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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Sneaky tip for "aerial" photos
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 03/12/2011 06:08:21 PM · #1
I've had a few calls to take real estate photos, and sometimes it's desirable to get shots from a higher vantage point. A ladder isn't quite high enough, and I can't justify the expense of an RC helicopter. Hmm... time to get sneaky. I bought a $10 clamp to put a tripod mount on a 5/8" stud, then filed down the end of a 12' telescoping painter's pole. Attach an "expendable" P&S camera, set the 10 second self-timer, hold it overhead and viola! A quick test this afternoon to demonstrate the difference between eye level and my monopod on steroids:



Whattya' know, it works!
 03/12/2011 06:20:35 PM · #2
Originally posted by scalvert:
I've had a few calls to take real estate photos, and sometimes it's desirable to get shots from a higher vantage point. A ladder isn't quite high enough, and I can't justify the expense of an RC helicopter. Hmm... time to get sneaky. I bought a $10 clamp to put a tripod mount on a 5/8" stud, then filed down the end of a 12' telescoping painter's pole. Attach an "expendable" P&S camera, set the 10 second self-timer, hold it overhead and viola! A quick test this afternoon to demonstrate the difference between eye level and my monopod on steroids:



Whattya' know, it works!

Very clever, could use it also for large elephant and giraffes eye level shots and similar :)
 03/12/2011 06:55:34 PM · #3
According to your image data, you consider the 7D and 24-105mm to be an "expendable" P&S... Wish I were you :-)

R.
 03/12/2011 07:08:02 PM · #4
That place looks familiar. What town?
 03/12/2011 07:19:05 PM · #5
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
According to your image data, you consider the 7D and 24-105mm to be an "expendable" P&S... Wish I were you :-)

R.


I know you are saying this tongue in cheek, but the exif data says it was taken with a # Camera Make = Panasonic
# Camera Model = DMC-TZ5

Matt
 03/12/2011 07:44:59 PM · #6
Now all you have to do is figure out what you are going to tell the police when they stop you! :)
 03/12/2011 08:25:02 PM · #7
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
According to your image data, you consider the 7D and 24-105mm to be an "expendable" P&S... Wish I were you :-)

R.


I know you are saying this tongue in cheek, but the exif data says it was taken with a # Camera Make = Panasonic
# Camera Model = DMC-TZ5

Matt


I'm going on the data he has with the image in DPC. I don't know from EXIF, I'm just a gullible prole...

R.
 03/12/2011 08:33:01 PM · #8
Originally posted by scalvert:
... I can't justify the expense of an RC helicopter....

Boo! :-( There are some insane First Person View rc videos on YouTube. The pilot wears VR goggles. It must be like the ultimate video game.
 03/12/2011 08:34:10 PM · #9
Or you can always buy one of these...

03/12/2011 08:57:30 PM · #10
Kite Aerial Photography
 03/12/2011 09:01:31 PM · #11
Even a few feet of elevation can make a huge difference in the way a photo of an area looks. I do the same trick with my monopod. You can also put the camera in lower places, like under a bridge, off a balcony or cliff, or way out to one side to get unusual POV or effect.
Shot from the bow.
Shot from outside the fence.
03/12/2011 09:15:47 PM · #12
Originally posted by PGerst:
That place looks familiar. What town?

That's Wolfe Park in Monroe. I didn't realize you were local!
 03/12/2011 10:11:09 PM · #13
Whoa! I have an old Bogen monopod hanging around here with a pretty cheap one-screw ballhead on it, that doesn't take QR plates, that I've never used; but I just realized the QR4 Manfrotto plates have tapped holes for a tripod screw on the bottom as well, so I can screw that sucker onto the 5D and crank it up to like 12-14 feet above the ground. I'm in heaven! Can't wait to mess with this!

Heck all I need is an infrared remote to really be in business...

R.
 03/12/2011 10:36:34 PM · #14
Originally posted by scalvert:
I've had a few calls to take real estate photos, and sometimes it's desirable to get shots from a higher vantage point. A ladder isn't quite high enough, and I can't justify the expense of an RC helicopter. Hmm... time to get sneaky. I bought a $10 clamp to put a tripod mount on a 5/8" stud, then filed down the end of a 12' telescoping painter's pole. Attach an "expendable" P&S camera, set the 10 second self-timer, hold it overhead and viola! A quick test this afternoon to demonstrate the difference between eye level and my monopod on steroids:



Whattya' know, it works!

