Tripods

Tripods
Like or not tripod will open up a whole range of techniques you can try that would not be possible without it.


1) Take pictures at slow shutter speeds without getting the dreaded camera shake. This enables you to do lots of interesting things like having some, non-moving, parts of the picture sharp while other, moving, parts are blurred. In the picture on the right the water takes on a cloud like quality due to the slow shutter speed.

Picture on the left is taken at higher speed whereas on the right at slower speed

Also panning with a moving object, like a car, is easier with a tripod. Panning at a slow shutter speed will render the object (car) sharp and the background as blurred streaks.

2) Use much smaller apertures giving you greater depth of field. Because you can use slower speeds you can shoot at any aperture you like.

3) Shoot a series of frames that will join up into a panorama more accurately. Although this is possible hand held, the best way to shoot panoramas is to shoot in upright format, take lots of pictures that overlap and use a tripod that has been carefully adjusted to be level with the ground.

Panorama picture