"It came from Xia Jianjie, a member of the Wuxi Aerial Photography Association," said He Qiuhu, chairman of WAPA.

The association was established in late 2018 to provide guidance and a communication platform for its members. It also helps streamline the actions of pilots to meet national and local requirements for drone operation.

To date, membership has grown from fewer than 100 to some 380 people, with another 200 up for accreditation.

"They come from all walks of life, from government officials to common workers, from college professors to students, with an age range crossing six decades," He said.

One such member is Wang Mingdong, 62, a retired worker from a local radio factory.

Wang dabbled in aerial photography in 2017 as a means to enrich his retirement and qualified for association membership two years later.

His videos recorded the great changes Wuxi, especially its rural areas, has seen in recent years under the leadership of the Party, he said.

One of his works titled Bird's Eye View of Yangjian, which depicts the city's Yangjian town, won first prize in a local video contest themed on rural landscapes.

With the ubiquity of drones, the kind of photography that would have required extreme physical exertion is open to all, including people like Wang.

"You're never too old to learn," he said with a smile.