[Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata Season] NTT-ME Summary & Review Award Announcement

To everyone who participated in the Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata Season—thank you very much for your cooperation. Despite the frequent rainy weather, you helped us tremendously by photographing many telephone poles!

We are pleased to share the season summary by Mr. Obokata of NTT-ME. Please refer to the provided photography examples and we hope you will continue to take great photos and enjoy the upcoming Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Niigata Season as well.

Examples of Easy-to-Read Photos

The photos taken by everyone are later processed by NTT-ME to read the text information printed on the nameplates attached to telephone poles.
During this review process, the two most important points we check are: “Was it taken from an appropriate angle?” and “Is the subject properly in focus?” These factors are crucial in determining whether photo rewards can be granted and whether the season’s objectives can be met.
Below, using actual user-submitted photos as examples, we have included commentary from Mr. Obokata of NTT-ME.

(1) つめとぎポール-san

○Comment from Mr. Obokata:
The focus, image quality, and angles were all perfectly on point, enabling even the smallest subjects to be clearly identified from the photos. Every photo we saw was simply impressive. With photos of this high quality, NTT-ME’s reading process becomes much smoother, and we are extremely grateful for your efforts.

(2) アナグマ-san

For poles without nameplates, you added comments to indicate their absence—this was very helpful for us to make clear judgments. Thank you for consistently sending well-taken photos from the early days of the season.
Starting from the current season, a new “Not Found” button has been added, allowing users to send photos that show obstructions covering the nameplate, among other situations. We sincerely hope you will continue to make good use of these new features while capturing high-quality photos.

■Prize for Review Award Winners：
Both つめとぎポール-san and アナグマ-san, winners of the Review Award, will receive an original PicTrée T-shirt. Congratulations!
The management team will contact you directly.

We will continue to present Review Awards in the future, so we hope all participants will strive to take high-quality photos like these winners.

Examples of Unreadable Photos

Next, here are three examples from this season where the information could not be read.

●Unreadable Example ①

▾Comment from Mr. Obokata:
This example was taken from a distance. Unfortunately, even after zooming in, we could not correctly read the text… (“奥…? 興…?”).
The “number plate” on a pole indicates its location—essentially, it is the pole’s address. If this cannot be read, we cannot determine where the pole is located, and it will be marked as NG (invalid).
We understand that depending on the pole’s location, you may have no choice but to take photos from far away. In such cases:
①Zoom in before deciding your shooting angle.
②Tap the screen to set the focus.
③After shooting, check in the preview screen if the text is readable before sending.
Doing so will improve the chances of a successful shot. Please try to keep this in mind.

●Unreadable Example ②

▾Comment from Mr. Obokata:
This photo was taken from the correct angle and captured the full view, but the entire image was out of focus, making it impossible to determine whether the subject equipment was correct. (Focus on the clouds…?)
Full-view shots also play an important role in determining if the photo is valid. Even in common cases where there is “Not Found” or no number plate, the full view helps NTT-ME confirm whether the pole is indeed the target and whether the plate is missing or obscured.
To improve your chances of success:
①Decide your shooting angle.
②Tap the screen to set the focus.
③After shooting, check in the preview screen that the focus is correct.

●Unreadable Example ③

▾Comment from Mr. Obokata:
Even after zooming in, the nameplate information could not be read.
A nameplate contains a wealth of information in its small space—when the pole was manufactured, where it was made, and its performance specifications. Alongside the number plate, this is essential information for inspection work.
Nameplate photography is one of the most technically demanding aspects of Civic Tech photo-taking. We understand that some poles have nameplates positioned quite high, making it difficult for smartphone cameras to capture them.
In these cases:
①Zoom in before deciding your shooting angle.
②Tap the screen to set the focus.
③After shooting, check in the preview screen if the text can be read before sending.
Because the nameplate is small, even slight focus errors can greatly reduce legibility, so please be especially mindful of this. If you have one, using a selfie stick can help get your camera closer to the nameplate.
Note: When using a selfie stick, it is harder to focus, so always check the photo afterward to ensure the text is readable.

Overall Summary

We sincerely thank you for your ongoing cooperation in photographing poles for PicTrée. Thanks to your help, NTT-ME’s pole inspection work has become significantly more efficient and faster. This achievement has drawn astonishment from many within our organization.
Ultimately, whether a photo is usable depends entirely on whether the required information can be read from it. As PicTrée’s seasons progress, our focus will shift from “Can the photo be taken?” to “How accurately can the photo be taken?”—from quantity to quality.
This is a critical point in ensuring that pole photography remains a sustainable activity. While we hope you continue to enjoy the process, we also ask that you keep in mind the shooting tips provided here and strive for high-quality photos.
Thank you again for your continued support of PicTrée.
— Obokata, NTT-ME

From the Operations Team:
Based on this summary, we kindly ask for your cooperation in capturing even higher-quality photos during the Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Niigata Season. Your careful photography supports the activities of PicTrée!
We look forward to your continued support for PicTrée.