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Photo Tips & Techniques

Great photographs have many things in common. The light is superb, the composition is intriguing, the captured moment is peak, and the exposure is precise. Yet even if all these factors come to be, if the picture is not sharp, its fate lies with the weekly refuse pickup. Film speed, filters, lens quality, shutter speed, and depth of field all help govern a picture's sharpness. But the piece of equipment that most ensures a sharp image is a tripod.

Summer is vacation time which translates to many pictures being taken. Using a tripod will help guarantee they're sharp. In general, the heavier the tripod, the more stability it provides. Yet having one that's too heavy is counterproductive in that it becomes a burden. A good rule of thumb is to purchase a tripod that's sturdy enough to stabilize your longest lens. With the legs fully extended, tap on each about half way up. If you see your camera move, it means the tripod is too spindly and won't work. If the weight of the tripod is a major consideration, carbon fiber tripods are offered by all the major manufacturers. They're light and provide excellent stability but at a higher cost.

Factors other than weight to take into consideration when buying a tripod are its height and ability to get the camera low to the ground. With the legs fully extended, you should be able to comfortably look through your camera. Even though most tripods come with center posts that can add upwards of a foot to its height, extending it really compromises the stability. If you photograph flowers or other low to the ground subjects, you'll want to get  the camera to ground level. Some manufacturers provide threading on one of the legs onto which the head can be mounted while others use a system where the camera is mounted to the center post. It's a matter of personal preference as to which one works better.

A great benefit of a tripod is it forces you to work more slowly allowing you to deeply scrutinize each composition. The benefit here is you'll more easily notice distractions and undesirable compositional elements that can be dealt with prior to taking the picture.

Another important reason for using a tripod is all your family shots can now contain every family member rather than leaving out the one taking the picture. Place your camera on the tripod, set the self timer, and the family album will be filled with the smiling faces of you, your spouse, and your kids all in the same shot.

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