The Humble Tripod
Did you ever listen to photographers talk about what they believe is most important, such as “What type of camera do you use?” and “Have you used a mirrorless camera body yet?” “What lenses do you have and which one do you like the most?” or “How many photo trips have you been on?” While these are all good questions, rarely do you hear, “Do you use a tripod and what kind do you use?” Photographers heavily rely on features of a camera body or lens, such as 5-axis image stabilization, steady shot image stabilization, in-body vibration reduction, optic image stabilizer and shutter speed. (I probably fell into this category at one time) or some even say, “I can hold the camera/lens tight to my body so it will not move.” Well, perhaps some of that may work, but when you’re out in the field and you want great photos, you better be using a sturdy tripod. For me the humble tripod has become an indispensable part of my equipment. And it was not until just recently, that I fully learned my lesson.
In 2019, on a ten-day photo trip to Venice, I wanted to pack light so I could take more camera equipment, as well as a laptop. I thought about what I could sacrifice to save myself the burden of lugging around the necessary suitcase, camera bag, and backpack. Then it dawned on me; what if I take a light-weight travel tripod and ball head?
Upon my arrival, I left the tripod in my room, feeling that it was too heavy and bulky and I was tired after a long trip. As I walked around Venice, I took photo after photo of canals, gondoliers, amazing architecture, and a gorgeous sunset. Much later, I realized that I had captured good images, but not great. However, if I had my tripod, I would have captured great images, especially that sunset, the most exquisite of the entire Venice stay. In Venice I carried out several panning photoshoots. To do this with accuracy, the camera had to stay on a plane parallel to the horizon which can only be achieved with a tripod for consistent and perfect results. When I did take my tripod along on several shoots, I paid the price for bringing a light weight one, as heavy winds caused camera shake, even with the tripod, while executing long exposure shots during early morning blue hour and sun rise.
Fast forward to 2020 on a photography trip to the Grand Staircase Escalante in Utah, where my new and somewhat more expensive light-weight travel tripod and ball head simply collapsed on me and I had to borrow one, with a learning curve that took some of the fun out of the night photo shoots. That same year in Canyonlands National Park, another new travel tripod let me down when one of the legs broke, and I reluctantly had to borrow a tripod for parts of that photo adventure.
Finally in 2021, I purchased a new ball head from ReallyRightStuff. Together with my new Manfroto tripod, I headed off on another photography trip to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. All was nearly perfect until the rough terrain damaged my tripod legs. Thankfully, duct tape helped save the tripod for the rest of the trip and provided me with amazing photos at every location. Now my tripod and ballhead are “really right” and I am ready for my next adventure.
For me, there’s no debate that a tripod is the only accessory that can improve every picture you take, even better than image stabilization (IS). Don’t get me wrong, IS helps a lot, but the maximum benefit one gets from IS, at the most, is six f-stops. For the novice, IS increases the length of time you can keep the shutter open before the awful camera shake comes into play. However, when you use a tripod, you can shoot shutter open for minutes, or if needed, hours. Did you ever try to do macro photography without a tripod? If your goal is to increase blur in your photo, then this is the way to shoot macro. However, if you want crystal clear macro images, a tripod is required, especially when depth-of-field is measured in nanometers; even normal 1/100 second shots will cause visible degradation of the photo, especially if there is the slightest breeze in the air.
One last benefit to using a tripod is that it shifts a photographer’s thinking from rapid “compose, click, click, click” to “take needed time to compose, more time to examine highlights and dark areas of the scene, and continue to build the image before your finger hits the shutter button.” If my experiences haven’t convinced you, try using a tripod in situations where you haven’t in the past and see the difference for yourself. Interested in hearing more, give me a call or text at 949-518-9059 or email me at jerryganisphotography@gmail.com.