Elliot MacGuire has carved out a true name for himself as a local drone photographer who showcases the gorgeous landscapes of Southern Delaware, a niche in photography that offers a fresh perspective on art. “Delaware can feel like such a small area, and you can feel like you’ve seen everything, but this [drone photography] gives a different vantage point,” Elliot said. “It’s my one true love,”
he smiles.
At 32 years old, Elliot explains that he’s always been interested in photography and used to take and edit pictures of his dog Levi on the beach using his iPhone. “It wasn’t anything serious, but I was always drawn to it … then in 2017, I bought my first drone.”
Elliot notes that drone photos can be created by modifying a GoPro camera and attaching it to a drone, but he purchased a commercial-grade drone that came with a built-in camera. “This is how I can differentiate myself and show Delaware from a different perspective,” he says.
In 2020, Elliot was working full time in the restaurant industry. However, when COVID restrictions caused his shifts to dwindle, he dove full fledged into photography. “When the pandemic started, they closed beaches. That’s when I started live-streaming sunrises and created a community online.” Now, five years later, Elliot’s community and presence continue to grow. He shoots full time, working with various real estate companies, completing individual commission work, and selling his beautiful landscape and sunrise prints online at his store, elliotmacguire.com. Follow his love affair with Delaware beach sunrises on social media at @elliotmacguire.
Q: What is your favorite part about living in coastal delaware?
Elliot: “The beach; particularly the sunrise over the sunset because I’m an early bird.”
Q: Tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t otherwise know?
Elliot: “I once ran a 24-hour race that had a 5-mile loop and 22 obstacles. I ran 9 laps in 24 hours, so 45 miles total.”
Q: By definition, a crush is a brief infatuation with something. What are you currently crushing on?
Elliot: “I’m obsessing over editing photos. I’m all about color theory!”
