I would like to shoot landscapes from a height of about 20 feet. Does anyone know of a monopod that goes this tall?

It needs to be portable and fit in the trunk of my car.

I will have my Canon 1Ds Mk2 supported on one end with an Arca-Swiss sytle ballhead or clamp. I have a Canon Wireless Controller LC-4 to trigger the shutter.

The reason I want this is to open up the midground on relatively flat landscapes. Where I live (the midwest) pictures taken around 5-feet off the ground often lack a good midground. I'm hoping that a greater elevation will open things up.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
Henry Domke

You need to borrow a leaf from the videography book and find an adequate Video Boom such as:

http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_video/s...net/Item19.html

There are dozens available and certainly an SLR friendly one among them.

Just occured to me that using a lighting boom might be a much cheaper option ($100 instaed of $1000). Certainly not as sturdy but you can screw the camera straight on.

Plenty to choose from at:

http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=s...arch&query=boom

WOW! Never thought about that.

Are you planing to shoot tethered and which screen or computer are you planing on using?

A single pole of 20' would probably not be stable; one alternative is a triangular cross section antenna tower. Check with ham radio or TV antenna suppliers for a multi-section short tower, possibly four five-foot sections that stack together? For stability, it's base could be a plate that you back a rear tire onto, and then tie a higher point of the tower to the roofrack of the car.

Alternatively, see if you could get a Coyote; it has fairly good camera mast: http://www.gdcanada.com/content/detail.cfm?acronym=LAV-RECCE

Andy

This was somewhat discussed in a thread called "The world's most expensive tripod," in which we were discussing the best way to shoot (safely) off the top of a truck. I also live in the midwest, and know the problem that you're looking at; and I find that shooting off the top of an SUV, which will get the camera ~11-12 feet off the ground, helps a lot. The problems are two: safety (if you trip backwards, you'll land on your head for the same reason that the bread lands jelly-side down) and not damaging the truck. I once did archaeological photography, and tried to work ouit a boom system, but eventually gave up. IMHO, a boom would not work well for landscape; seems like it should, but once you get into the details, it doesn't.

JC

This is pricey, might be bigger than a car boot, but is very interesting all the same.

http://www.higheye.co.uk/

What about a collapsing flagpole? I have one on my deck that is 80" when down and extends almost to 20ft. A plate could be made to mount it on the ground or top of vehicle. A top plate could be fashioned to hold a ball head.

I believe you rent the vehicle/operator and 'pole'. They stand out at Focus [UK Camera event] every year for obvious reasons. Their kit is the stand.

Besides their travel costs to the american midwest may be a bit pricey!

They sell the system at Focus too. Should be able to order from the states

Have a look at www.elevatedphotos.com

If that is to mush, then Manfrotto do have a stand 269HDU 7,3m high which is ok to a Nikon D2x.

I have used it to architecture photos.

Iversen
Denmark

OP had an article a while back on one designed for a truck/SUV. You might check their site or call them up.

E

Don't neglect the possibilities of radio controlled helicopters and balloons and even kites.