How to Film Highways Like a Pro with Neo 2
How to Film Highways Like a Pro with Neo 2
META: Learn how photographer Jessica Brown uses the Neo 2 drone to capture stunning urban highway footage with obstacle avoidance and ActiveTrack features.
TL;DR
- ActiveTrack 5.0 enables smooth vehicle following at speeds up to 72 km/h without manual input
- D-Log color profile captures 12.6 stops of dynamic range for challenging highway lighting
- Third-party ND filter kit proved essential for maintaining cinematic motion blur in bright conditions
- Obstacle avoidance sensors prevented three potential collisions during a single urban shoot
The Challenge of Urban Highway Cinematography
Filming highways in urban environments presents unique obstacles that ground-based cameras simply cannot overcome. Traffic patterns shift unpredictably, overpasses create complex shadows, and capturing the flow of vehicles requires sustained aerial perspectives.
I'm Jessica Brown, a commercial photographer who transitioned into aerial cinematography three years ago. Last month, I completed a documentary project requiring extensive highway footage across metropolitan areas. The Neo 2 became my primary tool—and it fundamentally changed my approach to this demanding work.
This case study breaks down exactly how I configured the Neo 2 for highway filming, the techniques that produced broadcast-quality results, and the specific accessories that elevated the final footage.
Why Highway Filming Demands Specialized Drone Capabilities
Urban highways create a perfect storm of cinematographic challenges. Vehicles move at high speeds while the drone must maintain stable footage. Concrete structures, signage, and overpasses create collision risks. Lighting shifts dramatically between open stretches and shadowed underpasses.
The Neo 2 addresses these challenges through several integrated systems:
- Omnidirectional obstacle sensing with 360-degree coverage
- Subject tracking algorithms that predict vehicle movement
- Advanced stabilization compensating for wind gusts up to 38 km/h
- Extended flight time of 42 minutes per battery
Expert Insight: Highway filming requires planning flights during "golden windows"—typically 6:00-7:30 AM on weekdays when traffic flows steadily but roads aren't congested. The Neo 2's quick deployment time of under 90 seconds from case to air makes capturing these windows realistic.
My Neo 2 Configuration for Highway Projects
Camera Settings That Delivered Results
After extensive testing across twelve separate highway shoots, I settled on these parameters:
- Resolution: 4K at 60fps for flexibility in post-production
- Color Profile: D-Log for maximum dynamic range recovery
- Shutter Speed: Double the frame rate (1/120) for natural motion blur
- ISO: Locked at 100 to minimize noise in shadow areas
- White Balance: Manual at 5600K for consistency across clips
The D-Log profile proved essential. Urban highways feature extreme contrast—bright sky, dark underpasses, reflective vehicle surfaces. Standard color profiles crushed shadows and clipped highlights. D-Log preserved detail across 12.6 stops, giving me recovery room during color grading.
Flight Mode Selection
The Neo 2 offers multiple intelligent flight modes. For highway work, I primarily used:
ActiveTrack 5.0 became my most-used feature. The system locked onto specific vehicles and maintained smooth pursuit shots without my constant joystick input. This freed me to monitor airspace and adjust framing rather than fighting to keep subjects centered.
Hyperlapse mode created compelling time-compressed sequences showing traffic patterns over 30-minute periods. The Neo 2 captured 400+ images per sequence, automatically stitching them into fluid motion.
QuickShots provided reliable B-roll. The Dronie and Circle modes generated establishing shots that editors consistently requested.
The Accessory That Changed Everything
Standard Neo 2 footage looked good. But adding a PolarPro Variable ND filter (2-5 stops) transformed good into exceptional.
Highway filming happens in bright conditions. Without ND filtration, achieving proper motion blur required stopping down the aperture—which increased depth of field and reduced the cinematic quality. The variable ND filter maintained my preferred f/2.8 aperture while cutting light sufficiently for 1/120 shutter speed.
The filter attached via a magnetic mounting system, adding only 12 grams to the gimbal load. The Neo 2's stabilization system compensated without any noticeable degradation in smoothness.
Additional accessories in my highway filming kit:
- Landing pad with weighted edges for rooftop launches
- Signal booster extending reliable range to 8.2 km
- Tablet hood eliminating screen glare during midday flights
- Spare battery set providing 126 minutes of total flight time
Pro Tip: Always carry a microfiber cloth specifically for the ND filter. Highway environments generate significant airborne particulates. I cleaned the filter between every flight—even brief debris accumulation created visible artifacts in footage.
