When I use a Tripod
When I am shooting 35mm I don’t normally use a tripod unless I’m using a real slow shutter speed. I say normally because sometimes I do use one.
But why don’t I normally shoot with one?
- Because I like to move around when I shoot. I’m all over the place when I shoot. I look for the shot while I’m shooting. And a tripod clips my wings, so to speak.
- I’m on the ground, up on a ladder, down on one knee and then up again.
- In my opinion, fashion is free flowing and needs to have movement and spirit. A tripod feels like it forces the shot to stay static and I start to feel “stuck” when I’m using one.
When are the instances that I’ll pull one out and use one?
- For one, when I’m shooting at a slow shutter speed in order to “drag” ambient light into the frame, I might use a tripod to absolutely insure total sharpness on the model.
- Or when I’m shooting beauty and the need to move around isn’t that important, but sharp eyelashes are!
- If I have the need to work with straight lines, as in shooting in a building and or a floor plan that the model has to be in the same spot every time because of type issues, I crank out the tripod and put my camera on it.
- I also will use one when I’m shooting a line sheet, or catalogue, where the model stands in the same spot on every shot, but there are over 40 changes.
But when or if those issues aren’t present or necessary, I like to work without one. I think you can tell by watching the two videos I’ve done so far, I’m all over the place when I shoot. But remember in the last Genlux Video, where the model was standing in the doorway, I used a tripod because I wanted the doors to be shot straight. Does that make sense?
Then again, if I am shooting with medium format cameras, I have to pretty much use a tripod. And that’s mainly because they’re so heavy, I can’t hold them steady for too long. And unless I’m going for a blurred or soft effect, I want sharp images! Nothing ruins a shot for me like an uncontrolled out of focused image. But Mamiya’s and Pentax’s get heavy shooting with them after awhile. I must admit, though, that one of my favorite all time cameras has been the Pentax 6 x 7 because of that juicy huge image size but the camera is like a big 35mm camera so I can hold it up to my eye. I love that about it. Have to admit, though, even the Pentax gets heavy after an hour or so of shooting. So sometimes I would throw even the Pentx on that tripod! And that’s simply just to save my arms and shoulders!
What are some good brands of Tripods? Here’s a list of what I like:
Gitzo GT-1541T A REALLY good tripod. I’ve used Gitzo for years. The carbon fiber material they use for the legs make this a strong, reliable tripod but it’s still pretty lightweight. And even though this is the priciest one I am recommending here, once you buy this tripod, you’ll never need to buy another one. Remember too, you need to get a tripod with a ballhead. It comes with a quick release making it easy to attach your camera to the tripod or take it off quickly so you can grab a shot off the tripod. This tripod runs just under $750.00USD. If that’s a bit out of your budget, here’s another great tripod:
Slik Professional 4 Another really good tripod and a few dollars less. This tripod has a ballhead that has tilt/pan cabalities and it holds up to 22 lbs, giving it a bit more flexibility than the Gitzo. The Gitzo is just a tad better quality, but you can’t lose with this one either. For reliability and strength, both are at the top of the list. Put it this way, you won’t ever replace these tripods unless they’re lost or stolen!
My advice is to go with the better brands. In most cases, I advise that. There are some instances where you don’t have to shell out the extra dough on a product and can save by getting the less expensive brand. But when it comes to gear like cameras, lenses, tripods, you know, the equipment that makes your images, I find it’s best to go with the reliable, time tested brands. And they tend to run higher in price. With a tripod, one thing to remember is try to go with carbon fiber legs as oppose to aluminum. Aluminum can bend easier and they’re just not as long lasting as carbon fiber. A good tripod will last you a lifetime. Seriously, the good ones hardly ever break unless you’re particularly cruel to your equipment and throw them around. (I wouldn’t advise that, but sometimes it’s better to throw a tripod than an assistant, and yes, I’ve done it, and my Gitzo did not break!) But again, I don’t advocate throwing anything photographic. Even a C-stand. (although I’ve thrown those as well….haha…..I’ve been shooting a long time, remember. I wasn’t so patient when I was young!)
Do you guys have any other suggestions for my readers (other than not throwing your equipment!)? I’d love your input here. Thanks!
