Watch a video taken from a drone flying over the Brick City. Watch video
NEWARK -- It's not quite the bird's-eye view you get after just having taken off from Newark Liberty International Airport, or the scene you see from a high floor of one of the city's tallest buildings.
But, a new drone video panning through the Brick City shows a softer, greener view than some might expect.
"(I'm) surprised at the passionate response I have gotten from this video," a YouTube drone videographer who goes by "DroneFanatic" said in an interview.
"So many people hate and love Newark, and my video seems to get a visceral response from people who don't like it (because it casts) the city in a beautiful light."
The three-minute video shows a vibrant mix of downtown buildings, parks, and residential neighborhoods.
DroneFanatic, who lives abroad, took the video about a year ago during a visit to the U.S., he said. He works as an IT manager, but takes drone videos of different cities in his spare time, and posts them to his YouTube channel. He has also created videos of Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Nev., and Orlando, Fla.
He chose Newark, he said, because he hasn't seen any other videos that show off the city. The DroneFanatic video shows a bright, colorful, bustling city - the opposite of the oft-cited high crime and unemployment rates that have come to define Newark's reputation.
DroneFanatic said he hopes the video can help provide an interesting, aerial perspective.
"I was trying to show how huge the city was, and was surprised at the amount of green space for such a dense place," he said.
"(People) can't seem to grasp, it's what you make of a place."
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
