Ditch The Tripod This Winter

Award-winning photographer Jason Parnell-Brookes lightens your load with his advice on handheld shooting

- Jason Parnell-Brookes

I know many photographers who swear by their tripod. They don’t leave home without it. While I’m inclined to agree that tripods are essential for a number of photographic styles, I certainly don’t think we should be carrying our tripod with us everywhere we go. In fact, there are many situations where shooting with a tripod isn’t just non-essential, it’s downright restrictive! Think of a chaotic children’s birthday party. It would be near-impossible to set up your tripod and capture all the action. Shooting handheld means you can recompose quickly, shoot lower to the ground or high above your head, travel lighter, and react to action that would otherwise pass you by. There really is no reason not to ditch the tripod.

Challenges setting up

There are many benefits to ridding yourself of a restrictive tripod. Without those three legs it’s easy to shoot on any terrain – sloping, uneven or otherwise. It’s quicker to start shooting, too, because there’s no faffwith flailing rubber feet or a ball head that won’t lock securely. A good tripod can be expensive with lightweight carbon fibre legs and strong tripod heads capable of taking heavy loads upwards of several hundred or even thousands of pounds. So without breaking the bank, or your back, you can shoot handheld instead and save a world of hassle.