If You Don't Like Taking A Full Sized Tripod With You, Try This

Tabletop tripod held against a tree with camera in horizontal position. (click to enlarge)
Make sure you press the tripod firmly against the object.  You will find this to be very steady.

I'm not a tripod lover.  I'll use one begrudgingly if I really believe I need it to make my images. With the image stabilization available in most modern digital cameras or lenses, many of the times I would use a tripod in the past, I can successfully do without. Often times, I don't take a full sized one with me when going out to photograph.  But, I always have a tabletop tripod with me.  It is small, lightweight, less costly and a bit more limited in its versatility, but it can be very useful if you need something solid to help steady your camera.  

This is a quick post on some ways I use mine other than setting it up on a table, on the ground or other flat surface.  The images aren't the best, but you'll get the point.  A small tripod can come in very handy in many ways.  I have provided some images with explanations of how I have used mine when necessary.

Same as above but now with camera in vertical position (click to enlarge)

Using your body as a method of steadying your camera when shutter speeds are very slow. (click to enlarge)
This really does work well.  You position your feet about shoulder width apart, push the camera
down against your chest, breath out and when you fully exhale, roll your finger onto the shutter release.

Here is an example of using the side of a building to steady the camera (click to enlarge)

I have a few tabletop tripods. The one illustrated here is a Gitzo G 0011 I bought 20 or more years ago.  It has a very small, but sturdy Manfrotto 3009 ball head attached.  I also have a Manfrotto Pixi Evo 2, which I purchased from Amazon.  It allows me to get much lower to the ground than the Gitzo and a Joby Gorillapod whose legs are flexible and can wrap around most railings and such. All are small, easy to take along and serve me well.

If you don't currently own a tabletop tripod, do some research and if you find one will provide value to your photography, you should look into buying one and taking it with you as you go about your photographic adventures.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

All content on this blog is © 2013-2016 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.