If it helps at all, the article mentions that the photographer uses exposures "as long as 30 seconds," so these drones aren't in the air all that long. Unless and until hundreds of copycat drone-light photographers start swarming deserts and lakes, I don't feel too bad about the light and noise pollution incurred to produce this shockingly creative landscape photography. Besides, I bet the effects of a single drone flying for a few minutes pales in comparison to the headlights, engine sounds, and emissions of the car used to get to and from the photo location.