Do You Always Need a Tripod for Landscape Photography?

When you think of landscape photography, you probably automatically assume the usage of a tripod, but it is not always a necessary tool, and in fact, it can even be a detriment. In fact, a tripod can actually end up being a hindrance, and this fantastic video discusses why you might want to keep your camera in your hands more often. 

Coming to you from Henry Turner, this great video discusses the benefits of going without a tripod for landscape photography. Personally, I think this is something that gets overlooked quite a bit. Of course, we use tripods to ensure maximum sharpness, particularly when using longer shutter speeds that are common for landscape work. And while a tripod is definitely necessary for those situations, there are plenty of shots that can be taken handheld, and the advantage of that is that you are freed up to take many more shots and explore a lot more than you would be able to if you were tethered to a tripod. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Turner. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi." 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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Enjoyed that, and I agree, good in body image stabilization is key to tripod freedom. I've enjoyed IBIS in all of my Pentax DSLRs so most of my landscape photography has been tripod free. Ironically, I'm only now more intentionally bringing a tripod along for the occasional shot when needed.