Sunrise in the Westshore: One Lagoon, Three Lakes, Zero Sleep

Island Drones began in the Westshore long before we knew what this project would become. Back then, it was just me, a drone, and a habit of getting up far too early.

This was one of those mornings.

I set myself a small mission: hit four of the Westshore’s sunrise spots before most people made it to their coffee. Lagoon, Thetis Lake, Langford Lake, Glen Lake — one morning, one battery bag, and a whole lot of cold fingers.

Here’s how it went.

Stop 1: Esquimalt Lagoon — The Ocean Wake-Up Call

The Lagoon is where the Westshore tilts into the Pacific. Driftwood, salt air, gulls arguing over breakfast — the usual soundtrack.

When the sun cracked the horizon, the water turned into a giant orange mirror. Flying low over the shoreline, everything felt calm, still, and worth every minute of lost sleep.

Sunrise at the Esquimalt Lagoon

Stop 2: Thetis Lake — Morning Mist & Quiet Trails

A few minutes inland and the world shifts. Thetis at sunrise is pure quiet. Mist lifting off the water, headlamps on the trails, the forest barely moving.

From above, it looks like wilderness and neighbourhood life stitched together — one of those very Westshore combinations that never gets old.

Thetis Lake

Stop 3: Langford Lake — Gold Light & Busy Shores

By Langford Lake, the sun was climbing and everything turned gold. Docks, paddleboarders, fishermen — the day had officially begun.

From the air, Langford shows a busy little pocket of morning life, with light spilling across the water and people already out enjoying it.

Langford Lake

Stop 4: Glen Lake — Neighbourhood on the Water

Glen Lake isn’t remote wilderness. It’s the neighbourhood lake: playgrounds, boardwalks, morning walkers with takeout coffee in hand.

From the sky, you see community, routine, and the mountains in the distance. Just everyday Westshore life, framed in sunrise light.

Glen Lake

Four flights, one morning. Salt air at the Lagoon. Mist at Thetis. Golden light at Langford. Community at Glen.

This was from the early days of Island Drones — before we rebranded, before we knew what we were building, before any plans or strategy. But mornings like this are still the heartbeat of what is now Vancouver Island Drones.

This is the Westshore before the world wakes up.

This is why we fly.

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Showcasing Vancouver Island Resorts from Above: A Calmer, More Honest Approach

Vancouver Island has some of the most beautiful coastlines and hospitality destinations in the country. You don’t need flashy production or big-agency scripts to sell that — the landscape does the heavy lifting. A good drone flight just helps people feel what it’s like to be there.

I’ve spent years filming sunrises along the Island’s beaches, inlets, and trails. Resorts like the ones at Parksville, Mayne Island, or the Saanich Peninsula have that same quiet magic. When the light hits the water just right, you don’t need to do much more than lift off and let the Island speak for itself.

That’s the approach behind the hospitality work I take on: simple, cinematic aerial shots that show your guests the experience before they arrive.

What I Film for Resorts and Hospitality

Not packages — just the kinds of visuals people want to see:

Aerial Photos
Clean, high-resolution stills of your property, the shoreline, the trails nearby, and the views you’re known for.

Cinematic Aerial Video
Short, calm, sunrise-friendly clips your guests will actually watch — and remember.

The Surroundings
Because most people don’t book a room; they book a feeling. Beaches, forests, docks, bluffs, and that early morning quiet that makes Vancouver Island special.

Why This Style Works for Hospitality

I don’t try to oversell anything. If your resort sits on a beautiful piece of coastline, the footage will show that. If it’s tucked into the forest, sunrise through the trees tells its own story.

Guests can picture themselves there — and that’s what makes people book.

A Local, West Coast Approach

• Transport Canada Advanced certified

• Comfortable with controlled-airspace planning

• Sunrise flights whenever weather allows

• Westshore-based, serving Greater Victoria and the Gulf Islands

If you’re a resort or hotel on Vancouver Island and want calm, cinematic aerial visuals of your property, I’m happy to chat about what makes sense — no pressure, no upsells.

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DJI Mini 3 Review 2025: Your First Beer

Like your first beer

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the DJI Mini 3 is not the best drone in the world. It’s not even the best Mini anymore. But you know what it is? The drone that gets you hooked.

This is the gateway drug of drones — the “first beer” that leads to many late nights, questionable decisions, and eventually explaining to your spouse why you now own three drones and a bag full of ND filters.

At under 249g, it’s regulation-friendly, portable, and sneaky enough to carry anywhere. It’s also just good enough to convince you that drones are the most fun hobby/business expense you’ve ever stumbled into.

Size + Price = No Excuses

The best part of the Mini 3 is its price tag and weight class. It’s cheap (by drone standards), tiny, and doesn’t require you to memorize Transport Canada regulations before you take it out of the box.

On Vancouver Island, that means you can toss it in your bag, fly it on a hike, and pretend you’re shooting a Tourism BC ad — all without a license, an insurance policy, or a second mortgage.

It’s the drone equivalent of “sure, I’ll just have one drink.”

Camera: Better Than Expected, Worse Than You’ll Want

The Mini 3’s 1/1.3-inch sensor can actually pump out surprisingly nice 4K HDR video. Your sunsets will look decent, your landscapes will pop, and your ego will inflate just enough to start pricing out the Mini 4 Pro.

The catch? Once you see what bigger drones can do, you’ll realize the Mini 3 footage is good… not great. It’s like drinking a Bud Light — refreshing, fine, but nobody’s confusing it for craft beer.

It’ll impress your Instagram followers, but Netflix is not calling you.

Flight Time: Long Enough to Crash It

DJI claims 38 minutes of flight time. In reality? Closer to 30 if you’re actually flying instead of hovering nervously.

But here’s the truth: it’s long enough for beginners to get cocky, push it too far, and then sprint across a field in sandals trying to rescue it from a tree. (Ask me how I know.)

Plenty of time to learn. Not enough time to become an expert before you run out of battery.

Obstacle Avoidance: Or Lack Thereof

The Mini 3 doesn’t have full obstacle sensing. Which means… it trusts you. Big mistake.

Fly it into a branch? Your fault. Slam it into a wall? Your fault. Land it in a puddle? 100% your fault. This drone is basically saying, “Training wheels? Grow up.”

For beginners, that’s actually a blessing in disguise. You’ll learn the hard way — and fast. And that’s how you become a better pilot (or at least a more careful one).

It’s like learning to drive in a beater — you’re supposed to crash it.

Who Should Buy the Mini 3?

• Absolute beginners → This is your entry ticket. Cheap, light, fun, and won’t destroy your soul if you crash it.

• Budget flyers → If you just want decent footage for hiking, camping, or family trips, it’s perfect.

• “One and done” buyers → If you think you’ll stop at this drone, you’re lying to yourself. (See you at the checkout page for your Air 3S upgrade in six months.)

The Island Drones Verdict

The DJI Mini 3 is not the best drone on the market. But it might be the most important. Because it’s the one that gets you addicted.

It’s cheap enough to justify, good enough to impress, and limited enough to guarantee you’ll want more. Around here, we call it the gateway drone.

It’s your first beer. And just like beer, you’re not stopping at one.

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