It’s hard to believe that a full year has passed since our Spring hike to the summit of Slieve Bearnagh. Despite a dusting of late snow on the mountains, the conditions were remarkably similar to last year’s trip. In fact, we once again found ourselves reaching for suncream far more often than extra layers, a rare and welcome luxury in the Mournes.
A lot can change in twelve months, and this hike felt like a small milestone for me personally. It offered another opportunity to continue my learning journey with the DJI Mavic Air and to experiment further with capturing the mountains from a new perspective.
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The View from Slieve Bearnagh
On this outing I was still shooting in 4K, but this time I’d added screw-on ND filters to the Mavic Air’s lens. Given how bright the day was, they felt essential at the time. However, looking back at the footage, I think they may have been a little too effective. The skies in particular turned out far more vivid than I’d hoped, almost painfully so. Although I shot in D-Cinelike rather than the standard colour profile, the hue of the sky still feels exaggerated and unnatural. At times it looks closer to an episode of The Simpsons than a realistic mountain landscape.
I did try to correct the colours in Final Cut Pro, but any significant adjustment to the sky quickly started to degrade the tones of the landscape below. It’s a balancing act I’m still learning, and a reminder that colour management is just as important as exposure when shooting drone footage.
Slieve Bearnagh Timelapse
Captured with the DJI Mini
I still have a lot to learn when filming in 4K with the DJI Mavic Air, but that’s very much part of the enjoyment. If anyone has tips or advice on colour grading, D-Cine like workflows, or the best ways to use ND filters, I’d genuinely appreciate hearing them in the comments, all advice is very welcome.
As for the hike itself, we followed what has quickly become one of our favourite routes. Starting from the Trassey Track, we made our way toward Pollaphuca, threading the gap between Meelmore and Bearnagh before spiralling steadily up to the summit. The descent toward the Hare’s Gap is always a little precarious underfoot, but it rewards the effort with stunning views across to Slieve Donard.
About Slieve Bearnagh
Slieve Bearnagh, the second-highest mountain in the Mournes, remains one of our absolute favourites. Its summit is crowned by a series of rugged rocky tors, interlinked by the iconic Mourne Wall, giving the mountain a wild and dramatic character. From the north tor, the views stretch across Slieve Binnian, Doan Mountain, Slieve Donard, and far beyond a panorama that never fails to impress.
One thing that continues to amaze me is the sheer portability of the DJI Mavic Air. It folds down into a remarkably compact size, fitting neatly into a rucksack with ease. Setup is quick and straightforward, making it easy to deploy when conditions allow. Being able to capture these familiar mountains from an entirely different perspective adds a new dimension to hikes I know so well. Now it’s just a matter of putting in the time and learning how to use it properly.
Links
The Mourne Mountain Gallery
Tiffen Pro Mist Filter [Ad]
FlixelPix Instagram
Five Essential Accessories for the Fujifilm X100VI
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