SHOOTING LANDSCAPES ON A TRIPOD
ALWAYS EXTEND THE TOP LEG SECTIONS OF THE TRIPOD FIRST AS THEY’RE THE THICKEST SECTIONS AND THEREFORE THE STURDIEST, MOVING DOWN TO THE THINNER LEG SECTIONS AFTER THIS. IF YOU STILL NEED EXTRA HEIGHT THEN IT’S TIME TO EXTEND THE CENTRE COLUMN – THIS SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT AS IT’S THE WOBBLIEST PART OF ANY TRIPOD.
THREE-WAY HEAD
A THREE-WAY TRIPOD HEAD IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR LANDSCAPES, AS IT ALLOWS
YOU TO REALLY TAKE YOUR TIME AND FINETUNE YOUR COMPOSITION ON THREE AXES. THE MHXPRO-3W X-PRO 3-WAY FROM MANFROTTO (PICTURED HERE) IS FANTASTIC FOR LANDSCAPES, AND THE ARMS COLLAPSE INWARDS WHEN NOT IN USE TO SAVE SPACE.
STURDY LEGS
IF YOU’RE IN THE MARKET FOR A TRIPOD BE SURE TO GO FOR A STURDY SET OF CARBON FIBRE OR METAL LEGS. GO FOR ONE WITH INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE
LEG ANGLES SO YOU CAN GET CREATIVE SHOTS CLOSER TO THE GROUND. SOME EVEN COME WITH REVERSIBLE CENTRE COLUMNS OR A SHORT CENTRE COLUMN.
TRIPOD FEET
SOME TRIPODS HAVE SPIKES BUILT INTO THE FEET THAT CAN BE REVEALED BY TWISTING THE RUBBER FEET OR REMOVING THEM, THOUGH NOT ALL DO. THIS CAN BE HANDY IN ROCKY AND ICY TERRAIN WHEN YOUR TRIPOD MIGHT NEED MORE GRIP, AND WILL STOP IT MOVING WHILE YOU’RE TRYING TO COMPOSE.