Photography Information

Use A Tripod!


Using a tripod is essential when taking photos - and not just for night shots. To get ultra crisp and sharp pictures, your camera cannot move at all when the shutter is open. In some circumstances, even the tiny movements your hand makes are enough to make a slightly blurry image. The best way to ensure your camera does not move is to use a tripod or other camera stand.

On sunny days or when you use a really fast shutter speed, simply holding the camera in your hand will still produce a sharp image. But there's another reason for using a tripod on these occasions as well. Erecting the tripod causes you to SLOW DOWN and think a little more about the shot you're about to take. Because you're concentrating more, you'll have a better chance of composing your image correctly and ending up with a super shot.

Types of Camera Stands

Tripod. This is a three legged stand that attaches to the mount on your camera. This is the most common type of mount to hold your camera steady, and allows you to move your hands away from the camera completely and still have it steady in position.

Monopod. A variation on the tripod, this stand only has one leg. Attach the monopod to your camera, stand it on the ground and use your hands to ensure the camera and stand don't fall over. This helps because the monopod stops the camera moving up and down, and provides a rest for your hands so camera shake is reduced. For a bit of extra stability, lean yourself, or your camera against another sturdy object like a light pole.

Chainpod. An ingenious design consisting of a length of chain (or string) with a loop on one end large enough to place your foot into. The other end is attached to your camera. To use a Chainpod, place your foot through the loop and pull your camera up so the chain is tight while taking your photo. The tension in the chain will reduce camera shake just like a monopod. The great advantage of a chainpod is you can crunch it up and place it in your pocket!

Dolly. This is a tripod with wheels (and brakes!). A dolly allows you to move your tripod around easily without needing to lift your camera, but it's not so useful outdoors when the ground is uneven. There are dolly attachments available for regular tripods.

Car Window Mount. This gadget allows you to mount your camera to your car window to take photos of wildlife while still sitting in the car.

A Rock! Yes, you can use any ledge as a tripod when you need a sharp picture but don't have a tripod handy. You can also use a small bean bag to steady your camera and lens if your camera doesn't stand upright by itself.

Which should I purchase?

If you're just starting out, I recommend purchasing a standard tripod with telescoping legs that stands full length (5-6 feet). Make sure you get a sturdy (preferably all aluminum) model. Pick the heaviest model you can carry around with you.

Lightweight models are available, as are mini-tripods - Perfect for portability, but they don't have the stability of the larger models.

Using a Tripod

Most of the time, you just setup your tripod, place your camera on top and shoot! There are a few subtleties to using a tripod that can help enormously.

- The longer the legs of the tripod, the less steady the tripod becomes. Extend your tripod legs only enough to enable you to get your camera into the correct position.

- Sometimes the act of depressing the shutter causes movement in the camera. To minimize this, use your other hand and press down on the top of the camera directly above the tripod mount. This will help to further reduce movement.

- You're most likely to need your tripod when your camera is fully zoomed in. When fully zoomed in, any small shake is likely to show on the image.

Other Tripod Secrets

- Try to find a tripod with a built in level. The level will help ensure your landscape shots are completely straight and save needing to rotate the image slightly in your computer to get a level horizon.

- Specialized lenses are available that can compensate for camera shake. They are called "Image Stabilizers" or "Vibration Reduction lenses". They can be rather expensive, so I recommend sticking with a tripod.

- Try to get a tripod with a quick release mount. This will enable you to quickly remove the camera from your tripod should you need to take a quick 'candid' shot.

David Peterson has a great love of photography and has created a series of free tips at http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/ to help digital photography users everywhere take better photos.


MORE RESOURCES:


Pros and cons to Facebook's fast-growing role in digital photography
Washington Post
The glossy print, it seems, is losing its sheen. According to estimates from IDC, 42 billion photos will be printed worldwide, ...



Portrait photography on exhibit at Boxford Library
Tri-Town Transcript
General Hospital part-time in the photography department as a medical photographer. She also has her own photography business specializing in individual and ...

and more »


The Art of Photography Show International Competition and Exhibition Announces ...
The Open Press (press release)
San Diego, CA (OPENPRESS) March 13, 2010 -- The sixth annual Art of Photography Show, an international competition and exhibition of photographic art, ...

and more »


PR Web (press release)

Nicolas Delaroche Wins RAYMOND WEIL RW Club International Photography Prize 2009
PR Web (press release)
The increasingly international and diverse RW Club International Photography Prize is pleased to announce its 4th annual winner: 25 year-old French ...

and more »


Geeky gadgets

An iPhoneographer's six favorite apps
NetworkWorld.com
There are 2920 photography apps available in the App Store, and more are being added every day. Sorting through and testing each ...
Behind The Scenes Of Apple's iPad LaunchForbes

all 306 news articles »


Art photography students work with film, digital
Dodge City Daily Globe
Phommachanh is a senior who has been enrolled in art photography since his sophomore year. For the full story, go to dodgecitydailyglobe.ks.newsmemory.com.
All this and 'spring forward' tooDodge City Daily Globe

all 2 news articles »


PC World

Getting Started in Digital Photography
PC World
Recording our lives with digital photography is so commonplace today that it has become second nature. In 1985, who would have thought to shoot a panoramic ...
Browse Cameras - Page 1PC World

all 2 news articles »


BBC News

The Art of Online Photography
BBC News
Russian online photographer Dmitry Shatrov discusses how the internet and new technologies have changed the art of photography. "I went to Tibet two years ...



Once Shocking, Now Poetic
New York Times
Considering how revolutionary Surrealist photography was in the years before World War II, what with its double-exposing, montaging, ...

and more »

Google News

Home | Site Map

Powered By: Free Work At Home Business Opportunity!

© 2006