To ensure absolutely sharp photographs, you must use some type of camera support. Few photographers can hold a camera absolutely steady, especially for exposures longer than about 1/60 second or even shorter exposures when using long-focal-length lenses. When using telephoto lenses or shooting motion media, you must remember that camera movement can become critical. Even the slightest camera movement is magnified and becomes very apparent in enlargements of still photographs or when motion-media footage is viewed.

The ideal camera support should be strong, firm, and allow as much adjustment of camera height and angle as possible. The design of a support to be carried outside the lab should be compact and lightweight, while still providing a firm, rigid camera support.

Most pictures are taken holding the camera by hand because camera supports are often bulky, heavy, and inconvenient to carry on many assignments; however, you should use a camera support when it is appropriate to do so. This allows you to produce the sharp pictures that are characteristic of a truly professional photographer.

Tripods

The best way to support your camera is with a sturdy, rigid, tripod. Tripods are three-legged camera supports with flat platforms or heads in which cameras are secured. Most tripods are equipped with a head that has an elevator center post. The camera is attached to this center post and is raised or lowered easily by cranking the post up or down. These elevators eliminate the need for readjusting all three tripod legs for making small, last minute adjustments to the camera height.

Tripods come in a variety of designs, sizes, and weights (fig. 5-2). The heavier models are the sturdiest and provide the best support; however, if too heavy, they are not very portable. As a general rule, the heavier your camera, the heavier and stronger your tripod must be. For some of the light, full-size tripods, rigidity can be improved by hanging a bag of sand or another weight from the tripod head This is especially useful in high winds. Another method is to hang a strap from the tripod head, and use the strap as a foothold on which to apply downward pressure (fig. 5-3).

Tabletop tripods are also available and can be used almost anywhere a flat surface is available. These small tabletop tripods can even be braced against the photographer's chest. Because of their small size, they can easily be carried in a camera bag.

To set up a tripod, extend one leg straight ahead toward the subject. This way the camera may be aimed by pivoting the tripod on this one leg. Extend the other two legs and adjust them to level the tripod platform horizontally. When setting up a tripod on level ground, you can waste a lot of time trying to get the tripod level if the leg sections are not fully extended. An easy solution to the problem is to mark the tripod legs in specific increments with a marking pen, pencil, or scribe. One method is to mark short lines at l-inch intervals and long lines at 6-inch intervals. Doing this reduces your frustration, saves time, and allows you to level your camera on the tripod with less effort. When a tripod is set up on an uneven surface, several adjustments of the side legs are normally necessary. Readjustment of the front leg levels the camera vertically so the platform or head is level. Most newer tripods have platforms that can be adjusted by eliminating the need for minor leg adjustments.

To mount the camera on the tripod head, you secure it in place by tightening the tripod screw into the camera tripod socket. Secure the camera by tightening the camera clamp screw locknut. After the camera is mounted on the tripod, test the camera to ensure all camera controls are accessible and function properly. The camera should be stable and not shake when the camera controls are operated.

Courtesy of Bogan Photo Corp.

Figure 5-2. Tripods.

Figure 5-3. Using a foot strap to make a tripod more rigid.

Monopods

A monopod is a single pole on which a camera is mounted. Monopods are useful for keeping the camera steady for location work when a tripod is too bulky or difficult to use; however, the use of a monopod is not advisable when using large, heavy cameras or when shutter speeds below about 1/15 second are used. Standing or kneeling with a monopod braced against your body or leg provides a camera the extra support and steadiness required for it to be an effective tool (fig. 5-4).

Clamps

Another practical way to support your camera is to use one of the many clamps available for this purpose. A camera clamp has a mount that screws into the tripod hole or socket on the camera and has jaws that can be clamped to a convenient object. Camera support clamps can be attached to furniture, doors, posts, fences, and other firm anchor points. There are even clamps with suction cups for mounting cameras on smooth, flat surfaces, such as a window.