How To: Take Better Pictures in 1 Step
It has been almost a year that I have been shooting with a Nikon D80 DSLR camera. After taking many product review photos and dealing with uneven and blurry pictures, I finally came to my senses and purchased a cheap tripod on Amazon. It happened to be a $20 Digital Concepts TR-60N tripod, which I do not recommend (the camera base never gets tight enough and the camera is always loose).
Step 1: Get a Tripod
Everyone knows that keeping the camera steady helps with pictures but it’s a shock at how much casual photographers don’t even consider using a tripod. They’re cheap and help immensely. My particular tripod has a few bubble levels to ensure an even stance.
Many cameras, DSLR as well as point & shoot, offer a grid view. This is what it looks like on my D80. It just helps line up shots by adding visual references in the viewfinder. A tripod combined with a grid view enabled camera facilitates taking great, level photos.
Grid View on a Nikon D80. Photo by iPhone, hence bad quality.
After getting a tripod, it’s now a lot easier to experiment with longer exposures, which require an extremely steady camera and base to capture anything of value. For me this comes in handy with product review shots in my room, which doesn’t particularly have the best lighting so I’ll put the D80 in shutter priority mode with a 5 second exposure. This results in crisp and adequately-exposed photos. Kick up the exposure time a bit and you can take some great night photos.
Combined with my wireless Eye-Fi SD card, I can snap pictures and see them on my computer a few seconds later. This cuts down my shooting time substantially as I previously took 50 photos hoping to get one perfect shot and loaded the card on my computer. With the Eye-Fi card, I see the pictures on my computer as I take them.
Coca-Cola Headquarters is just about in my backyard in Atlanta.
The top of the Bank of America building was created by a Georgia Tech engineer as noted by our colors - White & Gold. I think this picture is a tad over-exposed.
Finding a Good Tripod
This is the part of the article where I ask you what tripod you’re using and if you’re happy with it. I’m not satisfied with my current one at all and am looking to see what you guys are playing with. Furthermore, what camera do you have and do you find yourself taking many long-exposure photos?
Disclaimer: I am not a photographer. I just play one on the Internet.
My Dynatran tripod is awesome. It’s heavy and well-built, and it has interchangeable feet (spikes and flats). I’ve been using mine for almost 3 years in both negative temps (hooray foam grabs!) and high winds (excellent grip).
Good tip. I don’t have a DSLR yet, but I am hoping to get one soon. I’d really like to take some better pictures than the ones I take with my point-and-shoot.
The picture of your Macbook Pro is awesome. :)
I’ve figured that out recently myself too. Currently I use this mini tripod,
http://www.minitripods.com/Assia_Midi_Tripod.html
It’s pretty small and handy. Although I don’t recommend it as your main one because it isn’t very stable. But It’s good for when you need to go portable.
Paul,
You should visit nokonians.org. Lots of helpful people hang out in the forums there and will be able to give you great advice on a tripod. I don’t have any connection there other than being a paying member … well worth the $25 a year if you’re a Nikon shooter.
Paul - another trick with long exposures is to use the timer and the shutter release delay.
The D80 lets you set as low as a 2-second delay which is great so that it gives the chance for any small shake form you pushing and releasing the shutter button to dissipate.
The shutter release is handy for similar reasons. When the mirror lifts it can shake the camera slightly. The release delay pauses the camera exposing for a fraction of a second to prevent that motion from interfering with your shot as well.
I thought having a tripod was a no brainer. :P Especially for things like product shots, etc., where you need that detail and precision.
I use a Bogen 055X PRO. Along with a Bogen 488RC4 ball head. I also second checking out http://nikonians.org and their tripod faq here.
Since I bought a new camera few days ago (Canon 400D), I’ve been thinking about which tripod to get and more and more I’m thinking of just doing this:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1041948/1_image_stabilizer_for_any_camera_lose_the_tripod/
Basically I need something super portable :/ Perhaps a monopod.
I’ve been taking digital pictures for a long time, but I haven’t actually *updated my gear* in a long time. I have a much older Olympus digicam, and it’s served me very well. I’ve also played with several of the more recent Canon’s, with various options like attachable lenses, image stabilization, etc. (Most of these have given a very good experience.)
When it comes to higher-end DSLR cameras, though, I’m completely inexperienced. I think it’s mostly that I don’t take enough pictures to warrant it, but then if I had one, I would probably take more pictures. Either way, I think you’re absolutely right: tripods are great, and they can seriously improve the pictures you take.
Quick suggestion: even if you are on a tight budget, invest on a ball head.
