Shooting Downtown from Firetruck Boom: I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories...

Photocreeper Loc: Marshall MI USA

I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories shooting towards the stage and people on main street. The stage will be about one city block away. We will be facing due west and sun will be setting almost due northwest. I am using a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens. I also have a 50mm lens f/1.8 lens, which would be about 80mm on my D7000. I am looking for any advice on how to achieve the best shots.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

The 50 is included in the zoom range of your other lens. I don't think I would want to be changing lenses from the top of a ladder even if it has a bucket. Just bring the zoom that you have. I think you will find that, if anything, you might want more reach than the 200 affords. Of course, I'm not suggesting that you buy or rent a lens for the purpose. 18-200 will be fine.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

If all they want is an overall view of the activities, than you should be fine with the 18-200. Remember, you will be most likely 40 plus feet in the air and depending on the length of your city blocks, well, you can see what I'm getting at. Hope your not afraid of heights either.

twindad Loc: SW Michigan, frolicking in the snow.

Photocreeper wrote:

I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories shooting towards the stage and people on main street. The stage will be about one city block away. We will be facing due west and sun will be setting almost due northwest. I am using a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens. I also have a 50mm lens f/1.8 lens, which would be about 80mm on my D7000. I am looking for any advice on how to achieve the best shots.

I've done a lot of work in those buckets. I strongly suggest you wear a harness attached to the bucket. If this is already part of the plan, then you're in good stead. A friend of mine fell 25ft from a lift, and he was never the same after that (coma for six weeks, and rehab for 2 years).

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Splurge and get a Tamron 70 - 300 and a good lens hood. And since you are using the telephoto, consider strapping a monopod or tripod to the bucket's railing. What people don't realize is, those cherry picker buckets move in the wind, not the most stable of platforms, so you'll need a good camera support.

And, by all means, wear a safety harness.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

twindad wrote:

I've done a lot of work in those buckets. I strongly suggest you wear a harness attached to the bucket. If this is already part of the plan, then you're in good stead. A friend of mine fell 25ft from a lift, and he was never the same after that (coma for six weeks, and rehab for 2 years).

OSHA requires fall protection above 6 feet.
https://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/subpartm.html
Your 'friend' was not following the rules.

twindad Loc: SW Michigan, frolicking in the snow.

Wall-E wrote:

OSHA requires fall protection above 6 feet.
https://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/subpartm.html
Your 'friend' was not following the rules.

Hence, my admonition about wearing a harness. And why the quotes around your use of the word friend? Do you mean to imply that he's not my friend?

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

As rgrenaderphoto said, those buckets move. So, no tripod. Handheld only. I know someone who used a tripod in a canoe - not one keeper. Seems there was "camera movement". I wonder why!

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

Photocreeper wrote:

I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories shooting towards the stage and people on main street. The stage will be about one city block away. We will be facing due west and sun will be setting almost due northwest. I am using a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens. I also have a 50mm lens f/1.8 lens, which would be about 80mm on my D7000. I am looking for any advice on how to achieve the best shots.

Your so lucky.Have fun up there.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If I were offered this chance, I would rent a tilt-shift and a second body if necessary. Nikon makes an 85mm that might be fun up there.

twowindsbear

Find another position! One that's closer and not facing toward the setting sun.

Borrow, rent or even buy a longer lens, at least double the focal length of the longest lens you have now. Keep in mind that you'll have to contend with vibrations from the engine, too.

Have fun & post your results.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I don't think 200mm will be long enough.
It will give you boring documentary shots.
You will have a unique perspective though so exaggerate that as best you can without going overboard ..... and as someone else mentioned ... if going overboard, be sure to wear a harness. :-)

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Photocreeper wrote:

I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories shooting towards the stage and people on main street. The stage will be about one city block away. We will be facing due west and sun will be setting almost due northwest. I am using a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens. I also have a 50mm lens f/1.8 lens, which would be about 80mm on my D7000. I am looking for any advice on how to achieve the best shots.

Be sure to put a small, plastic bag in your pocket. That bucket is really a sail, and it will move around. 4 stories is about 40 feet. I think your 50mm will be useless from up there. Besides, your zoom already has a 50mm. GL, this will be an adventure for you.

boydimages Loc: California

:thumbup: Good information like you gave here helps others answer your question. So often the poster gives little information and thus making it hard to give a good answer.

Photocreeper wrote:

I have been asked to shoot a downtown festival form the top of the fire department's tower ladder bucket. We will be up about 3-4 stories shooting towards the stage and people on main street. The stage will be about one city block away. We will be facing due west and sun will be setting almost due northwest. I am using a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens. I also have a 50mm lens f/1.8 lens, which would be about 80mm on my D7000. I am looking for any advice on how to achieve the best shots.

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

If you use shutter speeds above 1/200, you should get decent photos in spite of the inherent motion/vibration of the truck/bucket. One other thing, keep your feet apart. That keeps YOUR motion down and lets you compensate for bucket motion somewhat. Good luck with the project!