Do You Really Need a Tripod? Handheld Photography Tips to Master NOW!

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Today, I take a trip to Brecon to photograph some amazing waterfalls. During the video, I discuss several tips for shooting handheld photography.
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#photography #photographytips #handheldphotography

[@ian_worth]

For the past seven years, I've balanced creating KZbin content with running my commercial photography business and hosting workshops. This year, I made the bold decision to fully dedicate myself to KZbin, landscape photography, and my workshops. Leaving behind the commercial photography business I spent years building is daunting, but sometimes you have to chase your dreams. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports and follows my work - I couldn't do this without you. Check out more of my work at www.iworthphotos.com

[@Western-Ranger.]

Your videos are always interesting and informative, I've learned so much from you, thank you Ian!

[@ashstubbings2603]

Hi Ian! I'm really glad you've addressed this issue of the use of tripods, because, as a wheelchair user I personally can't stand using them! I find them very difficult to use. I cannot seem to position them, or myself in the right place and they end up just getting in the way!

[@DanaPushie]

Hi Ash, As a one-handed southpaw I have had to investigate the various ways to use my camera including using a tripod. I had, some time ago, come across a photographer who used a clamping system attached to their wheelchair to hold the camera. Do you have, or, have you tried a monopod? It took me some serious practice to get the hang of using a monopod, but I have had some success. It can be used on the ground between your feet or on your lap. I don't know your circumstances but I hope this might give you some ideas. Cheers. I know you can figure it out.

[@ian_worth]

I bet you will find IBIS very helpful for your situation. The OM cameras allow for really slow shutter speeds. My buddy Henry uses one and I was blown away by the stabilisation in those cameras, just incredible.

[@ashstubbings2603]

@@ian_worth I've got the Nikon Z5. I'm not sure if it has IBIS or not. Love it though.

[@ashstubbings2603]

@@DanaPushie Hi! I do have a monopod and I much prefer using it, although generally speaking I shoot hand held.

[@DanaPushie]

@@ashstubbings2603 Way to go Ash! Using a camera cage was a game changer for me; allowing me to pickup, hold and actuate the shutter one-handed, and make some basic adjustments without having to put my camera down. Yup, the Nikon Z5 has In Body Image Stabilization.

[@nevvanclarke9225]

I switched to Mirrorless cameras about a year and a half ago. I picked up a Fuji film XT5 and I was blown away how I could go with Shutter speeds down to half a second.... I also own a GFX camera now which I love and I can shoot similar speeds with that. and I'm definitely doing a lot more handheld photography now than I ever did because it frees you up you can get different angles that you simply can't get with a tripod that doesn't mean I still don't use a tripod. I do have my tripod with me for long exposures.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Photographers in the UK are so lucky. It's always cloudy. (OK, it's always raining too, but you can work with that.) Where I am it's now the sunny season and we probably won't get another overcast day until November... Gotta make the best of what you got I suppose. 🙂

[@ian_worth]

Indeed, you get what you're given, its just a case of using it the best that you can 👍

[@peternickols2687]

Having just got back from a holiday where I took the bare minimum of kit that meant leaving the tripod behind. But it did give me much more versatility when shooting a sunrise. I also agree as regards the cameras focus shift shooting option, very unreliable and I achieved a better focus doing it manually, which with practice is actually quite easy. Great video.

[@ian_worth]

Thanks so much 👍

[@OutdoorActionPhoto]

Being an older (74) photographer in the outside world of mountains and rivers, I have to an agree with Richard’s comment. A good monopod is a very useful tool. For some reason the monopod appears to be shunned in the landscape photography world. I hike with the Nikon Z50 (no IBIS) for its lightweight body and quality, and a monopod. I’m not quite as steady as I once was so that little bit of help makes it easier to get that shot.

[@peterjackhandy]

I'll be 75 by mid-summer & it's starting to show now. 40 years of hard graft & a couple of surfing injuries have resulted in my shoulders being knackered, but I hate using a tripod (even owning 4 of them) so I carry a monopod with detatchable feet, which I use when my left shoulder throws a tantrum during a long session of surfing photoggery with the big lens. I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with it, but it keeps me snapping, so needs must.

