Tag Archives: Outdoors

Three quick tips for working with a tripod

Some clever ideas for tripods

OK, it takes a little practice with a tripod to get into it. But if you want to be a good photographer there is at least some occasions when you just have to work with them. So here are three very quick tips to help you get better with them…

1. When its windy

Wind is a problem. We all have tripod problems in the wind. So, just hang your bag on the tripod. The weight will reduce the wind vibration. There is usually a hook or loop to use for hanging. That’s a quick tip eh?

2. Work with two legs

I find that working with flowers and doing macros in the field you need to work at really close quarters. Getting up close means that every movement is exaggerated. Doing those close-up position changes really can be awkward with a tripod. Well, I just shut down one of the legs. Work with two legs only. With the left and right leg down you get no sideways movement. And, it is easy to adjust your distance from the subject. Slight forward and backward motions give you the distance you need. Then you only need to worry about keeping the shot still in one dimension (forward and backward).

3. Keep a sprung cloths peg handy

I keep a clothes peg (sprung clothes pin) handy in my kit bag. Wind catching a camera strap is a classic cause of vibration. Getting your camera strap caught in a button is a classic way to pull over your tripod and break something. A simple clothes peg stops the problems straight away. When its windy, or if my camera strap gets in the way, I can pin it in one position on the tripod. Then it does not blow about or catch on anything.

By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)

Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.