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6 Things To Consider When Buying A Tripod

A tripod is arguably the single most important accessory that a photographer has. Without a tripod, some photos will not be possible at all because a tripod isn’t just to take photos when it’s dark. Basically, any time that you want to capture something using a slow exposure you need a tripod. You won’t have the option of raising your ISO for these types of shots as you need the long exposure like for example capturing the smooth water effect. A tripod is an essential part of a photographers kit and as such, you should spend time really considering the different options before purchasing one. So here are 6 things to consider before buying a tripod.

Is it sturdy?

The number of times that I have seen people with expensive and heavy cameras using a flimsy tripod is astonishing. In fact, I can recall an incident when someone’s tripod fell forwards breaking their lens glass due to the fact that their camera was too heavy for their tripod. So the first and most important thing that you need to check is that your tripod can handle the weight of your camera. All tripods will have this information on their technical specifications but if you are unsure check with the manufacturer. Keep in mind that you are not always going to have a level surface and calm conditions. So if you find that your camera isn’t completely stable don’t risk it and buy a more sturdy and better quality tripod.

How big and heavy is it?

Following on from above, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should buy the most expensive and heavy tripod that you can find. On the contrary, often the best tripod for most people for everyday use is a slightly smaller and more lightweight model. After all, you have to carry it around all day so anything big and cumbersome is more tempting to leave at home. How small and lightweight the tripod can be will ultimately depend on what you are photographing and your camera. For example for landscape photography when at times you might be faced with very windy conditions, you’ll need something more heavy-duty. But if you are a city photographer you can get away with something smaller.

Can you carry it easily?

This might seem irrelevant but how easy it is to carry your tripod is a really important aspect to think about. Often the reason that amateur photographers give for not taking their tripod is that they are heavy and difficult to carry around. This might seem like a poor excuse but if you are hiking somewhere for hours, the last thing that you want is to have to carry an extra object. A good way to avoid having the excuse of carrying a tripod is to be able to carry it effortlessly like strapping it to your bag or even inside your bag if it’s small enough. Some camera bags these days allow you to strap a tripod onto them. So check out your bag and try to buy a tripod that can be strapped to your camera bag (or possibly buy a new bag that can carry your tripod).

What about vibrations?

I was recently asked a question by a newbie photographer about why his images were blurred even though he was using a tripod. I asked if he had made some of the commons mistakes that people make when using a tripod to which he answered no. It turned out that he was using an aluminium tripod rather than a carbon fibre one. What’s the difference? Well, aluminium tripods are generally cheaper than carbon fibre tripods but are also heavier in weight. But the key difference is that aluminium tripods can sometimes suffer from vibrations which in slow exposure photography result in camera shake (or blurred photos). So, if you can afford it, I would always recommend buying a carbon fibre tripod over an aluminium one.

Twist or clips?

You have probably seen that some tripod legs are extended by twisting the locking mechanism on each section, whilst some tripods use clips. Both have pros and cons and also their own dedicated users who prefer one over the other. Personally, I prefer the clips to twist option as I find it quicker and easier to extend and collapse the legs. But the disadvantage of the clips is that over time they because much stiffer to use. Of course, depending on your tripod choice you may not have the option of choosing one or the other. But it is something else worth thinking about before buying a new tripod.

Does it have a centre column?

The centre column isn’t something you should use all the time as it can mean camera shake and so blurred photos. But sometimes it can be useful and necessary in some types of shots. For example, if you to capture over the top shots of objects or food. It isn’t something that is a necessity and you can remove the centre column when not needed to reduce the weight of the tripod, but it’s worth having one just in case you need one.

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment and as such, you should take your time and do your homework before purchasing one. A good tripod will last you for years (I’ve had mine for over 10 years) so even though it might be an expense you could do without now, it’s an investment that will last a while. Use the tips above to help you buy the right tripod for you.

