We've said this here before, but it bears repeating: Your tripod is the second or third most important piece of equipment in your digital photography kit. Whether it ranks ahead of or behind your lens depends entirely on how long your lens is. Jason Dunn of Digital Media thoughts has been thinking about tripods a little lately, and points to what is one of the most in-depth onsiderations of tripod choice I've ever read. Ian of ClubSNAP gives nice rundown of eight differnt factors to consider when chosing a tripod, from height, to weight, to locking mechanisms. Unfortunately he doesn't get around to heads, but we'll save that for another time, I guess. I'd call this a must read for anyone considering buying their first "good" tripod. In the end of course, he comes back to the old advice: take your gear down to a good camera shop and try out as many tripods as you can, get a feel for what's available and then purchase on what you like to use and what you consider to be good value for money. And just ...

A friend of mine, C.K. (those of you who read TUAW know him), is in the market for a new tripod. This got me thinking about tripods, and I thought I'd put this question to all of you: what's in your bag? Do you have a cheapie from the local camera store? One of the Bogen rebranded Manfrottos so many pros on the go swear by? A top of the line Gitzo with ballast hook that cost more than most people's monthly mortgage payments? Is it chunky and steady, or lightweight enough to carry in your pack and maybe double a s ski pole? Personally, I make do with a decently stable but by no means spectactular alluminum job that's a Ritz-branded hand-me-down. It gets the job done most of the time, but in a strong beeze I start looking for a convenient rock or low wall to set my camera on. We don't talk much about tripods here at The Digital Photography Weblog. That's probably a mistake. Quite frankly though, there isn't a lot to say. The basic design evolves only slowly and even materials and construction only undergo ...

Gitzo, the first people to introduce carbon fiber tripods for professional photographers, announced a new product line today, the 6X series. The new tripods are made out of a sturdier new fiber with more layers (six, to be exact) that has allowed them to reduce the thickness of the tube wall in the legs from 1.5mm to 1mm, and reduce weight by an overall 17% compared to their Mountaineer tripods. If my math is correct, that means the lightest should weigh in somewhere around just over 1/3 lb. The tripods will also feature a new quick set locking system and integrated spring-loaded hooks for attaching ballast. Their rep says they started shipping this week, and should arrive at on-line retailers and stores near you soon. The Gitzo website hasn't been updated with the press release or other information yet, but it's a good bet that the details of different models wil start appearing over the next few days. ...

Ok, maybe not the "ultimate tripod," as the site claims--that distinction probably goes to the Reis J series or the Berlebach UNI series--but undeniably a nifty little gadget. Monster Pod is a little blob of "viscoelastic morphing polymer" (read syntetic gecko foot) that will stick to just about anything, including round railings, rough tree bark, and, in the picture at left, the smooth fiberglass palm of a Mickey Mouse statue. The sellers claim it will hold a 10oz. digicam on just about any surface for up to 10 minutes. Sorry, nothing big enough for DSLRs yet, They're working on a larger, stronger model, but no word yet on when it may hit the store. Evan over at Engadget doesn't seem to think much of it, but I think it's a great tool for doing what it's designed to do: letting people take snapshots with themselves in the picture. It should also help steady any camera for long hand-held exposures. as always, i reserve judgement until I actually see one, but if it behaves as advertised when ...

With the 4th of July (and Bastille Day, and a whole host of other regional  excuses to set off large explosions in the Midsummer sky) in the offing, John Watson has a short tutorial on shooting fireworks. there are thousands of tutorials on this subject out there, but he boils it down to the essentials: use a reasonably slow ISO setting (100-200); don't forget the tripod; exposure = length of trail; aperture = brightness of trail. Working out the timing so that the starburst is centered wherever you've aimed the tripod is left as an exercise for the reader. ...

Nikonians - the international club/forum for Nikon owners - has a small competition for registered users. Answer the 14 questions survey and you could win a Markins 3D Ballhead. This is a smaller and lighter head than the Markins M20 and the Markins M10 and is ideal for light tripods and monopods, like the Gitzo G11XX series or the Manfrotto 190 (Bogen 3001). Fill out the questionnaire here. ...

Tripod maker Manfrotto has announced two new 3-way heads, available later this year. The 808RC4, which will replace the 329RC4 (pictured right), is made out of a lightweight polymer and features a spirit level and adjustable-tension counterbalance springs on both the horizontal and vertical tilt that can support equipment up to 17.6 lbs. the 804RC2 has a level and a counterbalance on the vertical tilt that will support up to 8.8lbs. [via Let'sGoDigital] ...

Kate Moss and the Nikon Coolpix S6 - it's an advert, not smut... [video] PhotoFinale - another photo storage, basic manipulation package aimed at the amateur, free version available [website] Michael Jackson is upset over a series of spoof photographs; and who can blame himi especially the one set in a cinema [news] Problems with those rough edges to your tripod? A leg wrap is what you need squire [details] Not something I have encountered but the Photoshop 'halo problem on the horizon' gets sorted by Aravind Krishnaswamy [website] Blogcritics.org have a flick through the Photoshop Digital Studio Cookbook Series [book review] ...

