The Take On Tripodsby Karalee White | More from this Blogger 01 Feb 2007 08:00 PM Tripods certainly can be a hassle, but they can be a great help for a good, steady shot. Tripods are most handy when sharpness is a must, long exposures, or conveying motion in a scene. Tripods are especially great for low-light situations because the shutter speed is slower. Let's face it, our hands shake. One little shake will make a magnificent shot turn into a blur.
When purchasing a tripod, you need to look for a few features. A tripod head is important because it supports the bulk of the camera and lens weight. If you have an SLR, mount it along with your heaviest lens on the various tripods you are looking at. Make sure it has a secure hold. Does the head shift from horizontal to vertical? Does it lock in those positions? Does it have a quick release? Also, look at the base stability. Spread its legs out as wide as they go. The wider the base, the more stable it will be. Check the height of the tripod and be sure it is compatible to you. You don't want to have to constantly bend down over your tripod! Tripods also have a center column to help raise the height to your level. However, you want to refrain from using the center column too much because there will be a greater risk of wobble. If a traditional tripod won't work for you, there are also monopods. They don't have the stability of a tripod, but they can help steady your shot better than just your two hands. Better yet, combine it with a nearby tree trunk or wall. No mater which one you chose, a tripod is an excellent addition to your photography equipment. Related Articles: Tripods Friday Field Trip Subject - Macro Photography Learn more about Karalee White  Living life to its fullest is Karalee's passion. In between home-schooling her two daughters and taking care of the pets and household jobs, Karalee works as a Medical Transcriptionist and Blogger. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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No money for a tripod? Time to get creative. A solid rock or wall can provide a steady base for shooting. Just be extremely cautious. You don't want your nice camera falling and busting into a million pieces!
