Title :                     SLOWING THINGS DOWN

Subject:      Using a tripod for almost every shot – to begin with

This year I am going to post a blog each month which puts forward how I learned to take photographs to a reasonable standard and to deal with a basic aspect of digital photography in each blog.

In this first blog of 2026 I need to explain why I have adopted certain practices to cope with my age (77) and some physical health issues I must overcome whilst out and about with my camera gear.

Firstly, my age. I don’t mind sharing it with you. It’s only a number but I am not immune from the ravages of time. Every human becomes weaker as we age so taking things at a more leisurely pace not only makes what we do more manageable but ensures they can remain enjoyable.

For a landscape photographer one of the most important things is to plan what you intend to do, where you intend to go and that someone knows what your plans are and when to expect you back. This is relevant from the point of view of what gear to take with you. Camera Body, Lenses, Tripod, Water all need to be carried and all weigh pounds/kilos. So, if you aren’t planning to do any close ups of flowers, fungi or insects there is no need to take a macro lens just because you own one.

One of those pieces of kit I always take without fail is my sturdy tripod. There are many reasons I use a tripod every time I venture out. The main one being that using a tripod forces me to slow down and concentrate on what I am doing to ensure a better quality of image.  A list, with benefits, follows shortly.  The number one reason I use a tripod helps me deal with a physical problem I have. It is called Involuntary Tremor and means that the muscles in my lower right arm and hand can shake unpredictably and uncontrollably at any time.  I both hold and click right-handed.

The solution was simple really. Cut out the handholding bit. Of course, shooting at a much faster shutter speed might help but that brings with it other calculations and no guarantees of success.

Two other things I employ when shooting a stationery subject are a 2 or 10  second timer delay and a remote trigger. The latter is connected to the hot shoe on top of the camera body and removes the need for me to touch the camera at all. Problem solved, yes but just look at all the other benefits that come with tripod use.

• Allows for better image composing. Time to review a shot and include/exclude half a cow or boat around the edges.
• Makes for a steadier picture with reduced movement from things such as wind.
• Allows time to view and review all content. Can Pylons and phone boxes in the middle of nowhere be removed in camera or assess if they can be removed later in post.
• Overcome any unsteadiness in handholding and learn if handholding can be done using other means. Such as increased shutter speeds.
• Helps establish better composition practices/habits. Creating better images in camera by studying. Choosing different settings to produce different effects, wider shot, inclusion or exclusion of parts of a shot. Looking in detail all around the edges of the frame (that half a cow again).
• Stability and levelness of images. Especially near the sea which is always level at a distance. Nothing looks worse than a seascape with a slope.

This blog doesn’t claim to cover everything, indeed far from it. And I’m not aiming for the sob story. I’m simply putting forward how I have used a tool in my possession to conquer a problem and utilised it to improve my photography and enjoyment of what I do. The added benefit is that I have also learned how to use my camera with better results handheld. OK, so it doesn’t work every time but it’s better than giving up altogether. I refer to my web page about me when someone sent me a card with the title “Don’t ever give up”. It’s much more enjoyable striving and achieving. If you have any question, don’t be shy – ASK.

Till next time.