Why do some photographers always use a tripod?
While I can't answer for other photographers, I can offer the following reasons why I use a tripod for virtually all my photography. I am a nature/landscape photographer and I am always looking for the greatest depth of field, which demands that I use a small aperture of anywhere from f16-f32. Your smallest aperture will depend on the type of lens you are using. In addition to a small aperture, I typically shoot using the lowest ISO of 100, which helps create the finest resolution for enlargements. Depending on your camera, you may even have an ISO of 50. The combination of a low ISO and a small aperture almost always causes me to shoot at slower shutter speeds of 1/15 second or longer, especially when I'm taking most of my photographs at dawn. Slower shutter speeds in turn require me to mount my camera on a tripod to avoid any camera movement.
In addition to the technical reason, there is another reason why I like using a tripod which may appeal to you. Using a tripod takes more time and patience, which forces me to slow down. The process of slowing down my photo shoots gives me more time to visually explore each scene and arrange the scene for the best artistic composition. In addition, if I need to swap out lenses, I find it easier when the camera is mounted on the tripod.
If you don't already own a tripod, I encourage you to invest in one and explore the benefits of using it to enhance your photography.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or comments about this blog, or any of my previous blogs, please contact me.
Ron Bowman - Nature photographer
www.rbphotonh.com