‘And this Thing I saw! How can I describe it? A monstrous tripod, higher than many houses, striding over the young pine trees, and smashing them aside in its career; a walking engine of glittering metal, striding now across the heather; articulate ropes of steel dangling from it, and the clattering tumult of its passage mingling with the riot of the thunder.’
H.G. Wells: The War of the Worlds.

**Approaching Storm over Arnside, Morecambe Bay.**

Waiting for the train to arrive at Kents Bank station, I watched the clouds roll in over Arnside Knott, a storm was approaching! Carrying a camera with me all of the time (well most of the time!) means I don’t miss opportunities like this. My little Fuji, with its pancake lens, fits in my shoulder bag without much fuss and is a joy to use because of its small size and retro design, I love it. But, for most of the time I’m out and about working with my tripods, larger cameras, a selection of prime lenses and filters, I love them too!

My favourite tripod, but it is hard to find sometimes!

I don’t like the terms ‘grab’ and ‘shot’ but ‘Approaching Storm over Arnside’ really is a ‘grab shot’! I had one eye on the scene and the other on the arrival of the train! Grabbing shots is fine and the result is no less of a photograph than had it been taken using a tripod. Would this image have been any different or better if I had used a tripod? A tripod would have allowed me to use a filter and long exposure but, the clouds need to be motionless because of the interesting shapes and not blurred and smooth. So no, a tripod could not have improved this photo. Although the moody clouds were creating a dark atmosphere, there was still enough light for me to handhold the camera and not be concerned about camera shake*, so again, a tripod was not necessary.

Tripods are not for everyone! I love them but don’t always use them. In low light, when you are forced to use a slow exposure time, a tripod comes into its own to avoid blurry photos*. A tripod doesn’t suit every genre of photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson would have missed a few of his ‘decisive moments’ if he had to set up his tripod for every shot! But, if long exposures are your thing then a tripod is definitely your friend!

**Saltburn.** Using a tripod and a four second exposure, the people appear as ghosts on the pier!

**Saltburn.** A fifteen second exposure with a tripod has smoothed the water to give an ethereal look. Compare to the image below with a much faster exposure time. Interestingly, the couple on the far right have managed to stand still for fifteen seconds, unlike the other ghosts!

A normal exposure of 1/180 second freezes the movement of the wave.

As I say, I was at Kents Bank because I was waiting for a train but, because I had my little Fuji in my bag, I was able to make the most of the unfolding drama in the sky. Had I planned to be there just for photography and had I used a tripod, then the experience would have been different. Contemplative and mindful, both eyes on the scene, all senses on the job in hand, focused camera and focused mind, nothing else matters, alert and ready and enjoying every minute, that’s what a tripod is for! It slows you down and gives you time to be in the moment, to be in the landscape.

Next time I’m out with my camera, I’ll grab my tripod and not the shot!

Cheers for now,
David.

*Camera shake refers to the unintentional movement of a camera resulting in a blurry photo. This is usually because the exposure time is so long that it becomes impossible to hold the camera steady in your hands for that length of time. Use a tripod! However, modern mirrorless cameras now have In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS) which means it’s possible to use slow shutter speeds and no tripod! I have one camera with IBIS and it’s amazing! But I still prefer a good old tripod any day!

With or Without?

The Darkroom Print