I rather shoot with a monopod than a tripod, as long as it saves both my back and shoulders and my eyelashes, even though I can shoot rather slow and still be sharp
i use the slik pro but i have a smaller/lighter one that i use mainly. if i don’t fell like removing it from the pod i swing it under my arm, and i manage to maneuver pretty well : )
When shooting people I will rarely use a tripod also, again the freedom to move around! I use a Manfrotto Pro-B 190X with a basic Head. Mostly for my long exposure/architecture work.
I use the Manfrotto 190PROB with an 486rc2 Ballhead.
Both not as sturdy as yours, but right under 200€ and I didn’t have an blurred picture yet.
I think if you don’t get the money back by selling your pictures it’s totally enough. Sturdy, versatile and you can haul it over you shoulder when hiking (I very rarely use the tripod in the studio), it even has the padded legs so you don’t get cold or injure your privates.
Well I only have an tiny medium format camera, that is even lighter than my DSLR, so I will have to upgrade sometime.
Thanks for the insightful article Melissa.
You Rock!
Always Very Informative!! Thank you for sharing with us!
One other occasion where I like to shoot on a tripod is when shooting
. Also when shooting comps it’s helpful to have the camera at the same height and angle all the time.
tethered. I hate cables and I hate the thought of me tripping over the Firewire or USB cable while shooting causing wreckage on some equipment attached to the other end even more
I definitely recommend the Induro AX-214 if you’re on a budget like me. If I had more money, I probably get the carbon fiber one. I like this one because the center column can be taken out. You can invert it for low angle shots. Also, the center column can be tilted at an angle, really useful for food or product photography. The tripod legs can also spread almost flat on the ground.
I paid $186 for it. If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend this one.:)
I have to tell my boyfriend about your blog! He is an, what do you call it, aspiring photographer? He can photograph inanimate objects, but it is a bit difficult for him when it comes to photographing people.
I only shoot DSLR, but if I’m shooting studio, I never worry because the flash strobe freezes everything…
Hello Melissa! I don’t know what drew you to my flickr page, but I am glad you did. I have read a few of your blog entries and also your videos. I am loving the information here.
Wow Melissa, having found your blog a month ago, it has been so informative and such a learning experience for me… Same goes with this post. Thanks again, just looking into ordering a gitzo now!
J
Thanks for all the great comments here. The Manfrotto is a great brand as well. Forgot to mention that. So thanks for giving my readers a heads up about this tripod. And yeah, monopods rule! Easier to move around with them!
Good tripod calls good head…
I usually prefer my gitzo tripods but I also own an old manfrotto fro my field camera…
Thank you for this blog!
Love my Manfrotto when i HAVE to be tied down. Like you, I’m all over the place, unless it’s catalog work or HD type shoots. I mainly shoot canon dSLR’s. The Hasselblad h3D is nice to hand-hold for projects when larger images/rez is a requirement.
Keep ROCKIN that lens!
Daniel
I agree 100%. I only use my tripod for long exposures. You have to move around to find your shots, at least some of us do.
i really enjoy visiting your blog. great post.
i use by mono in most shots
Since starting to use a tripod for weddings I use one for most of my shots in the studio aswell now – except when I’m up a ladder or laying on the floor.
I have a manfrotto (bogan) pistol grip ball-head with a custom backet on top, which allows for accurage and fast positioning and the ability to switch between landscape, portrait and any tilt in between quickly withough altering my lens position in anyway.
It also means I don’t have to hunt for my camera everytime after adjusting light, model or subject
A good tripod for when you need it is very important! I got one buy it now off ebay for $.99 just to use for nature shots when hiking and stuff.
I’d be better off just using a stick.
The main point of a tripod is to keep the camera steady, meaning it has to be a good tripod. If you don’t spend the money on a good one then don’t get one at all. The two tripods you mentioned are awesome. And the links take you to a good price
When I shoot sports for schools or nature shots for competition/stock, I bring along my Trekker Monopod. I also have a Slik Pro but its just too much gear to carry along for most shoots, so I have ‘customized’ my Trekker monopod by affixing and old video camera strap to the monopod barrel (with gaffer tape!), and it enables me to carry it slung on my shoulders when I need more freedom of movement. I also use a camera bracket on most shoots, not only when I shoot weddings and events, but because I do not use image stabilization cameras/lenses and I’ve found I can safely handhold my cameras with the brackets down to about 1/45 sec… at which point I would personally then use a flash or flash/fill.
nice without tripod u can express and move yourself freely…i kind da like so..
and Manfrotto with ballhead 222.