Can you post a photo of this contraption?
 03/12/2011 11:45:45 PM · #15
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Whoa! I have an old Bogen monopod hanging around here with a pretty cheap one-screw ballhead on it, that doesn't take QR plates, that I've never used; but I just realized the QR4 Manfrotto plates have tapped holes for a tripod screw on the bottom as well, so I can screw that sucker onto the 5D and crank it up to like 12-14 feet above the ground. I'm in heaven! Can't wait to mess with this!

Heck all I need is an infrared remote to really be in business...

R.


I don't think the remote would work at that acute angle (assuming you are below the pole).
 03/12/2011 11:58:52 PM · #16
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I don't think the remote would work at that acute angle (assuming you are below the pole).


Radio remote then, whatever. If we get into this thing enough we'll find something that works :-)

R.
 03/13/2011 12:27:07 AM · #17
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I don't think the remote would work at that acute angle (assuming you are below the pole).

Radio remote then, whatever. If we get into this thing enough we'll find something that works :-)
R.
What about a very long cable?
 03/13/2011 12:31:08 AM · #18
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Radio remote then, whatever. If we get into this thing enough we'll find something that works :-)
R.
What about a very long cable?

The 10 second timer approach is effective.
 03/13/2011 12:32:55 AM · #19
Originally posted by scalvert:
The 10 second timer approach is effective.

How do you deal with focus issues?
 03/13/2011 12:46:49 AM · #20
Originally posted by GeneralE:
How do you deal with focus issues?

You focus and press the shutter button at eye level, then have 10 seconds (plenty of time) to raise up the camera. The bigger issue is aiming, but with a wide angle lens it only takes a couple of tries to get a feel for the right direction.

Message edited by author 2011-03-13 00:48:00.
 03/13/2011 01:22:50 AM · #21
I used a monopod when I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity in DC. I just set the timer and prefocused my 10-20mm to infinity. I got a lot of great high perspective shots from all over. Even while walking around, I was able to get above the crowds. I use that technique only when using the 10-20 though...anything else is difficult to get the focus right on.
 03/13/2011 01:26:19 AM · #22
Originally posted by ti_evom:
I used a monopod when I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity in DC. I just set the timer and prefocused my 10-20mm to infinity. I got a lot of great high perspective shots from all over. Even while walking around, I was able to get above the crowds. I use that technique only when using the 10-20 though...anything else is difficult to get the focus right on.

I've done that a lot, too, and now I've extended the same principle to a BIIIIG monopod.
 03/13/2011 03:51:11 AM · #23
I had to get up three stories to shoot a window detail for a lawsuit. After looking at all the options I ended up making a deal with an arborist to use his cherry picker on a day when he didn't have much work. It ended up costing about a hundred buck, about a fifth of the next most costly method I could find.

For a trigger for the long pole technique, a cell phone headset works for my camera, and I made a 15' long one a few years ago by just splicing in more wire between the plug and the on/off trigger. You could make one of those and tape it to the pole. For that matter you could get an equally long mini usb and shoot tethered if you wanted to go all out.

Message edited by author 2011-03-13 03:52:04.
 03/13/2011 08:42:58 AM · #24
Yup, grew up in Oxford, and my family is all over The Valley. I'm in Colchester now, but I'm always down in the area.

Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by PGerst:
That place looks familiar. What town?

That's Wolfe Park in Monroe. I didn't realize you were local!
03/13/2011 08:54:11 AM · #25
those of you who made it to the NYC G2G last summer might remember how much fun i had with my camera on my monopod, using my pocket wizards

getting shots like



here are some other resources you may want to check out...
the light-weight version

DYI Walking Stick/Monopod

another use of a paint stick

another way to get a higher perspective

the extreme commercial versions

another "high" end commercial solution

ya got some money to spend...

and probably my favorite solution, a diy rc + paint stick combo
to infinity and beyond...

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