[@ian_worth]

Monopods can be very helpful, for sure 👍

[@alstamarisphotography2797]

Beautiful vlog. The tip about hand-held focus bracketing is sublime. I always take photos like this with a tripod, but with this tip this is not always necessary. It's actually very simply explained and it actually works, I immediately tried it out with my Fujifilm xh2. Burst three shots per second and set the focus point in the center with the back button, focus on the foreground and then three shots in the center at f8 or f11 depending on the composition. Thank you Ian for the tip!

[@ian_worth]

You are very welcome, I'm glad you found the demo easy to understand 👍

[@kalvino67]

Another great video Ian! For me sometimes it just gets all too complicated with focus bracketing, exposure bracketing, tripod etc and it’s liberating to hand hold, polariser, f11 and shoot!…but I’ll try some of your handheld techniques this weekend. Great advice! Cheers!

[@ian_worth]

Thanks 🙏

[@christophermason7735]

Hi Ian. Another great video. My canon 7Dii APSC camera is an absolute tank of a camera. But it does not have IBIS. However my 10-18, and 18-135 do have IS. With tools like Topaz Denoise and DXO Denoise I can easily go to 10,000 ISO and recover most of the detail from hand held photos with noise. When nothing is moving and light is very low I take a burst of 16 at 16,000 iso. Stack to average out the noise then apply Denoise AI. I think that gives me the equivalent of 1,000 ISO from the 16,000 iso images. That works well in places like museums and blue hour scenes.

[@ian_worth]

That's a great tip 👍

[@donnakeeley4531]

Thanks for your very informative vlog. I'm Fuji XT2 user and haven't felt confident yet to try an exposure bracket but this was helpful. Your images were very cool. Hi from NZ

[@ian_worth]

Glad it was helpful! and thanks for watching 🙏

[@davidmantripp]

Ditching the tripod has recently been a very popular topic on channels such as this. It certainly opens up possibilities. But, word of warning, and something that very, very few touch upon: IBIS (and maybe OIS) is most effective at the centre of the frame. With wide angle lenses you can often get some very psychedelic results using slow shutter speeds where the centre of the frame is absolutely sharp and the edges are very soft and swirly. Possibly some of the tips given here could help - I certainly haven't tried all of them - but if you're into wide angle slow shutter speed (say < 1/15th) I wouldn't throw the tripod away just yet....

[@ian_worth]

Ive noticed that too, i've got a couple of images that I have taken this year that are tack sharp in the centre but you can just see some slight camera shake at the corners, 👍

[@KPAki1Ler]

I've tried this in Scotland recently. I didn't have a tripod but using my Nikon Z8, supporting myself to keep things steady or resting the camera on something, I got 1/4s shutter speed shots & fired away a few shots to up my chances. Worked a treat got sharp shots. I've done this without support too, the more you do it the better you get.

[@ian_worth]

Thats awesome, I hope you got some great photos in Scotland 👍

[@richardmarsh6357]

Another excellent video and some useful tips. I have been trying out a travel monopod as a way of steadying my shots for slower shutter speeds . It is quicker to use and move from one position to another than a tripod, but offers a little more steadiness than relying on handheld - even though I have IBIS on my XT5.

[@ian_worth]

Thats awesome 👍

[@ExposedInNature]

Great video Ian. I have been a proponent of Ibis for a long time having used Pentax cameras since the K10D but even I was blown away when I got my first mirrorless Olympus E-M5 mark ii and while on family holiday managed a beautifully sharp flowing creek shot handheld at 1.5 secs. It's so liberating and now I dread lugging around a tripod. Thanks for the great work!

[@ian_worth]

The Olympus cameras are some of the best around for handheld long exposures 👍

[@mvo5720]

Nice one Ian, your tips and advice are much appreciated as are your video's photographs and enthusiasm. Thank you. Cheers 🍷.

