The way I work.

For me, the emphasis is on the photograph.  The mast is a means to the photograph.

It can be tempting for a mast photographer to focus entirely on height and just push the camera up as high as possible, take the shot and call it a day.  But different clients have different requirements and it is important to understand the message the client wants to convey.  It is also important to recognise when too much height loses sight of the message or fails to best showcase the subject.

Estate Agency commissions are a good example.  Sometimes the message is to showcase the house, setting, gardens, swimming pool, tennis court, stables and to convey that message in one eye catching image.  Most likely a high photo will be needed.  But, often there is not a big story to tell and the aim is to just showcase the house and make sure it looks good.  50 feet may only serve to highlight the roof !  So I look for lower heights which work well for the building.

The mast also allows me to photograph subjects differently.  Commissioned to photograph a school for the prospectus I used both elevated and regular photography to fill the brief.  The mast allowed many photos of the pupils in their activities but which were taken with a bit of height.  Just enough to change the perspective and offer something different.

The core of my work involves using the mast, although I can complement the images with conventional photos, but it is a tool to achieve the right photo, not the raison d’etre to the exclusion of the all important image.

Matthew Burch

How it works.

I am frequently asked how the system works.

I know that when the masts are deployed they are quite impressive and often, if I am in a public area, I end up with a few spectators !

I have two systems which work on the same principle. 

Both masts are telescopic, the 50’ pneumatic mast is vehicle mounted but can be removed from the vehicle and deployed on a tri-pod base if necessary.  The 25’ mast is hand held with my body effectively becoming the tri-pod !

In both cases the camera feeds to a computer via USB and provides me with a live image to compose, set exposure and take the shot.  I have full control of the camera, rather than a simple point and shoot set, up in both systems.

For whom does it work?

Quite possibly, you !

You might be surprised at how an elevated shot becomes really useful.  My Applications page lists suggested applications or relevant clients and I plan to flesh some out with ideas and suggestions.  Give it some thought, photos with a different perspective could work for you.

I am based in Farnham, Surrey and very happy to take commissions anywhere in the UK.

Elevated photography for Corporate and Private clients.

All photographs and content Copyright 2007-2010 Matthew Burch, Main Mast Photography.  All Rights Reserved.