The Tripod - A Photographers Best 3 Legged
Friend
By: Colin Aiken
 All a tripod actually does is to provide a stable
platform for your camera allowing you to make long
exposures without the risk of camera shake spoiling
your picture. You could of course, just rest it
somewhere but the tripod will allow you to lock your
camera in virtually any position without the danger
of it falling over.
So, how long is a long exposure? The governing
factor here is camera shake. A long exposure is
simply one that you can't hand-hold steadily enough.
If you are zoomed out to a wide angle, this can be
around 1/30 - 1/60th of a second but, if you are
zoomed right in on a long lens, this can be as short
as 1/500th or even 1/1000th of a second. Not much of
a long exposure you might think.
Perhaps a word for the tripod's smaller cousin is
required here. You have probably noticed that sports
photographers doing long lens work usually have a
monopod, rather than a tripod, attached to their
cameras. This is not because a monopod is better
(I'm sure they'd all rather be using a tripod), but
because it's convenience when changing locations
quickly outweighs the advantages of a tripod. So, a
monopod is only really useful if you need shots on a
long lens quickly from different positions.
It's using a long lens that requires the fastest
shutter speed more than freezing any action. This is
because the lens not only magnifies the image but
equally, any camera movement. Even when using a
tripod, it's possible that the camera will move
during the shot. This is because the very act of
pressing the shutter may induce movement. Although
this will be very slight, the magnifying effect of
the lens will turn it into camera shake blur.
The best way to avoid this is to use a cable release
or remote control when using a tripod. If you don't
have either of these, then you can use your camera's
self timer. Even if your camera moves when the
shutter is pressed, it will have settled down long
before the photograph is taken. Some cameras have a
short self timer option for precisely this purpose.
The benefit of being able to use a longer shutter
speed is that you can use a smaller aperture for
greater depth of field or a lower ISO number for
better image quality. However, this is minor in
comparison to the psychological benefit that the
tripod brings to the act of taking a photograph.
Quite simply, using a tripod slows you down, and
that's a good thing.
 How
many times have you looked at one of your photos and thought: "that looks great, except
for this one little mistake, I wish I'd noticed it
at the time." Well, that's one thing that using a
tripod can help with. The reason you notice the
problem in the final result is that you spend more
time carefully looking at it. If you do that with
the image in your viewfinder you are much more
likely to spot any problems.
I'm not suggesting that if you see something
interesting, you shouldn't take a quick snap of it.
far from it. But, having done that, you might
consider other ways of looking at your subject or
specific photographic techniques that might better
suit it. This is where a tripod really helps because
it gives you much more flexibility as to the camera
settings you can use.
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 hand held means you always have to think
about both of these things at the same time, making
it all to easy to get a great shot spoiled by being
on the wrong setting. With a tripod, 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 colour 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 tripods 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 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 head locks. 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
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 camera position you want, either by eye or with
the camera hand held. You then set up the tripod and
tighten up all the locks. fit the camera and check
the composition. If you have to slightly move the
position, it's OK, as long as you hold on to both
the camera and tripod when doing so. You then fine
tune the framing by releasing and tightening only
one lock at a time.
With cheaper tripods you sometimes find that
tightening the lock actually moves the camera. This
is something to watch out for. Once you are happy
with the composition and framing, take a step back
and think about your camera settings and how they
will affect the shot. If you are not sure then try
lots of different settings and find out later. It
will be a very good learning experience.
I hope that, after having read the above, you will
understand why I would say that a tripod is probably
the most useful photographic accessory of all. The
best piece of advice I could give anybody looking to
improve their photographic skills would be to get a
tripod and use it.
Colin Aiken is a professional photographer based in
the United Kingdom. You can view his photographs and
get more tips at:
http://www.lovethepictures.co.uk
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