It is incredibly easy to adjust and you can mount it on different tripods as long as they have a 3/8″ male attachment (start with a cheap tripod and upgrade along the way)
This is the one I use, Manfrotto 488RC2:
http://www.bogenimaging.it/Jahia/site/biit/pid/8605?detailPid=8420&actualPathCategoryKey=1CAT:AAA1:2CAT:BB24&kindOfProductCollectionRequest=productDetail&marketList=MARKET:MKT1|&productCode=488RC2&productDescription=MIDI%20BALL%20HEAD%20W/RC2%20R.C.SYST.&curBrandId=MAN
Yes, it is expensive. But it’s worth every cent and it will last for years.
Except for candids, all pictures on my website have been taken with that ball head and a Manfrotto 055B tripod.
I highly recommend going to something more than a $30 tripod. Tripods are not cheap. I personally use a Manfrotto 190 x Pro B which you can find here. I’m very happy with my purchase and highly recommend it. Even at that price, it’s still on the low end of the tripod chain.
I use a Nikon D300 with battery grip. The thing can be heavy with a bigger lens on it. A cheap tripod does not cut it. If you’re serious about photography or really want better photos go with something more stable. IMO long exposure is not necessary for product shots if stabilized and exposed correctly.
Paul, not your usual quality posting. Little content and as already said, a tripod is a no brainer.
@David - that was the whole point .. an obvious how to, very much like my home theater “how to” (buy a projector). Haha. Somewhat supposed to be comedic in its obviousness. I guess it didn’t come off as such.
yeah guess that one went over my head :P
Obvious blogger is obvious. Now I can “borrow” even more gear!
Apologies in advance for the site plug, but as I recently posted about this and got 72 Comments you may find it helful :-)
http://chrismarshall.ws/which-tripod
A tripod is definitely one of the most important accessories for a camera, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t think of getting one or just figure they don’t need one.
I got a cheapo sunpak one for roughly $20 at Best Buy and it’s been really useful.
Yes, a tripod is essential, especially in low light, where the shutter speed will be slower, which increases the chances of camera shake.
One of the other main uses of the Grid in the viewfinder is to help with the Rule of Thirds.
I use a small tripod, something like the one here. Its adequate because I use a (point&shoot) Canon IXUS 750, and I can carry it around with me all the time because it is so small.
Paul,
Really enjoy your blog in general. As far as tripod recommendations, I would look at products from Manfrotto. They are very solid, generally reasonably priced for the quality, and available many places. Gitzo makes awesome stuff, but tends to be even more expensive than Manfrotto. Slik has a pretty good product on the lower end of the cost spectrum as well.
Francesco’s recommendation of using a ball head is right on. Great flexibility and less cumbersome for still photography.
I have a set of 4 year old Manfrotto 3221WN legs and a ballhead that I bought a couple of years back at a local camera store. Not a big name brand, but has worked great for me! You should be able to get into a setup like this for < $200. I take my tripod everywhere I shoot.
Good Luck,
Ed
Paul,
You’re right - a tripod is an essential tool of the photographer. I use the Slik Pro-330EZ tripod. It’s made of titanium alloy, has a nice quick-release plate, and supports up to 8 pounds (which is plenty to support most dSLRs). Best of all, it won’t break the bank at around $100; i.e., it is an excellent choice for those looking for a quality tripod but don’t want to spend about $500 for a Gitzo (which are at the top of the class).
I see until now the importance of having a tripod for steady pictures. My brother has one and he lets me use it time to time but i dont own one, so i think its time to get a camera and a tripod too!!
There are SLR digicams with built-in shake reduction. The Pentax range stands out for it’s quality, versatility and value-for-money.
I recently purchased a mini-tripod for table-top use and a remote control for my Nikon D40. The mini-tripod is perfect for marco shots and taking pictures of products. The remote helps to produce a crisper image and I highly recommend it. I got both of them on Amazon for about $20, what a deal!
I use an Induro tripod with a Giotto ball head. The whole package was about $200. It’s very sturdy, and extremely light despite not being made of carbon fiber. None of this Nikon stuff though… I use a Canon 5D.
As has been said, this is a no-brainer. Having said that, there are still people whom I am trying to encourage to use a tripod so that pictures won’t come out so blurry.
I carry around the the gorillapod with me. It is basically a tripod on the go. You can hang it, wrap it, place anywhere. Lots of people use it and you can see samples on flickr.
If you can stomach the prices, I’m zealously in love with my hand-picked tripod setup:
$168 Manfrotto 055XPROB legs
$255 Kirk BH-3 ballhead
$50 Kirk custom plate (Canon 40D)
If I ever get grounded, full reviews will follow.
Paul,
Sorry that this is a bit late, but here is really cheap alternative (to buying a tripod) for stabilizing a camera. And it only costs $1!
Check it out: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1041948/1_image_stabilizer_for_any_camera_lose_the_tripod/