Macro Photos/ General Photos

[redangel]

I love using my macro, but rarely use a tripod....am I missing out??? I have a tripod but rarely do I take it out with me. Is this a discipline I need to change??

Edited June 1, 2011 by redangel

[tlc]

I guess it depends how your photos are turning out, if they are great without the tripod, no blur etc then I wouldn't worry. I use my tripod as little as possible unless I'm doing long exposures. I also always use it when I do event shoots for work as mostly the pics are kids and it is indoors and the photos are set us scenes, such as Santa, Easter bunny etc so it is just easier to have it all set up.

[Linda K]

depends how tack sharp you want stuff, and what aperture you want to use - if you are doing a landscape say and want to use F15, ISO 100 and the light is not great, you would be doing well to hand hold at the shutter speed you might need to use. A tripod will help greatly with that. A tripod also makes things like HDR shots, making a panoramic shot (by taking multiple shots to join), is also so much easier with a tripod, as it makes the joins so much easier. If you are using a very shallow DOF (say F2), then you could probably get away with it. I just love a tripod for doing that sort of stuff (landscape, macros etc), as it really allows you to set up the shot, and then either wait for the right light / moment, check the frame and make sure there is nothing distracting there, and that everything you want is within the frame, and nothing you don't want in there is, and then tinker slightly with angle etc if needed - it can be a lot more illuminating for all that sort of stuff than just wining it from the hip, as too often you can get caught up in the moment, employ that blindness that comes with taking a shot and blanking out all the things you aren't concentrating on, take the shot, get home and see all these elements in there that a bit of careful thought / framing ect could have avoided - a tripod helps you slow down the process and avoid these. Of course there are a lot of times you can't or don't want one (like chasing around a toddler), but where I can, I love to use one