Spend the bucks and get a good tripod and a good head. They are worth it. Actually, get TWO
heads, here’s why...
An Idea From Dean Collins
Here’s an idea I got from the late master photographer, Dean Collins. It was a technique I saw
him use for a portrait, but will work even better for macro photos.
He created a videotape series on creating great portraits and for one of the poses he had the
model lying on the ground facing the camera.
Wanting to shoot straight into her face - rather than down on her from a normal tripod mounted
position, he needed to get very low to the ground.
How did he do it?
He had a tripod head screwed onto a piece of plywood about 1 foot square and ¾ inch thick!
Forget the tripod - the piece of plywood was a very solid base and the head still allowed him to
tilt and turn the camera just like he would if it was on a normal tripod. WITH the added benefit
of being right down on the ground!
As far as stability goes – it was probably even more stable than using a tripod. For our macro
photography purposes, it would also be pretty easy to move around and get into a position to get
your bugs into focus.
This is a STELLAR idea. I’m surprised no tripod manufacturer has ever made a commercial
version. I’m sure it would be a good seller.
Selecting your tripod has good and bad points just like every other facet of photography. We’ve
discussed the various reasons for why you want a solid, sturdy tripod, now let’s talk about the
drawbacks.
The danger of getting a good, sturdy tripod is that it will be heavy. Lugging it around can be a
real hassle. It’s another trade-off. (All of photography is a series of trade-offs!) Don’t waste your
money on a tripod that is so heavy it is going to permanently live in the trunk of your car. Having
a tripod that you don’t use is no better than not having one at all.
Actually, now that I think of it, it’s worse... You had to spend your hard earned money to buy
the tripod.
If you must, get one that is a bit lighter. If that is what it takes to make you use it, so be it.
Whether you have a tripod with legs that can go all the way out, a reversible center column, a
center column that swivels or simply a piece of plywood with a tripod head – use it!