Comments on: Tripods http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods Photo blog featuring outdoor, travel and nature photos. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:12:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ron http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57897 Ron Thu, 29 May 2008 00:40:10 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57897 Thanks everyone! Thanks everyone!

]]> By: Mom http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57867 Mom Wed, 28 May 2008 21:06:36 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57867 This is going to be a wonderful series Ron. Lots of writing, but good stuff. Mom This is going to be a wonderful series Ron. Lots of writing, but good stuff.

Mom

]]> By: Rick http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57858 Rick Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:42 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57858 Great job Ron - starting with the basics, I think this adventure will be great for all, if not to learn, than to be reminded. Great job Ron - starting with the basics, I think this adventure will be great for all, if not to learn, than to be reminded.

]]> By: Richard Wong http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57856 Richard Wong Wed, 28 May 2008 18:28:24 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57856 Great way to start off this series Ron. Your old tripod is heavy but the carbon fiber sounds good. Great way to start off this series Ron. Your old tripod is heavy but the carbon fiber sounds good.

]]> By: Ron http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57854 Ron Wed, 28 May 2008 18:11:46 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57854 Hi Cody, Thanks a lot for the tips! I'm not familiar with the Gorilla Pod, I will have to look that up. It is hard to beat duct tape, especially since I always have some laying around. I had just ordered some gaffers tape last week, should be here any day, I'm looking forward to giving it a try. Sounds like Scott Kelby has a great system for his recommendations - I will have to check them out. I'm surprised at how quickly things change when it comes to equipment! Thanks Cody, Ron Hi Cody,

Thanks a lot for the tips!

I’m not familiar with the Gorilla Pod, I will have to look that up.

It is hard to beat duct tape, especially since I always have some laying around. I had just ordered some gaffers tape last week, should be here any day, I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

Sounds like Scott Kelby has a great system for his recommendations - I will have to check them out. I’m surprised at how quickly things change when it comes to equipment!

Thanks Cody,

Ron

]]> By: Cody http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57850 Cody Wed, 28 May 2008 17:38:39 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57850 Great insights Ron. A couple of things that I have found in my photo experience too: * Joby.com has a "Gorilla Pod" which has small, articulating (twisty) legs that allow you to mount it to whatever you like - if you have a smaller camera/lens, they work great. The jumbo variety claims to handle bigger lenses, but as I've got a D80 with battery grip and a 18-200 lens, I always feel like I have just a bit too much weight. I have a second mini-pod for a point-and-shoot that both camera and pod can fit in a pocket. Very nice. * I use the insulation padding too! Though duct tape is the quintessential on-the-fly fix-it tool, I like to use black electrical tape - it blends in pretty well with the color of the insulation which means I'm not shy of taking it to a more fancy setting (say, a wedding). If I were to do it over again, I might consider using a wrap of duct tape covered by a couple wraps of gaffers tape - that stuff is great to hold things in place; plus the adhesive doesn't leave a residue so it can work well with photo stuff. * Lastly, I really liked the tips offered by Scott Kelby in his Digital Photography I & II books which included $, $$, and $$$ varieties of tripods/heads for varying budgets. Might be worth a looksie. Thanks for continuing to share your photos and insight! -Cody Great insights Ron.

A couple of things that I have found in my photo experience too:

* Joby.com has a “Gorilla Pod” which has small, articulating (twisty) legs that allow you to mount it to whatever you like - if you have a smaller camera/lens, they work great. The jumbo variety claims to handle bigger lenses, but as I’ve got a D80 with battery grip and a 18-200 lens, I always feel like I have just a bit too much weight. I have a second mini-pod for a point-and-shoot that both camera and pod can fit in a pocket. Very nice.

* I use the insulation padding too! Though duct tape is the quintessential on-the-fly fix-it tool, I like to use black electrical tape - it blends in pretty well with the color of the insulation which means I’m not shy of taking it to a more fancy setting (say, a wedding). If I were to do it over again, I might consider using a wrap of duct tape covered by a couple wraps of gaffers tape - that stuff is great to hold things in place; plus the adhesive doesn’t leave a residue so it can work well with photo stuff.

* Lastly, I really liked the tips offered by Scott Kelby in his Digital Photography I & II books which included $, $$, and $$$ varieties of tripods/heads for varying budgets. Might be worth a looksie.

Thanks for continuing to share your photos and insight!
-Cody

]]> By: Ron http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57837 Ron Wed, 28 May 2008 15:36:56 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57837 Hi Beth, Thanks. You know I have never been to a game farm, and really hate the idea of animals being kept in cages so they can be photographed, but that is a different discussion. Unfortunately, they are becoming more and more popular. Surprisingly bears aren't as hard as you might think if you go to National Parks where they aren't hunted. In a place like Denali, bears will walk by without even looking at you; you might as well be a tree or something. They have learned there is no reason to fear humans. Now in areas where they are hunted, they are much more skittish and unpredictable. Having said that, I also use a giant telephoto lens. No point in getting any closer then necessary :) Ron Hi Beth,

Thanks.

You know I have never been to a game farm, and really hate the idea of animals being kept in cages so they can be photographed, but that is a different discussion. Unfortunately, they are becoming more and more popular.

Surprisingly bears aren’t as hard as you might think if you go to National Parks where they aren’t hunted. In a place like Denali, bears will walk by without even looking at you; you might as well be a tree or something. They have learned there is no reason to fear humans. Now in areas where they are hunted, they are much more skittish and unpredictable.

Having said that, I also use a giant telephoto lens. No point in getting any closer then necessary :)

Ron

]]> By: Beth Lunsford http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57822 Beth Lunsford Wed, 28 May 2008 12:03:59 +0000 http://www.my-photo-blog.com/tripods#comment-57822 Like I said before, I'm not a photographer, but I find the information quite interesting. Especially how you wrap the tripod in duct tape, ( the fix for everything, huh? ) so that you can move in on wildlife more quietly. You have some pretty cool pictures of bears. Are they hard to take pictures of them in the wild? I know a lot of photographers use animal farms, taking pictures from cars, etc... Have you ever done that, and if not how hard is it to take these photos?Do you use a long lens? You & Janine stay safe!! Like I said before, I’m not a photographer, but I find the information quite interesting. Especially how you wrap the tripod in duct tape, ( the fix for everything, huh? ) so that you can move in on wildlife more quietly. You have some pretty cool pictures of bears. Are they hard to take pictures of them in the wild? I know a lot of photographers use animal farms, taking pictures from cars, etc… Have you ever done that, and if not how hard is it to take these photos?Do you use a long lens? You & Janine stay safe!!

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