Ground Level Setup for Your Tripod
Ian PlantDescription
There are times when you need to get down really low to capture a dramatic image. In this free video, world renowned outdoor photographer Ian Plant shows you various techniques of using tripods at ground level. A ground level adaptor removes the center column and allows the tripod legs to be spread within a few inches above ground level. Another style of tripod has a removable center column which screws out and lets you spread the legs to their full outright position for ground level shooting. To get even lower, you can use a bean bag to support your camera. You can also set your camera on the ground and support the lens with small rock or an object from your camera bag such as a filter case.
There maybe many times when you're taking pictures where it's advantageous to get down to ground level. So it's important to have a tripod, that can get you more or less down to ground level. Now, for this particular tripod I used a ground level adapter which removed the center column. And that allows me once I extend the legs fully, to get down more or less to ground level if we just imagined this table as being the ground you can see that I'm still a few inches off the ground but it gives me very, very low. Other tripods might have a removable center column. Like for example, with this tripod the center column easily unscrews out. And then I just need to do the same thing extending the legs to their full outright position. And that allows me to get down once again very close to ground level. If you wanna get even lower than this you have to get a little creative. Maybe you can use a small beanbag support or with certain scenes you might able to just go ahead and put your camera right on the ground and perhaps prop it up to position it with some small rocks or other personal effects. So there you have it. Some tripods might need a little modification to allow you to get down to ground level. Other tripods will get you there from the get-go. Either way it's usually pretty simple to get down to ground level.
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One of my friends used a cigarette packet one evening - it worked for him :) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br6fa7gFHqx/
I mounted my old Slik ball head to a piece of board, about 30 inches long and probably 4 inches front to back. I mounted the head a bit closer to the rear of the board to help out the balance, and I just lie on the ground and prop myself up a bit to shoot. Works fine for ground level shots of small critters and birds.
One way I've gotten down to ground level is to lay the tripod on its side, and adjust the head as needed. Sometimes the legs have to be weighted or head lifted onto something.