7 Tips For Packing Your Photo Gear On Long Hikes

There’s something so satisfying in hiking to a location and capturing that one amazing shot. The long walk, the tiredness, the cold and wet all become worth it. But while it might seem pretty straightforward for hikers as to what they need to pack, as a photographer there are more things to consider. For one, you will have much more equipment to carry. Not to mention the fact that you will be under a time constraint to get to your location at a specific time. So you may need to ensure you have things for potentially walking in the dark like a torch. All of this means you need to plan your hike carefully and also what to pack. To help you here are 7 tips on packing your photo gear on long hikes.

Pack what you need

This first tip is arguably the most important. What you pack is clearly very important for any photographic situation, but even more so when you are potentially going to be walking for hours before getting to your location. Because if you forget something there is no going back to get it in time for the shoot. So while I always advise people to only pack what you need, on long hikes I would advise you to be a bit more cautious and pack everything you think you may need.

For example, you may be thinking that you won’t need your telephoto lens for the shoot as you are primarily shooting landscapes. But what if you suddenly spot wildlife that you want to photograph? Obviously, there needs to be a balancing act as you don’t want to be pulling a cart worth of camera gear behind you. So plan your shoot carefully and make a list of what camera equipment you may need.

Get a good camera backpack

Like any type of photography equipment, there is a whole range of backpacks for camera gear. There are cheap ones and expensive ones. It might be tempting to go for a cheap and small backpack which will serve you well in a city. But on long hikes, your backpack is so important. Not just for keeping your equipment safe and dry if there is rain, but also for you to walk comfortably with all that weight on your back. On long hikes, you may need a much bigger bag than in a city for example. Even if you are not planning on camping overnight, you will still need room for some food in your bag warm/waterproof layers as well as your camera equipment.

You may also want to look for a bag with space for a water reservoir. This will allow you to have a drink without having to take your backpack off all the time.

Heavy stuff at the top

If you are taking multiple lenses or more camera bodies, try to pack your heavier lenses near the top of the bag. Ideally, these should be close to your body and between your shoulder blades. This will help with the weight distribution and make for a more comfortable backpack to carry. But of course, if your backpack doesn’t fully open, you don’t want to have something that might be essential like a first aid kit right at the very bottom of the bag. So keep heavy stuff near the top and essential things in pockets in the sides that are easily accessible.

Pack your camera in a top loader

This is something that I learned with experience. Rather than packing my camera in my main backpack, on long hikes, I carry it in a top loader bag. The reason is that once I have my backpack on and all of the straps tightened and clipped in, I don’t want to have to keep taking my bag off if I want to take a photo. In a city, I would normally just have my camera out over my shoulder. But on hikes where often I may be walking over slippery grounds and just for comfort it is easier to have both arms free. It also means if there is a sudden downpour or a break in the weather I can quickly get my camera out of my bag. This will also give you a bit more room in your main camera bag for extra equipment or even some other essential items like a first aid kit.

Strap your tripod to your bag securely

Most long hikes culminate in a landscape shoot which will require a tripod. So you will need to take one with you. If you took note of the tip earlier about camera bags then that will make things a lot easier if you have a backpack that you can strap your tripod onto. The way you strap your tripod to your bag is important. Try to strap it to the middle of the bag rather than the sides so that the weight evenly distributed. You don’t want a backpack that’s heavier on one side. Also, be aware of height, or in other words how much your tripod extends over the top of your bag. If possible try to strap your tripod so that the top of it isn’t higher than the top of your camera bag. The last thing you want to happen is for it to get caught when you are ducking under branches. Make sure that your tripod is strapped tightly in multiple places to stop it swinging from side to side.

Be very careful when your tripod sticks out above your camera bag like this. It’s easy to get it caught on branches that you go under.

Have a rain cover to hand

It’s a good idea to have a bag that can withstand some rainfall. Some camera bags also come with a rain cover stuffed somewhere (usually under the bag). If the weather forecast says there is a chance of rain, I put the cover on before I start my walk. Keep in mind that if you put a cover on you may not be able to strap your tripod to your bag. So I have cut small slits in the cover that I can feed the straps through and secure the tripod. If your camera bag doesn’t come with a rain cover, make sure whatever you are going to be using is accessible quickly in a side pocket. In other words, don’t put it somewhere which will mean having to get all your stuff out when it’s lashing down with rain.

