Using a Panning Tripod For Stunning Photography
Using a Panning Tripod For Stunning Photography
What is a panning tripod? It is simply a holder that allows you to hang your camera, lenses, and other equipment on it. Many times you'll find that there is a panning tripod head on the back of your camera. This is good, because it lets you take a shot without having to keep your hands away from the viewfinder.
But in some cases you might find that the panning base is attached to the camera and will not let you put the lens up. If this happens to you there are a couple things you can do. First you can move the tripod head and try to make it work. Unfortunately this rarely works. However if you have a telephoto lens, you can cut down on vibrations by using a foam block that is between the lens and the panning base.
Some panning tripod heads actually have a leveling base built into them. Some even have two leveling heads. I would highly recommend a panning head with two heads, even three or four heads. The first is for taking level shots. If you tend to plan your shots too much at different angles than you probably need these.
One of my favorite tripod heads has two arms. On each arm there is a fiber optic cable that goes from the head to the screen. When you lift the arm, the cable pulls the lens up to the screen. So you don't have to worry about adjusting your tripod while you are composing the panoramic image. Just put the arm down, lift the lens up, and compose the scene.
Some of my most beautiful panoramic images have been taken using just the camera and no flash. I just use the camera as is and make the images of the scenery and subject matter as they come into focus on the LCD screen. The flash helps out with lighting, but not in a way that you can't make the same kind of pictures with just the camera and no flash. Of course, using the camera horizontally makes it easier to compose the scene with just the camera and no flash.
Most people think of panning with a panoramic camera and tripod heads that go horizontally. But, there are also panning tripod heads that go vertically. These are great for taking panoramic images of buildings, tall trees, etc. that you would not be able to get a good photo of with just the ground level. So, if you are interested in taking some really big panoramic images, consider purchasing one of the many great panning tripod heads.