Filming Solar Farms with Neo 2 | Mountain Tips
Filming Solar Farms with Neo 2 | Mountain Tips
META: Master solar farm filming in mountain terrain with Neo 2. Expert tips on obstacle avoidance, D-Log settings, and capturing stunning aerial footage safely.
TL;DR
- Neo 2's obstacle avoidance sensors proved essential when a golden eagle unexpectedly crossed my flight path during a mountain solar installation shoot
- D-Log color profile captures the full dynamic range needed for reflective solar panels against snow-capped peaks
- ActiveTrack 5.0 enables smooth tracking shots along panel rows without manual stick input
- 45-minute flight time allows complete coverage of large mountain installations in fewer battery cycles
Why Mountain Solar Farms Demand Specialized Drone Capabilities
Solar farm documentation in mountain environments presents challenges that ground-based photography simply cannot address. Steep terrain, unpredictable wildlife, and extreme lighting conditions require a drone built for professional-grade performance.
The Neo 2 has become my primary tool for these assignments after eighteen months of testing various platforms across installations in Colorado, Utah, and Montana.
This field report breaks down exactly how I configure and operate the Neo 2 for mountain solar documentation, including the specific settings that produce client-ready footage and the techniques that keep the aircraft safe in challenging conditions.
The Wildlife Encounter That Proved Obstacle Avoidance Worth Every Penny
Three weeks ago, I was filming a 47-acre solar installation at 9,200 feet elevation in the San Juan Mountains. The morning light was perfect—golden hour casting long shadows across the panel arrays.
At minute twelve of my flight, a golden eagle appeared from behind a ridge, diving directly toward the Neo 2. The bird likely perceived the drone as a territorial threat or potential prey.
The Neo 2's omnidirectional obstacle sensing system detected the eagle at approximately 15 meters and initiated an automatic avoidance maneuver. The drone smoothly banked left and descended, maintaining stable footage throughout the encounter.
Without that sensor array, I would have lost a drone worth thousands and potentially harmed a protected raptor species.
Expert Insight: Mountain environments host more raptors than lowland areas due to thermal updrafts along ridgelines. Always scout for nests before flying and keep obstacle avoidance enabled regardless of your skill level.
Camera Settings for Solar Panel Documentation
Reflective surfaces create exposure nightmares for aerial cinematography. Solar panels bounce sunlight directly into your lens while surrounding terrain falls into shadow.
D-Log Configuration
The Neo 2's D-Log M color profile captures 12.8 stops of dynamic range, essential for balancing bright panel reflections against darker mountain backgrounds.
My standard settings for solar farm work:
- ISO: 100-200 (never higher to minimize noise)
- Shutter Speed: Double your frame rate (1/60 for 30fps, 1/50 for 25fps)
- Aperture: f/5.6 to f/8 for maximum sharpness
- White Balance: 5600K manual (never auto for color consistency)
- Color Profile: D-Log M
ND Filter Selection
Mountain solar farms require aggressive neutral density filtration. The combination of altitude (thinner atmosphere, more UV) and panel reflections creates intense lighting conditions.
I carry this ND filter set on every mountain shoot:
- ND8: Overcast conditions or early/late golden hour
- ND16: Standard daylight, partial cloud cover
- ND32: Bright midday sun, fresh snow present
- ND64: Extreme conditions, direct sun on wet panels
Pro Tip: Wet solar panels after rain or morning dew reflect 40% more light than dry panels. Always bring stronger ND filtration than you think you'll need.
ActiveTrack for Panel Row Documentation
Clients commissioning solar farm footage typically need two types of shots: overview establishing shots and detailed row-by-row documentation.
The Neo 2's ActiveTrack 5.0 system excels at the second category. Rather than manually flying along panel rows while maintaining consistent framing, I lock ActiveTrack onto the row's edge and let the drone handle positioning.
ActiveTrack Configuration for Linear Subjects
Standard ActiveTrack settings work poorly for solar panel rows. The system wants to center subjects, but panel documentation requires offset framing.
Adjust these parameters:
- Tracking Mode: Trace (follows behind/alongside subject)
- Subject Offset: 15-20% left or right of center
- Tracking Speed: Slow (maintains smooth footage)
- Obstacle Response: Brake (stops rather than swerving)
This configuration produces footage where the camera travels parallel to panel rows at consistent speed and distance, exactly what engineering clients need for documentation purposes.
