EQUIPMENT TRIPODS
Using your tripod
Always use the wider legs close to the head before extending the thinner, less stable, legs. Also, generally speaking, have one leg pointing forward and two at the back. If you’ re shooting on a slope, make sure one leg is down the slope and the other two are higher up( see left) to avoid everything toppling over. Don’ t be tempted to extend the centre column either. With the legs at their minimum extension and the centre column fully extended, the tripod is top heavy and likely to topple over in the wind or if the legs aren’ t level.
Set the height
The quickest way to find the correct tripod height is to roughly compose your shot with the camera handheld, making a mental note of its height. Next, release the leg locks on the tripod and lift the tripod up to the desired height before engaging the locks. Ideally, this will be using the wider and more stable leg sections, unless you require the thinner sections to reach the desired height.
Level your camera / tripod
Most tripod legs have a spirit level that can be used to make sure the legs are level, and therefore more stable. If your tripod doesn’ t have one, use your judgement to get the legs as close to level as possible. Almost all tripod heads have a spirit level too, to straighten up the camera, and many photographers use the Virtual Horizon in Live View or a hotshoe spirit level.
Getting down low( or high) Some tripods feature a centre column that can be repositioned horizontally using an innovative mechanism. If you don’ t have one of these tripods, simply remove the centre column and insert it back into the legs upside down and lock in position. You can now get the camera down to ground level for an ultra-low viewpoint, although the camera will, of course, be upside down.
ALL PICTURES © MICHAED SHAIN BLUM
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