Tripods and Tripod Heads:

Expensive, Pro level camera bodies, and long fast lenses mesmerize many people who are new to photography. Well I'm going to let them in on a secret; the tripod is probably the most important piece of equipment for photographing natural subjects.

Most nature photography is done when the light is pretty bad. Animals tend to be active at dawn and dusk. Often the best light of the day is the golden light at sunrise or sunset. In addition, the most dramatic landscape opportunities are often during bad weather conditions (fog, snow, etc.). Since most nature photography is done under these conditions, slow shutter speeds are commonplace.

If your equipment is easy to maneuver, and rock solid when locked in position, you can get professional quality images with inexpensive cameras and lenses. On the other hand, the most expensive camera/lens combo in the world isn't likely to produce a publishable image if you hand-hold it in a low light situation.

The tripod makes it possible to get razor sharp shots under these conditions. However, it can be very frustrating if your tripod is cumbersome to use. In the field, you need a tripod that is both stabile and maneuverable. There are several alternatives available that meet the needs of nature photographers.

Tripods:

Gitzo and Manfrotto (formerly Bogen), both make several tripod models that are very useful for nature photography. They are stabile, flexible and the legs can be extended out so you can photograph close to the ground. In addition, they now make carbon fiber models that are incredibly light. The reduced weight can be a major consideration if you are carrying a lot of equipment, or if you are a small, or petite person.

Tripod Heads:

There are several different types of tripod heads. They are designed for different purposes. If you are using the appropriate head for the situation you are in, it can work like a dream and you may even forget that the camera is attached to anything at all. On the other hand, if you are using the wrong type of head, you will spend the day frustrated and cursing your equipment.

The most basic type of heads are Pan & Tilt heads. You adjust the cameras panning, vertical and horizontal positions by tightening and loosening a couple of levers. These types of heads are useful when photographing landscapes. However, they are too cumbersome for animals and insects.

The most versatile heads for nature work are ballheads. These are ball and socket type designs that move similar to a shoulder or hip joint. This allows for very quick, flexible movement. In addition, the better models can be firmly locked in position in an instant.

Many of these types of heads use a quick release system by which a plate is attached to the bottom of the camera or lens. The plate is designed to be quickly attached or removed from the tripod head. The most common quick release system is the Arca Swiss system and it is used by several different manufacturers. In addition, two companies (Kirk and Really Right Stuff) make quick release plates that are dedicated to different camera bodies and lenses. These plates fit flush against the camera or lens, regardless of the odd shapes of some camera body designs. They allow for a solid connection between camera/lens and the tripod head.

Some of the best designs are the Arca Swiss B1 Monoball and the Foba SuperBall. Kirk makes a head that has had some very favorable feedback. Really Right Stuff has recently introduced a line of ball heads that are getting rave reviews (and they ain't cheap). In addition, Linhoff, Manfrotto, Slik, Kaiser and Giottos make ball heads. Not all have the Arca Swiss type quick release system. However, Really Right Stuff makes a clamp that can be added to many models to convert it to an Arca Swiss type system.

If you have only used flimsy, cumbersome tripod/head combinations in the past, try to get hold of a quality tripod/ballhead system to fiddle with for a few hours. You will be quickly convinced of the advantage of that system.

The third type of tripod head is a gimbal-type head. These are odd-looking types of designs that look like the work of an amateur plumber. A company called Wimberley makes a head that is designed for very large (500mm, 600mm and 800mm) lenses. This head balances the camera lens combination, and allows for very smooth maneuvering even with the massive lenses. If you intend to photograph wildlife as it moves, this head is the most appropriate design. It is especially useful if you are photographing birds in flight.

Wimberley also makes a device called the SideKick. This is a device that is attached to an Arca Swiss type ballhead and it allows for gimbal-type movement with 300mm and 400mm lenses. (I have also seen it used with 500mm lenses, however, Wimberley recommends against this.)

Kirk makes a gimbal-type head that is about $150 less than the Wimberley. I have seen it in the field and it looks like it works pretty well. However, I have not heard any feedback from someone who has used both heads.

These are just some of the options available for supporting your camera/lens while photographing natural subjects. No tripod or head is perfect for all situations and you may need to play around with a few combinations until you find the combo that is best for your type of photo work. Once you do find a good combination, you will be very happy, and the quality of your images will improve dramatically.