This winter I grappled with a dilemma. How might I improve my photography when photographing nests without stressing the birds? It was an absolute that using a drone to get a higher perspective was out (read Audubon’s view on this subject). One afternoon while the extreme northern Minnesota weather kept me housebound a possible solution dawned upon me … Super Monopod! I started my research to determine whether I would be able to safely mount my Sony A6300 and its 70-350 mm lens (105-525mm equivalent). I hoped that my lightweight mirrorless camera setup would insure my success.

Here are my first results from yesterday afternoon’s photoshoot! Jackpot! I did not stress the owls at either nest, and Super Monopod worked very well. Full details are provided after the photographs … all taken via my new setup. My camera was 11 feet above me and controlled by a Sony remote control smartphone app. Eventually I will test at longer / higher extensions (20 feet possible).

Super Monopod actually lets me hoist my camera to an elevation of 20 feet, but I am learning and testing at lesser pole extensions. At the highest extension I start to run into some “pendulum effect” … only a few inches but makes focusing very difficult.

Equipment:

• Stauber 20 extension pole and camera mount
• Smartphone Clamp / Holder (attaches to extension pole)
• Sony A6300 with wifi enabled
• Sony 70-350 mm lens (105-525mm equivalent)
• Sony Remote Control Camera Application (YouTube Video)
• Ulanzi small and lightweight tilt ball head (solves pendulum issue)

Post update: The ball head solved a problem that I often needed to tilt my Super Monopod which caused the camera to sway like a pendulum at the top of the extended poles. I now may use the ball head to tilt the camera rather than the monopod. (update ends)

One vote of approval came this morning when I happened to meet out in the field the head ranger for Catalina Ponds Regional Park. I explained what I was doing, and how I was avoiding the use of drones … he approved of my setup wholeheartedly! (this assumes I do not get too close to my subject owls … which I don’t).

Some closing comments …

• I first tested my setup at home in northeastern Minnesota. I quickly learned that trying to hold a smartphone and a monopod at the same time was a horrible idea. I needed to use the camera remote control app on my phone. Thus, I quickly found a clamp that would hold my phone securely to the pole.
• My lightweight system of a Sony A6300 and lens works well. I suspect a larger DSLR and big lens would be a disaster … major weight up high … possibly crashing down.
• I have found pointing my Super Monopod at the base of the tree … and then moving the point of focus slowly upwards works the best. My Sony keeps up and refocuses.
• I am using burst mode for taking images.

Rich with Super Monopod at my Oro Valley AirBnB