How Americans disguised the broadcast mast

Cellular base stations and power poles in the western United States give a feeling of being environmentally friendly.

Photographer Annette LeMay Burke has brought to readers a collection of photo books to deceive the eyes of the landscape of the West of the United States. The mobile base stations here are “disguised” as giant palm trees and cactus. “Originally, what I saw was a beautiful landscape photo. However, something wasn’t right. Some giant cactus, a pine tree growing in the arid desert… Upon closer inspection, I don’t see them as real trees,” said Ann M. Jastrab, Executive Director of Carmel Center for Photographic Arts, California (USA). A fake cactus used to “camouflage” electric poles. Photo taken in Phoenix, Arizona. These portable plants are not only found in the West, but also in many parts of the United States. This is the solution to prevent visual pollution caused by constructions. Power lines, cables, broadcasting poles… were growing densely, causing the landscape to be ruined. This forces suppliers to consider a more landscape-friendly, environment-friendly solution. A palm tree broadcast mast in La Mesa, California. How to “camouflage” depends on climate, terrain… Palm tree-shaped stations are usually located in warmer regions. Meanwhile, the pine tree image is used in colder climates. Some places use other fancy images. Pictured, a bison-shaped mobile base station in Colorado. Outside the church in Mesa, Arizona, cross-shaped cell towers are used. Aesthetic factors are always prioritized by service providers when choosing images. Sophisticated “camouflage” images were captured by Burke. According to this photographer, “camouflage” mobile base stations first appeared in Denver, Colorado in 1992. Since then, they have appeared in more places. The cost for the “coats” is also increasingly expensive, depending on the authenticity of the design. While helping to reduce visual pollution, these fake trees pose a bigger problem for the environment. Over time, their plastic fake leaves fall all over the road, adversely affecting the ecosystem. “What was created to limit visual pollution leads to plastic pollution. In the future, these artificial trees will probably be wiped out when smaller 5G stations appear,” Burke shared.