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.
3 Responses to “Ground Level Setup for Your Tripod”
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HDR Photography Tutorial: Processing Window Light
How do you go about HDR processing the prison cell dominated by dark shadows? In this tutorial, post-production instructor, Tony Sweet, will take you through the steps. “I shot very long exposures,” he explains, “and this helped capture the details.” In Photomatix tone mapping, he starts with the default setting and makes the adjustments including…
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Processing the Chaplin’s Office
How do you process an HDR image that includes extremes of light in an old prison? In this how-to editing video, post-production instructor Tony Sweet takes you through the procedure. He sandwiches the eight exposures into one HDR photograph, moves it into Photomatix. Using the tools, he pushes the contrast way up, then dials up…
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HDR Tutorial: Learn How to Capture and Process Images – Course Preview
You’ve seen the beautiful landscape photographs that capture bright sunlight and dark shadows. You’ve heard about the method, HDR: High Dynamic Range Photography. You want to learn more. In this HDR tutorial series, your instructor, author and educator, Tony Sweet, guides you through the entire process, from capturing the on-sight images to HDR processing at…
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HDR Photography Tips for Post Processing
Post production instructor, Tony Sweet, has captured the HDR images in the old prison room under difficult lighting conditions. “It’s my favorite room in the prison,” Tony explains, “because of the various light sources and colors.” The next step is processing the mixed light. You will learn tone mapping in the Photomatix software. Tony starts…
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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.