How to Make a Pole Camera

Changing the perspective of a picture by elevating the camera and shooting down on your subject creates an unusual viewpoint. This new view stuns viewers, who don't usually see subject captured from this perspective, into examining your image longer. For real estate photographers, gaining altitude for the important entry shot gives the listing an added punch. Making a camera pole from hardware store parts costs less than $25 and gives you a way to try a new perspective without spending a fortune.

Things You'll Need

• Drill
• Telescoping painter's pole
• 3/8-inch hex nuts
• 3/8-inch x 2-inch hanger bolt

Instructions

1. Drill a 5/8-inch hole into the plastic end of a telescoping painter's pole. Work slowly and make sure that the hole goes straight into the plastic---any tilt will cause the camera to be mounted at an angle.

2. Screw two hex nuts onto the hanger bolt. These nuts tighten up against the camera's bottom to prevent the camera from moving once mounted on the pole.

3. Screw the hanger bolt into the hole you drilled on the end of the telescoping painter's pole. Don't over-tighten the bolt; over-tightening can cause the painter's pole's plastic to strip out.

4. Attach the camera to the pole via the camera's tripod mount. Make sure the tripod mount bottoms out on the hanger bolt.

5. Screw the nuts up against the camera's bottom. This makes sure that the camera won't turn and fall off.

6. Set the camera's timer or interval timer to shoot pictures after thirty seconds, which will give you enough time to extend the pole into the air for an aerial shot. It helps to check exposure with a ground shot before raising the pole.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find all the parts for this project at your local hardware store.

References

• Indy Mogul: Make a Boom Pole for $15
• Cheap Shooter: Do-It-Yourself: Pole Aerial Photography