[@ian_worth]

Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@h.o.j2375]

With my R6Mkii I’m able to do 4sec exposure handheld with tac sharp image, taking my environment into consideration though I was indoor without any wind messing it up.

[@ian_worth]

Thats amazing 👍

[@AndyBurton]

Hi Ian. Many thanks for another wonderful insight. Your timing is perfect as we're off on a family holiday soon to a Greek island we've been to before. I have a shot in mind that I want to re-take using some of the techniques I've learnt over recent months watching your videos. With limited luggage allowance plus the humping the gear around in hot weather, today's video has saved the day. Always appreciated.

[@ian_worth]

Thats awesome, Greece is so nice, I hope you have a wonderful time 👍

[@jacquesgiard6943]

Thanks!

[@ian_worth]

Thanks so much, that is really kind 🙏

[@simonmaney3438]

Great points, thanks. As a long time tripod user, I've started to embrace and rely on stabilization more and more, and not have to use my tripod. However, I've noticed one important downside to handheld (which will vary between users) - Accurate compositions. I often have elements close to the corners and edges, balancing and completing the scene. Those distances are critical, and very difficult to do accurately HH. I could crop later but I don't like losing the resolution, if I can help it.

[@ian_worth]

So true, one of the reasons I enjoy a geared head is because of the fine tuning that it allows,

[@ianpullinger4785]

Another great video chocked full of useful tips. I bought your Landscape Photography eBook yesterday as a birthday present for myself and really enjoying the content. The photographs bring back memories of past videos and already finding some great advice in the first few pages.

[@ian_worth]

Thank you so much, that means a lot 🙏

[@pentax-paul.]

Some really good tips there, thank you , Ian . A small compromise is to carry a mini tripod , they dint weigh much , dint take up so much space , personally I love my manfrotto mini pixi evo tripod , it's a great mini tripod , if I'm not taking my " big" tripod I usually take my mini just in case , and you can sometimes use a rock , wall , tree stump etc as a stable platform .

[@ian_worth]

I have that same mini tripod, it is very helpful in certain situtaions

[@binzauk]

As someone who wears spectacles (long-sighted and with a stigma) I don't find it particularly easy to use a viewfinder and prefer using the LCD screen. In the past I have found that hand holding while looking at the LCD screen was not the ideal base for a pin sharp focus, especially when shooting a long exposure, which I like to do. As you say, the modern cameras with their improvements in image stabilisation technology has really enabled me, on occasions such as long walks or family days out, to leave my tripod at home. I still use my tripod when I go on my 'photography shoots' when I want to, and can, take my time composing my shots, or when shooting at longer than 1/2 second, or long focal ranges. I use APS-C mirrorless cameras, namely a Sony A6600 or Fuji XT-5, which also helps when hand holding and using an LCD screen as they tend to be lighter than the older DSLRs or full frame cameras. I also use the 2 second self-timer, to help re-steady myself after pressing the shutter. Although, it is surprising how long 2 seconds are when you are trying to keep as still as possible!

[@ChrisBrown-gu4ki]

A very useful video, love the tip about using back button focus. I must really try to get my head around it.

[@ian_worth]

Glad it was helpful! 👍

[@leimleim]

3:00 great rule of thumb but remember that the focal length is in referece to full frame, so, you should include the cropping factor in ASP-C.

[@ian_worth]

Yes, very true, I should have mentioned that 👍

[@Ed-davies]

Great video Ian, I am ashamed to admit that I don’t explore Bannau Brycheiniog, despite only being about 30-40mins away from me, the pull of my native north Wales is too great for me.

[@ian_worth]

The North keeps pulling me too, I love it up there 👍

[@Ian-sv7py]

Many thanks for the tips, I will put them to good use, and your images along the way, beautiful. I have recently come across your channel and now subscribe to it. Thanks Ian

[@ian_worth]

Wonderful! thanks for subscribing 🙏

[@lawryblakey1584]

Thanks

[@ian_worth]

Thank you so much, that's really kind 🙏

[@jacsbill1981]

Love the focus stacking tip. Thank you.