Know where everything is

Try to pack things in the same place over and over so that instinctively you know where everything is. When it’s dark, you don’t want to be checking every nook and cranny to find the spare battery that you packed away. Try to keep things like a torch, a cloth, batteries and spare memory cards somewhere that you can easily access without having to open your entire backpack.

Everyone will have their own way of packing their camera equipment on long hikes. Over time and through experience, you will pick up your own bits of knowledge. In the meantime, the tips above will hopefully help you when packing your camera equipment on long hikes.

6 Tips To Make Flying With Your Camera Gear Easier

Airports are never the most relaxing place to navigate through. But as a photographer with camera equipment, it seems to be even more time consuming and frustrating. Unfortunately, the world we live in these days requires more stringent checks and often the language barrier at airports around the world can make things even tougher. So, here are some tips to help you take some of the stress out of flying with camera equipment.

Only take what you need

I know a lot of photographers both amateur and professional who always take tons of equipment away with them. They would say that they need it all. But do they really? How many times have you taken camera equipment with you that you have never used? The best thing to do is to make a shot list before you go. Then you can see exactly what equipment you might need. You might be surprised how little you really need with you. A couple of lenses, a back-up body, maybe a flash or LED light, batteries, memory cards, filters and tripod would be more than enough for most situations. Of course, if you are shooting something in particular then take what you need, but don’t take camera equipment just because you have it. The less you have the fewer questions you may be asked when going through security checks.

Pack your tripod into your suitcase

Over the years I have found that there doesn’t seem to be a general rule when it comes to tripods. Most of the time airlines don’t allow you to take this onto the flight unless it fits into a bag. So, it’s best to put it in your suitcase. That way not only will it keep it safe, but you’ll be less likely to face questions as well.

Be ready to have to take out your cameras

Again, at some airport security, they will require you to take out your cameras (India), as well as laptops and anything else on their list. Some airports will only ask for laptops to come out and some just don’t bother with any of it (like Havana). So, try to pack your camera bag in a way that will make it easy to take the stuff you know you’re likely to have to remove, out. For example, if you a load of other stuff piled on top of your camera it can be a pain to have to take everything out. A camera bag that fully opens is also useful when your bags are searched. Being able to open the whole thing will often mean not having to take every item out.

Make a note of your equipment in the native language

Try explaining to a security official or customs officer that what they are pointing to is a hard drive when you don’t speak the language. You may think everyone knows what every piece of equipment is for, but believe me, they don’t. It can be intimidating, frustrating and a waste of your time. Print off the names of the more obscure equipment you have or even better learn what they are called in that language. Then if you are asked you can point to the name on your sheet of paper.

Keep calm and don’t get angry

The worst thing you can do is to lose your temper. All that will happen is that you are less likely to get any cooperation and it can land you in trouble. If they ask to search your bags, just smile and say OK. The more you cooperate the easier and quicker it will be. Naturally carrying lots of camera equipment will draw attention. So, whilst it’s important to keep calm and cooperate also stand your ground if you are in the right and don’t just get bullied into handing over anything or money.

Don’t say you are a photographer

OK, this might be a contentious issue depending on where you are going in the world. Most places in the world will be fine if you say you are a photographer or are there photographing. However, some countries view that as being a journalist or might think you are there to film. This can lead you to be questioned or even worst denied entry. The good thing is that most people carry cameras with them when they travel so it shouldn’t be anything new. But if you are taking things like lighting gear then it shows that you are possibly more than just photographing for the fun of it. Use your own judgement and if someone asks, just say you are a tourist and enjoy taking photos.

Most of the time you shouldn’t have any problems when travelling with your camera gear. But every now and again, unfortunately, you might be stopped, and your bags searched and maybe even asked a few questions. If you are prepared and keep calm, it should all be OK. So use the tips above to try and take the stress out of travelling with camera gear.

What’s In A Travel Photography Camera Bag?

One of the questions that I get asked most often is what exactly do I carry with me on a trip. Often people are surprised with how little I do take with me. I must confess that when I started out, I carried a lot more than I do now. Over the years I have come to realise how little you can actually get away with. So here is what I carry in my camera bag.