Today's DPOD is "Wooded Shoreline" by Joshua Bardwell :   Exif Info: Camera: Konica Minolta MAXXUM 7D Exposure: 0.011 sec (1/90) Aperture: f/11 Focal Length: 105 mm ISO Speed: 125 Exposure Bias: 0 EV Flash: Flash did not fire Photographer Says: Shot near Nelson, B.C. I did a multiple exposure in camera raw: once to expose for the trees and then a much lower exposure to keep the detail in the water from getting blown out. Then I used composite masking to put them together. I used Color Balance to add green to the shadows of the trees layer. I find that this gives trees and leaves a nice richness without making them look unreal. I flirted with making the water bluer, but decided that it looked best as-is. Editor Notes: Great technique thanks for the detailed explanation! If you want to try the same technique as x-man1 then don't forget to bring your tripod with you. ...

Today's DPOD is by  rundfunk:   Exif Info: Camera:   Canon EOS 20D Exposure:  1 sec (1) Aperture:  f/5 Focal Length:  28 mm ISO Speed:  800 Exposure Bias:  0/2 EV Flash:  Flash did not fire Expsosure Mode: Shutter Priority Photographer's Notes:  That's the view down Fillmore Street in the Marina District of San Francisco. I was up on the roof of a building on the backside of the hill that is Pacific Heights.  Unfortunately, no tripod…Instead, I was sitting in a chair with my elbows resting on my thighs for support. Also I was using Canon's 28-135mm lens, which has image stabilization built-in, so it let me cheat and handhold a 1 second shot.   ...

A long trip abroad or a short weekend break? Do you take every piece of kit you have or restrict yourself to just the essentials? Luminous-landscape.com has just completed a two week trip to China - his writings on what worked and what didnt makes for interesting reading. Not being a pro myself, and still building up my kit from scratch means I do not have half the decisions to make as he did. "In addition I carried my Gitzo 1439 tripod with Gitzo Leveling Base and Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead, packed in my clothing duffle bag. In a separate briefcase I carried an Apple 12" Powerbook, a Lacie 60GB hard disk and Lacie 80GB hard disk, an Epson P2000, and a pair of small Canon IS binoculars. A Palm PDA and a Garmin GPS filled out the briefcase along with the usual travel documents, books and magazines. All of the cables and chargers needed were packed in small stuff sacks, which were carried in the clothing duffle. The duffle also, obviously, contained enough clothes for two ...

Slashfood has just detailed the Michael Ray Foodblog. It is not really a blog - no comments/feedback, chronological organisation etc etc. But what the Michael Ray Foodblog offers though is a collection of interesting articles covering the capture of food photographs. There is a set of images covering the set-up for a food shoot - more tree/less tree, pot plant/no pot plant. Each image has comments on the photographers thought process with each prop tweak or lighting change. The basics are covered well including lighting setups to reveal texture and the related subject of sheen and reflections. On the same theme, Still Life With, (and this is a proper blog) offers plenty of tips on food photography tips. Recent posts cover selecting a tripod, HDR photography and Composition. I actually prefer this blog to the Michael Ray one. [Photo Andrew Barrow]   ...

So we have all gone out and spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on our digital camera. Then we have spent hundreds of dollars on tripods, and lenses, and bags. Well here are a few inexpensive items that you have overlooked that should be in everyones gig bag. They can get you out of trouble in a pinch and they are less than $10. The Lens Cleaning Kit from Adorama… $9.99 Love you camera by keeping it clean, it takes just a few minutes and will extend the life of your camera and your lens. This is a must have for every camera owner (beach sand is a digital camera's worst enemy). U/V Lens Filter from Sunpak… $9.99 If your lens sports threads and can take filters you owe it your camera/lens to put a UV filter on it. It increases contrast and color saturation by reducing the amount of ultarviolet light coming into the lens. More importantantly it protects the lens from scratches (much cheaper to replace than a new lens). Cap of Pringles or Tennis Ball ...

New to photography and looking for some simple no nonsense advice? http://www.justshowmehowto.com  is a new site that offers a range of video-on-demand downloads of photo and camera tips. The team behind the site includes Kevin Gilbert, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and five-time president of the White House News Photographers Association and Alex Stevens , an award-winning TV producer and former Head of Production at Discovery Networks.  is a new site that offers a range of video-on-demand downloads of photo and camera tips. The team behind the site includes Kevin Gilbert, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and five-time president of the White House News Photographers Association and Alex Stevens , an award-winning TV producer and former Head of Production at Discovery Networks. There are two groups of videos - 'How To' on operating a number of cameras at $3.99 each and 'Take Better Pictures' at $1.99 each. I have had a preview of several of the videos. Each were three minutes of video ...

Nikonians, the on-line Nikon owners community, has initiated the NikSecure insurance program specifically for members. Gold, silver, and Platinum-level Nikonians are eligible to insure their equipment, up to a replacement cost of $20,000 dollars. Policies start at $150/yr for $5,000 USD coverage. The insurance, provided through German company Nuernberger Insurance covers loss, theft, or damage worldwide, including while equipment is in transit when being shipped to the factory for repair or refurbishment. If your camera is insured for a value less that the maximum for your policy (the choices are $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, or $20,000) you can optionally list other photographic equipment like tripods, heads, and lenses on the policy as well. Other optical equipment such as binoculars and telescopes is not covered. All-in-all, it doesn't seem like a bad deal. The premiums are pretty much in line with homeowners' riders, and cover a wide variety of situations--like accidental damage--that aren't normally covered ...