This is unique!
Manfrotto 055Pro. I do a lot of HDR imaging for both landscape architecture and I’ve never had an indexing problem. I use with the Jr 3-way. I also use the geared head for macro and table top work. Only downside is the center column isn’t geared. Nice feature is the center post can be removed and mounted horizontally. Very useful feature.
Very true. I also move around a lot unless I am using medium format. My Bronica 6×6′s don’t take kindly to hand holding. I also like my own Pentax 6×7 for the same reasons you do, the astounding image quality and the SLR like design.
I have a pretty good collection of tripods and I also feel that you should stick to name brands for a reason. You do get what you pay for. I have several different Gitzo, Manfrotto legs that I use for specific tasks and also some other oddball Kirk & RRS lowboy mounts for when you *need* a tripod and want to be on really low to the ground. I also have a few older, wooden and metal motion picture tripods, they are absolutely rock solid. They are great for studio work, especially with medium format. But I digress, since I often blur the lines of still camera and motion picture camera gear since I work with and use both heavily.
There are also a bunch of other pseudo-tripod alternatives that can be explored, the bean bag like devices that you can lay on a rock while you’re on a shoot and can press your camera into. Also, there are several with 1/4″ sockets that can thread directly into your camera body for odd framing.
that thing about sharp eyelashes….totally true!!
thanks for being a positive person for the industry!
=)
peace
[...] model. But what did I say earlier about rules? Yep…break them! As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, and as you’ve seen in the videos, I move around a lot when I shoot to get a variety of [...]
I enjoyed reading your article, I agree that there are certain times that tripods can be a necessity during a shoot. In your videos you do move around alot, which to me is great to see..with each step you can see creativity of freedom keeping pace with you! : ) That kind of ability isn’t easy for many to come by but it seems second nature to you and it’s refreshing to see.
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[...] Shooting with Tripods Fashion Photography Blog A Resource for Posted by root 4 minutes ago (http://fashionphotographyblog.com) The bean bag like devices that you can lay on a rock while you 39 re on a shoot and can press your camera into if you do you 39 ll see it by every comment you post on the 2009fashionphotographyblog powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Shooting with Tripods Fashion Photography Blog A Resource for [...]
My Gitzo manfrotto setup does me fine. It’s just to damn heavy to carry out in the woods. Great blog keep it up
Carbon fiber is unquestionably awesome. However a friend of mine who works in the video/news biz brought up one point in favor of aluminum over carbon. If anything heavy lands on carbon fiber, there’s a good chance it will smash and splinter. Yes CF is VERY strong, but it’s less resistant to crushing impacts than aluminum. Additionally, a smashed aluminum pole or leg will likely continue to work well enough to get through the remainder of the job, whereas a smashed carbon fiber pole or leg is just plain useless.
Just thought this bit might be useful for anyone who’ll be working in a rough environment.
I really enjoyed reading your interesting yet very informative insight. Shooting beautiful sceneries and events really fascinates me and puts my creative imagination at work. Thank you for sharing and I am looking forward to reading more of your very current blog postings!!!
Shooter Game
I am positive you have been told this before, but damn you’ve got a really great blog site! I am jealous and wish I can produce one thing as wonderful as you. I’m sure you have been informed that just before, but seriously lol. Nice job and I will surely be back again once again.
I was on a shoot this weekend and my old local lightweight tripod saved the entire shoot! The nature of the shoot was such that I had to take some shots at 1/20 second or low.. I usually never use a tripod but this time the location was so dark and stuff that I had no option. Though the tripod I had was not steady and by-far not of good quality, it was enough to hold big lenses and give me sharp images. Not to mention that my camera was about to fall off it once! I felt really guilty for trying to save cost for it. Now I’m going to buy a really good and branded tripod asap and keep the local one for back-up, just because it saved my life once
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