Carry less, plan more

Before going into what I carry, my first bit of advice is to only carry what you need. Travel photography typically involves being outdoors and walking around for long periods of time. Do you really want to be doing that with a heavy backpack all day? There is a fine balance between taking what you have to and getting caught short because you haven’t taken packed something you may actually need.

So, before any trip, you should be writing a shot list and then using that to determine what equipment you will need.

Camera

You won’t get to do much without a camera… My camera is a Canon 5D MK IV and I always carry a back up which is a Canon 5D MK II. They are both fantastic cameras that produce stunning images. I tend to leave my back-up camera in the hotel safe unless I’m going to be in a situation where I might need to be using two lenses. For example, if I’m photographing a festival where I will need to be capturing photos at different focal ranges, I would use both cameras. I would have a wide-angle lens on one and telephoto on another.

Lenses: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM zoom lens

The vast majority of my photos are taken with this lens. In fact, I could probably get away with doing an entire shoot just with this lens. The focal range means that you can take landscape shots as well as portraits. Of course, sometimes you will need to get closer to your subject to be able to capture candid shots, but that’s a good thing. At f/2.8, it is also fast enough to use in low light conditions like markets or indoors.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens

This pricey telephoto lens is one of the best around. Fantastic for portraits and close-ups but also a good option for landscape or cityscape shots when you want to isolate a small part of the scene. It’s big and heavy to carry but this is one that I usually keep with me.

Other lenses

The two above are my main lenses. This is what I use most of the time. But of course, from time to time depending on the shoot I may need to take other more specialist lenses with me. I would assess what the requirements are before each shoot and pack any of these lenses if needed.

For example, something like a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens. This prime lens is superb and is really useful when photographing in low light conditions as it means you don’t have to raise your ISO too much. But the shallow depth of field does mean that you need to be careful when focusing.

Canon Speedlite 580EX II

I’m not a big fan of using a flash and will try to avoid it wherever possible. The problem with using a flash is that unless it is used subtly, it kills the ambience of the scene. It also usually gets unwanted attention. But having said that sometimes there is no other choice but to use one, so I do always carry one with me.

But rather than using it in low light settings, I usually use a flash most often to fill in shadows. This is called a fill flash where for example you are taking a portrait of someone in harsh lighting conditions which causes shadows on their face. A flash can help eliminate the shadows. So I always carry one with me but actually very rarely use it.

Manfrotto tripod

This is one accessory that I simply have to have with me for sunrise or sunset shots even if it means carrying it around all day. Anytime that you will need to capture photos in low light conditions a tripod becomes a must. My Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 is almost 10 years old but is still as good as ever. It is a sturdy carbon fibre tripod which is lightweight to carry. I also use a Manfrotto 327RC2 light duty grip ball head to connect my camera to the tripod.

Filters

All of my lenses are fitted with a Hoya Pro 1 Digital UV filter. This helps protect the lens glass against scratches. Remember that it is much cheaper and less of an inconvenience to change a filter than fix a lens. I also carry a range of Cokin Neutral Density filters and Graduated Neutral Density filters which are extremely useful for landscape photography. Lastly, I also have a Hoya polarizing filter as well which helps avoid unwanted reflections.

Other bits

Memory cards, hard drives and laptop – I take enough memory cards with me so that I can cover each day I’m away on a separate card. I also take a few additional ones in case I need more than one in a day. But even with all the memory cards, I still back up my photos on 3 passport size external hard drives each day. This way if anything happens to one then I have spares.

Lens and camera cleaning kit, spare batteries and chargers – You will always end up getting dust or dirt on your lens at some point on a trip. So you will have to clean your lens, your camera and even your sensor (although be very careful doing this). I also carry some spare batteries as I don’t want to ever end up being in a situation where I run out.

These are the basic set of equipment that I carry with me wherever I travel to and I add to these as I see fit. For example, architectural photographers might want to take a tilt and shift lens or for wildlife photography a 400mm lens. But remember try to only take what you are going to need. Don’t take equipment just for the sake of it.