The Bigger Picture: Lessons from Above on Housing and the Arts

When I first started cold-calling realtors, trying to start my freelance aerial drone photography business, I thought I was just chasing the perfect shot. Capturing sunlit rooftops, winding rivers, or the geometry of city streets from above gave me the thrill of discovery. But somewhere between hovering drones over neighborhoods and zooming out on familiar streets, I realized that I was learning something bigger: perspective.

Flying my drone forced me to take a step back(literally) to see things I couldn't from the ground. Houses that once felt scattered suddenly formed patterns; spaces that seemed isolated revealed connections. It struck me that this shift in vantage point wasn’t just useful for photography; it was useful for how I think about social challenges, too.

Take homelessness. Too often, we zoom in narrowly, labeling it as an individual shortcoming or the result of bad choices. But from a broader view, the patterns become clear. Homelessness is not primarily about personal decisions; it’s about the lack of affordable housing, the structures and systems that leave people on the streets. Flying around my Mavic Mini reminded me that when you only look at a single block or a single life, you miss the bigger picture.

The same applies to the performing arts. From the ground level, you might think theater, dance, or music is just “extra”. They may seem like luxury activities for kids with time and money, but zooming out brings the benefits into focus. Participation in the performing arts builds confidence, empathy, community, and creativity. When access is stratified by income, we aren’t just limiting opportunities for a few kids; we’re shrinking the cultural and civic health of our society as a whole. Access to the performing arts should be a democratic necessity in schools.

Running a drone photography business has taught me that every problem depends on where you stand(or hover). Sometimes, the most profound insights come not from zooming in, but from pulling back.

-Yuvan

Heritage Clubhouse - Photo taken by Yuvan Sampath