page_title: Elevated photography
section_title: Telescoping mast or pole photography
hierarchical_section_title: Elevated photography / Telescoping mast or pole photography
caption_attribution_description: English: Trailer-mounted-mast
context_page_description: Elevated photography is the process of taking aerial photos using a telescoping pole or mast, or other aerial or elevated support systems, to emulate aerial photographs, or video, taken from a commercially licensed aircraft.
  In some ways, elevated photography is more flexible than imagery taken from a commercial aircraft, or an orbiting satellite, in that it is capable of getting highly detailed images, from a birds eye view. This method allows for image collection that offers synoptic timelines - making this process a useful tool for construction management, litigation, accident investigation, real estate promotion and much more.
  The price and flexibility of elevated imaging is generally quite reasonable, and it includes varying degrees of compatibility with related engineering-quality software. Because it does not involve the use of a manned commercial aircraft, the overhead and costs associated with elevated photography should be much lower.
  Elevated photography has been around for a few years; however, it is still relatively new in the United States and United Kingdom, but the concept of obtaining aerial images is not.
context_section_description: Mast or pole photography refers to low-level, ground-based elevated or aerial photography, using a telescopic mast or pole, with a remote-controlled camera attached to the mast head, which allows a photographer to capture still and motion picture imagery, from a "birds eye view".Drone Photography, 3D Matterport, Real Esate Photos and videos.
  There are numerous applications for elevated photography, including:
  the real estate business
  land and commercial development
  construction companies - finished and in-progress projects
  government agency's and insurance companies;
  documenting the damage caused by natural & man-made disasters
  documenting architecture and engineering projects
  imaging for advertising and marketing campaigns
  print, broadcast and social media coverage
  police investigation of crime & accident scenes
  fire marshal investigation of crime & accident scenes
  civic events, like festivals and street fairs (mostly with telescoping pole photography)
  permanently mounted traffic cameras to capture photos and video of drivers running red lights
  The four main components of a mast or pole photography system are: (1) the telescoping mast or pole, (2) a high resolution digital camera that is, (3) controlled remotely with a smartphone or computer tablet running a mobile app, and (4) a remote controlled and powered pan/tilt head for pointing the camera.
    
  Telescoping masts come in various sizes, ranging from 20' to over 100' long or high, and can be extended, and retracted manually, mechanically or pneumatically. Mechanical masts rely on a series of simple pulleys and a 12volt electric winch to operate.  Pneumatic systems incorporate a hand pump to pressurize the interior of the mast causing it to rise.
  Smaller masts and poles, in 20' to 40' range, can be manually extended, locked-in-place by hand, and supported at the top-end with three guy-lines, by a single person; although having two persons involved is easier and safer.
  Where speed-of-operation, portability and the ability to hoist heavier professional camera equipment are the main goals, the masts can be mounted on a specialized trailer for easy transport.  The trailer mounted system is quick to set up, since no assembly is required at the site.  The mast pivots near its center of gravity, requiring very little effort to move it from the travel position to the vertical position for shooting. The telescoping mast can also be mounted on a large car or a van. Larger masts can to be attached to a 4x4 vehicle for greater stability for greater safety.
  The remote control pan/tilt head allows the camera operator to position the camera, and frame the shot, by remotely pointing the camera up-and-down and side-to-side in order to achieve the right framing.  Older remote control systems use a direct wire connection to the pan/tilt head to manually control the cameras position at the top-end.  Modern kits use Wireless technology, like tablets and smartphones with Wifi, BlueTooth and mobile apps that control these components using  radio frequency controls. Depending on the quality of the tilt-pan head, it can allows for more precise control and a greater range of movements of the pan-and-tilt controls.
  The ground control unit, which is the user interface, can be a R/C hobby-type unit, or a specialized Mobile app running on a computer tablet or smartphone.  It allows the photographer / operator to see what the camera sees, and being able to control the cameras position; which means framing, tilting, panning and zooming the lens in-and-out in order to compose the image; and then trigger the shutter.
caption: Trailer-mounted telescoping mast in the travel position
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