Winnipeg drone photographers offering unique view of city landmarks

Drone footage shows a giant Canada flag passing over the crowd during national anthems at the Winnipeg Whiteout Street Party on April 30, 2025.

A Winnipeg photographer is giving viewers a look at the city through different eyes.

In recent years, Anthony Urso’s drone videos and photography have been catching the eyes of Winnipeggers, showcasing different neighbourhoods, landmarks and events at a perspective not always seen.

“People keep watching everything I post and leaving comments, which I always appreciate, and liking my posts on Instagram and TikTok and everywhere that I post,” Urso said during a recent interview. “It’s always nice to hear that people like the work that you do.”

Urso’s love of photography started at a young age growing up in Winnipeg.

“Me and my friends just used to go around and explore Winnipeg, and I always tried to find new views and new angles to shoot photos and showcase the city,” he said.

‘Changed the landscape’: The impact of drones on photography and videography

Urso got his first drone in 2018, and it was a game-changer for him.

“The opportunities that they open up are just endless,” Urso said. “There are just so many things you wouldn’t be able to capture without them, or at least not easily. Helicopters are very expensive, so now that you can get shots that were only possible with helicopter, it makes it a lot more accessible to people like me and everyone else.”

Ryan Cheale, owner and operator of Drone Manitoba, echoed Urso’s sentiments. He worked in filmography and videography before getting into drones, and said it has given people more options for unique photos or videos

“It just completely changed the landscape for a lot of people,” he said.

Cheale also remembers the early days of drones, which were very rudimentary, with no obstacle avoidance or GPS control. Flight was also completely manual.

“You really were hitting record, putting it up the air and hoping for the best,” he said. “The technology and the signal weren’t the greatest. You couldn’t always see exactly what you were capturing. From 10 years ago to now, it’s like night and day.”

While it is a fun activity, drone photography also comes with a lot of work and planning. You need to have a basic certificate to pilot a drone over 250 grams, and an advanced certificate, like Urso possesses, to fly in restricted airspace areas or around people. You also need to register flight paths with Nav Canada, which can take a couple of days for approval.

“I just hope people don’t approach this as just a toy in the air,” Cheale said. “There are a lot of people that take this job very seriously and treat it very professionally, and there’s a lot of safety and rules you should be following to do all this.”

Urso recommends people getting into drone photography to really read up on the regulations before starting.

“Police take these things seriously, and if you get caught doing something you’re not allowed to do, you can end up with a pretty serious fine,” he said.

Urso’s videos posted online have garnered a lot of attention. Over lo-fi hip-hop beats and music, his drone travels near Winnipeg’s buildings, landmarks and residents. He has captured the Winnipeg Whiteout, The Forks, Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (with full cooperation and coordination with the airport) and the Exchange District, the latter of which is one of his favourite things to photograph.

“Just at night, all those warm, incandescent bulbs start blowing, the city just looks like it comes alive at night,” he said. “Winnipeg is an incredibly picturesque city at night.”

For those getting into drone photography, Urso says people should start small and learn how to fly their drone before trying anything advanced.

“It’s a skill, like regular photography, or any other skill out here,” he said. Practice makes perfect.”