Technical Comparison: Neo 2 vs. Alternative Options
| Feature | Neo 2 | Competitor A | Competitor B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Tracking Speed | 72 km/h | 54 km/h | 61 km/h |
| Obstacle Sensors | Omnidirectional | Front/Rear Only | Omnidirectional |
| Flight Time | 42 minutes | 31 minutes | 38 minutes |
| Dynamic Range (D-Log) | 12.6 stops | 11.2 stops | 12.1 stops |
| Wind Resistance | 38 km/h | 29 km/h | 34 km/h |
| Weight | 586g | 895g | 743g |
| Transmission Range | 15 km | 10 km | 12 km |
The Neo 2's 72 km/h tracking speed proved critical. Highway vehicles frequently exceed 100 km/h, but tracking shots don't require matching vehicle speed—they require smooth parallax movement. The Neo 2's speed ceiling provided sufficient margin for dynamic shots without losing subjects.
Real-World Results: The Metropolitan Connector Project
My largest highway project involved documenting a new urban connector route for a transportation authority. The deliverables included:
- 47 minutes of edited footage
- Coverage of 23 km of highway
- Footage captured across 18 separate flight sessions
- Final delivery in 4K HDR format
The Neo 2 captured 94% of the required footage. The remaining 6% required manned helicopter shots for restricted airspace segments.
Key sequences that showcased Neo 2 capabilities:
The Interchange Orbit: A 270-degree orbit around a four-level interchange, maintaining consistent altitude while the obstacle avoidance system navigated between support columns. This single 45-second shot required zero manual collision intervention.
Rush Hour Hyperlapse: A 40-minute capture compressed into 12 seconds, showing traffic density changes as morning rush peaked. The Neo 2 held position within 0.3 meters throughout the extended hover.
Vehicle Tracking Sequence: ActiveTrack followed a marked vehicle through 2.3 km of highway, including lane changes and speed variations. The footage required no stabilization in post-production.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring wind patterns around structures: Overpasses and sound barriers create turbulent zones. I lost footage quality on three occasions before learning to add 15-meter buffers around large structures.
Filming during peak sun hours: Harsh overhead lighting creates unflattering shadows and extreme contrast. Even D-Log struggles with midday sun reflecting off vehicle windshields. Schedule shoots for morning or late afternoon.
Neglecting battery temperature: Highway filming often involves launching from hot surfaces—parking structures, rooftops, vehicle hoods. Batteries exceeding 40°C before flight reduce capacity by up to 18%. I now carry an insulated cooler for battery storage.
Over-relying on automatic exposure: The Neo 2's auto-exposure responds to frame content. When trucks or dark vehicles dominate the frame, exposure shifts. Lock exposure manually for consistent footage.
Skipping pre-flight obstacle calibration: Urban environments contain thin wires, cables, and antennas that challenge obstacle sensors. Running the calibration sequence before each flight improved detection reliability significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Neo 2 legally film over active highways?
Regulations vary by jurisdiction. In most regions, filming over highways requires maintaining visual line of sight and avoiding flight directly over moving vehicles. I position the Neo 2 parallel to traffic flow rather than directly overhead, capturing compelling angles while maintaining compliance. Always verify local regulations before flying.
How does ActiveTrack perform when vehicles enter tunnels or underpasses?
ActiveTrack maintains subject lock for approximately 3-4 seconds after visual contact is lost. For brief underpasses, the system typically reacquires the target upon exit. For longer tunnels, I pre-program waypoints to guide the drone to the tunnel exit for reacquisition.
What backup procedures should highway filming include?
I implement three redundancies: automatic Return-to-Home at 25% battery, a pre-scouted emergency landing zone within 500 meters of every flight position, and a spotter dedicated to monitoring airspace. The Neo 2's reliability is excellent, but highway environments leave no margin for equipment failure.
Final Thoughts on Highway Cinematography with Neo 2
Six months of intensive highway filming revealed the Neo 2 as genuinely capable equipment for demanding urban aerial work. The combination of tracking speed, obstacle avoidance, and extended flight time addresses the specific challenges this environment presents.
The footage I captured would have been impossible—or prohibitively expensive—with traditional methods. Helicopter rentals for equivalent coverage would have exceeded my entire project budget. Ground-based alternatives couldn't achieve the perspectives that made the final documentary compelling.
For photographers and cinematographers considering urban infrastructure work, the Neo 2 delivers professional results with a realistic learning curve. The intelligent flight modes reduce pilot workload, allowing focus on composition and storytelling rather than constant manual control.
Ready for your own Neo 2? Contact our team for expert consultation.