[@ian_worth]

You are so welcome!

[@colinyoung9432]

Another great informative video Ian...thank you Colin Devon.

[@ian_worth]

Thanks Colin, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@Dreken1963]

Bedankt

[@andy_simmo]

Great video Ian and donated to ko-fi 👍

[@ian_worth]

Thanks so much, thats very helpful 🙏🙂

[@DavidEatwell]

Went to 4 waterfall today in the brecons lovely place

[@ian_worth]

Yes, such an awesome spot 👏

[@brentwestbrook]

I'm a capable photographer bur creating steady videos is a great mystery. What are you using to create walking, panning and tilting videos that are steady out in the field?

[@ian_worth]

I'm using the dji action 4 for the walking shots, 👍

[@scotskinner4350]

I shoot handheld a lot. Although I do use the tripod when doing macro photography and I need to get the camera into some weird location.

[@ian_worth]

Great tip 👍

[@johnclarke1319]

Still wearing a winter weather hat! when will you shoot in nice weather!

[@kategreig38]

Great video. You look like Dave Grohl in the thumb nail 🎸😄

[@ian_worth]

🤘

[@Travelingseniors-xt9yh]

I shoot with an OM1 and 1 or 2 sec exposure is not even a challenge. I have done 5 and 10 sec hand held with success. It also has in camera stacking, camera does the heavy lifting.

[@ian_worth]

It really is an awesome camera 👍

[@dronepilotcontractors4094]

Hi Ian, does a Monopod figure into your use?

[@ian_worth]

I sometimes pop one leg down on my tripod when i'm in the water shooting seascapes.

[@josephtitus5459]

For about 9/10 scenarios you don’t need a tripod when you have ibis. Ibis in some cameras such as Olympus cameras are even good enough for long exposure waterfalls.

[@ian_worth]

very true

[@petemellows]

One thing I learned the hard way was to turn off stabilisation when the shutter speed is pushing 1/1000s

[@ian_worth]

interesting, which camera are you using?

[@petemellows]

@@ian_worth I use a Pentax K1MII. I could quite work out what was happening; the image had a weird shift, almost like it captured the sensor movement. Turning off stabilisation solved it.

[@richyw959]

Dragged my tripod all the way to Iceland never used it once. Won’t make that mistake again again.

[@ian_worth]

I bet that was a lesson well learned 👍

[@DawnToDawn]

Tripod helps, especially when you recording videos longer then a minute and become burden when I don't need it 😂.

[@ian_worth]

So true 🙂

[@DarknightHEK]

First

[@Flakfritz]

Das Argument, dass man nicht immer ein Staiv nutzen kann, ist ein Argument gegen das Stativ? Nun, man kann nicht für jede Reise ein Flugzeug nutzen. Sind diese deshalb schlecht? Was ist das für eine Argumentation?

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

If you don't know when you need a tripod, nobody can help you.

[@dvongrad]

I’ll have to call you out on this one. How do we really know you’re not showing the images shot with a tripod and editing the video to make it appear that you’re not using one? It certainly appears you have one with you from about 6:10 to 7:00 of the video. I’ve never been to the UK, so I don’t know how far the location is away from your house, but if it was anything substantial, there’s no way you would shoot everything completely handheld if they were important photos. No, you don't need a tripod for everything given IBIS and stabilized lenses. If anyone is concerned about the extra weight of a tripod, an option is the PlatyPod or something similar. Technically still a tripod, it uses spiked feet and it’s made of high-quality metal that is flat enough to fit in a camera bag sleeve. I’m sure it would’ve worked quite nicely on the rock beside you when you took the waterfall shots near the start of the video.

[@ian_worth]

Yes, all photos from this trip were handheld, I used the tripod to film the video parts for this KZbin video. What would be the point of lying to you? I had a 1 and a half hour drive to this location and was confident that shooting down to 1/2 a second that everything would be sharp. No problem

[@brucelevine4904]

Thanks!

[@ian_worth]

Thanks so much, you are very kind 🙏🙏🙂