aerial Media hopes to provide a unique view of the areas we call home while also offering businesses access to this new perspective.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a small business while in high school can bring many challenges in itself. Thankfully much of my family has supported me along the way, getting my business out there has been one of the hardest things, even now currently.
Also to fly a drone commercially where you are making a profit off of it, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) requires you to have a Remote Pilots License. To get the license you must pass a 60 question test that goes over rules, regulations, and other material you may need when flying a drone commercially. The test covers a lot of material which is also found on the written portion of a Pilots License exam.
Currently, I am attending Georgia Southern University where I am studying Aerospace Engineering with plans to transfer to The Georgia Institute of Technology. Running a small business while studying for an engineering degree is a major challenge in itself to make sure you can service potential clients while also keeping up in your classes.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I am an undergraduate student at Georgia Southern University majoring in Aerospace Engineering with plans to transfer to The Georgia Institute of Technology. I also work at Bible Baptist Church as a Graphic Designer, creating bulletins, promotional materials, and even billboards. Coastal Elevation Aerial Media is a small business I started with no previous knowledge in the photography or business world.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Originally from Atlanta, I have lived in Savannah for most of my life and refer to it as my home. Savannah has a beautiful historic district with amazing architecture and history. Savannah is also surrounded by some of the most amazing wetlands. The marshes and barriers islands around the Savannah and Chatham County area provide an outstanding landscape from dawn to dusk. One of my favorite things to photograph with the drone is Tybee Island and its beaches. The strong waves from above look like stokes from a paintbrush. The container ships coming in and out of the Savannah River give a very colorful look to any picture.
On the other hand, the classic Savannah heat and humidity is not a favorite of mine.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: CoastalElevationAerials.com
- Instagram: @coastalelevation.aerials
- Facebook: @CoastalElevationAerials