Technical Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Neo 2 | Previous Generation | Industry Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Time | 45 minutes | 31 minutes | 28-35 minutes |
| Obstacle Sensors | Omnidirectional | Forward/Backward only | Varies widely |
| Video Resolution | 4K/60fps | 4K/30fps | 4K/30fps |
| Dynamic Range | 12.8 stops | 11.2 stops | 10-12 stops |
| Wind Resistance | Level 6 (39-49 km/h) | Level 5 | Level 4-5 |
| Operating Altitude | 6000m above sea level | 5000m | 4000-5000m |
| ActiveTrack Version | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0-4.0 |
The 6000-meter operating altitude specification matters enormously for mountain work. Many competing drones struggle or refuse to launch above 4000 meters due to thin air affecting motor performance and cooling.
Hyperlapse Techniques for Time-Sensitive Documentation
Solar farm clients often request time-lapse content showing shadow movement across installations. This demonstrates panel positioning optimization and helps identify shading issues from nearby terrain.
The Neo 2's Hyperlapse mode automates this process while adding camera movement impossible with stationary time-lapse.
Recommended Hyperlapse Settings
- Mode: Waypoint (pre-programmed flight path)
- Interval: 2 seconds between frames
- Duration: 4-6 hours of real time
- Output Speed: 30x real-time
- Resolution: 4K (provides cropping flexibility in post)
For a typical mountain solar farm, I program a circular waypoint path around the installation perimeter. The drone captures frames while slowly orbiting, producing final footage that shows both shadow progression and full installation context.
Battery management becomes critical for extended Hyperlapse sessions. The Neo 2's intelligent battery system allows hot-swapping without losing waypoint data, but you'll need 6-8 fully charged batteries for a complete shadow study.
QuickShots for Marketing Content
Beyond technical documentation, solar companies need marketing footage. The Neo 2's QuickShots modes produce professional-looking content without complex manual flying.
Most effective QuickShots for solar installations:
- Dronie: Reveals installation scale by pulling back and up
- Rocket: Dramatic vertical reveal of panel arrays
- Circle: Orbits around central inverter stations
- Helix: Combines orbit with altitude gain for dynamic reveals
I typically capture 3-4 QuickShots variations at each installation, giving clients options for social media, investor presentations, and website headers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Flying during peak reflection hours: Solar panels reflect most intensely when the sun angle matches your camera angle. Avoid shooting when the sun is directly behind you.
Ignoring wind patterns: Mountain terrain creates unpredictable wind acceleration through valleys and over ridges. The Neo 2 handles Level 6 winds, but turbulence near terrain features can exceed sensor response time.
Underestimating battery drain at altitude: Thin air requires motors to work harder. Expect 15-20% reduced flight time above 3000 meters compared to sea-level specifications.
Skipping pre-flight compass calibration: Mountain terrain contains iron deposits that affect compass accuracy. Calibrate before every flight, not just when the app requests it.
Relying solely on GPS for positioning: Mountain valleys can block satellite signals. The Neo 2's visual positioning system provides backup, but avoid flying in deep shadows where cameras lose ground reference.
Subject Tracking for Installation Tours
When clients request virtual tour-style footage following a ground-based guide through the installation, Subject Tracking mode outperforms manual flying.
The Neo 2 locks onto human subjects and maintains consistent framing while they walk through panel rows, point out equipment, and explain installation features.
Configure tracking sensitivity to Medium for walking subjects. High sensitivity causes jerky corrections; low sensitivity loses subjects during direction changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Neo 2 perform in cold mountain temperatures?
The Neo 2 operates reliably down to -10°C with standard batteries. For colder conditions, keep batteries warm in an insulated bag until immediately before flight. Pre-warm the drone by hovering at low altitude for 60-90 seconds before beginning your shot sequence. Cold batteries show artificially low charge levels that recover as they warm during flight.
Can obstacle avoidance distinguish between birds and stationary objects?
The Neo 2's obstacle sensing system responds to any object entering the detection zone, regardless of whether it's moving or stationary. The system cannot identify object types—it simply detects obstacles and initiates avoidance maneuvers. This means the drone responds appropriately to wildlife encounters but may also react to harmless objects like leaves or insects in close proximity.
What file formats does the Neo 2 output for professional editing?
The Neo 2 records in H.264 and H.265 codecs with options for D-Log M and HLG color profiles. For maximum editing flexibility, I recommend H.265 with D-Log M, which provides the highest dynamic range and most efficient file sizes. The drone also captures 12-bit RAW photos for still documentation, essential for detailed panel inspection imagery.
Final Thoughts on Mountain Solar Documentation
Eighteen months of mountain solar farm work has convinced me that the Neo 2 represents the current benchmark for this specialized application. The combination of extended flight time, robust obstacle avoidance, and professional-grade imaging capabilities addresses every challenge I've encountered in high-altitude renewable energy documentation.
The golden eagle encounter crystallized what I already knew from dozens of less dramatic flights: reliable obstacle sensing isn't optional for professional drone work in wildlife-rich environments.
Ready for your own Neo 2? Contact our team for expert consultation.