The Tripod - A Photographers Best 3 Legged Friend (Part 2)
Part 1 is here “Travel Tripod Advice”
Not only that, but it separates the two different things you have to do when taking a photograph, namely camera settings, and composition. Using a camera handheld means you always have to think about both of these things at the same time, making it all too easy to get a great shot spoiled by being in the wrong setting. With a best lightweight travel tripods, you can decide on the setting depending on the type of shot you want, then fully concentrate on the framing and composition.
The opposite is also true. If you want to try different photographic techniques, you frame up the shot first, then start to work out the different settings you need. This way, you guarantee never getting the best setting when the framing is not quite right. Also, if you have taken one shot and decided that it could do with a bit of say, exposure or color compensation, you can do this in the sure and certain knowledge that the framing won't have changed.
Some techniques can only be done using a tripod, for instance, 360-degree panoramas. Another is when dealing with very high contrast situations. Sunsets are a good example. You usually have a choice of either a good sky and black ground or properly exposed foreground and a bleached out sky. The only cure is to take both these shots and blend them together in a photo editing program. This will only work properly if both shots are identical in every respect except exposure, hence the need for a tripod.
There is a wide range of travel tripod reviews available and what you tend to get more of the more you pay is a greater maximum height and more weight and solidity. From experience, I would say that height is probably more important than weight. A lightweight model is not any more likely to move than a heavy one, except in a high wind. For your own comfort, you should choose one that allows the camera to at least reach your eye level when standing normally.
The weight of tripod you need is largely determined by the weight of your camera. If you use a DSLR and big lenses, you need a fairly sturdy one. Under normal circumstances, you won't need a top of the range professional model because most of their strength is to protect them from harsh treatment. They are much more sturdy than the need to be just to hold the camera steady.
If you do use a heavy camera then even more important than the weight of the tripod is the strength of the pan and tilt headlocks. With a long heavy lens fitted, they can be put under quite a strain. The strength of these locks is always the first thing you should check when getting a new my travel tripod. Fit the camera and tighten all the locks. Gently try to move the camera to check for any play (like you would with a steering wheel). If there is any, check all the locks on the head, legs, and column. It's easy to forget the lock that fixes the column in place and the camera will not be secure unless this is done up.
In practice, the only rule you need to follow is never to move your tripod any great distance with a camera attached. The locks are designed for the tripod at rest. When you move it you apply odd forces at weird angles that could easily overcome the locks. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The best way to use a tripod is to start by finding the position of the camera you want, either with the naked eye or with the handheld camera. Then configure the tripod and adjust all the locks. Fit the camera and check the composition. If you have to move the position slightly, it's okay, as long as you hold the camera and the tripod while doing so. Then, refine the frame by releasing and pressing only one padlock at a time.
With the cheapest best lightweight travel tripods, it is sometimes found that when you press the lock the camera moves. This is something to be careful. Once you are satisfied with the composition and the framing, take a step back and think about the configuration of your camera and how it will affect the shot. If you are not sure, try many different settings and find out later. It will be a very good learning experience.
I hope that, after reading the above, I understand why I would say that a tripod is probably the most useful photo accessory of all. The best advice I could give to anyone looking to improve their photographic skills would be to get a tripod and use it.
Sara Taylor is a professional photographer based in the United Kingdom. You can see her photographs and get more advice at “Best Travel Tripods in 2018”
