My Jakarta: Herman Wibowo, Drone Pilot

Jakarta Globe, Zack Petersen, May 26, 2013

Herman Wibowo showing off his drones at a seminar. (JG Photo/Zack Petersen)

Herman Wibowo,a drone and helicopter aerial cinematographer, has traveled the world capturing breathtaking shots with the power of his thumbs. His remote-controlled drones, which have multiple rotors, have traveled into the belly of volcano craters, skirted the beaches of Raja Ampat and crisscrossed Borobudur at dawn. As his profile grows, so do his moral dilemmas. Herman, 40, knows that in the wrong hands, his drones could be dangerous.

How long have you been flying drones?

I started flying remote control in the fourth grade. I was the youngest of seven and so I was always looking for something to do. My dad actually introduced me to the hobby. My passion is anything that is remotely controlled.

I also race cars and fly remote-controlled helicopters and airplanes. But my passion is also photography and video. So I combine the two. I started my company back in 2002.

Do you think we will see drones at demonstrations here in the next few years?

We already are. This drone here has a camera, a GoPro HD Hero 3. I did a job for the National Police — a Labor Day demonstration — and there I was flying at 50 meters, monitoring things.

Could you see people’s faces?

Yes. I could see who the ringleaders were and what was going on. In the wrong hands drones can do damage.

Have you worked at all with the government?

With Fauzi Bowo, the World Bank, for a mining company, TV news, movie productions, a production house, property management, security. Everybody needs aerial vision. It’s something that you cannot get from the ground, you need to bring the camera up.

What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve seen?

If I go to an exotic place, like an island or mountain, then you can go down to see the crater and you can go down with a camera and you can see the scene itself.

Have you seen the insides of a volcano?

Yes. In Bandung, in Kampung Banten. I was also in Bromo, where we shot with a remote camera.

Did you manage to turn your hobby into a dream job?

Yes. But I enjoy my hobby. I don’t consider it hard because I think it’s a gift that I can use my hobby as my job. And I get to travel. I am passionate of traveling.

Work is work, it’s always hard. But this is a gift. I’m going to Raja Ampat for 10 days in October, and a movie director from America just found one of my videos on YouTube and he wants me to come out to Yogya again to help him with a film.

What’s the weirdest job that you have ever taken on?

The weirdest was to take the picture of a helicopter flying nearby with my small helicopter. Also taking shots of Ahmad Dhani and Mulan Jameela.

But I’ve also had to take shots for the army and police when there was a Labor Day demo at Monas [national monument].

Do you think what you do invades people’s privacy?

Yes, if it got in the wrong hands.

If you were to make a commercial about Jakarta, which shot would you make sure to have?

Kota Tua and the North Jakarta port of Sunda Kelapa. Also SCBD [Sudirman Central Business District], and the traffic of Semanggi during rush hour.

[I would shoot] something artistic but also the reality of what’s happening … Jakarta has a lot to offer, not just the traffic. Also, the nearby cities like Bogor, or Pulau Seribu.

Herman Wibowo was talking to Zack Petersen.