Tripod

Ah, tripods. Those cumbersome, awkward, and yet completely necessary tools of the trade for Urbexers everywhere. Sure, they can be a pain to lug around, set up, and take down, but they’re absolutely essential for getting that perfect shot. Or are they?

In darker situations, there simply isn’t enough light to create a well-exposed image. Without enough light, the camera sensor struggles to capture enough information to create a sharp and detailed image. So in low light situations, the camera will need to use a slower shutter speed to capture enough light. This slow shutter speed will lead to camera shake, resulting in blurred or shaky images. But why bother with stability and sharpness when you can embrace the chaos and unpredictability of hand-held shots, you may ask ?

Using a tripod inUrbex settings offers several benefits:

Stability: it provides a stable platform to keep the camera still, reducing the risk of camera shake and producing sharp, clear images.
Consistency: By keeping the camera in the same position, you can take multiple shots from the same angle and distance, creating consistent images. This is a must when you braket your images for HDR.
Flexibility: it can help you to take photos in a range of situations, such as low light or long exposures, where hand-holding the camera results in blurry, out-of-focus images.
Composition: it enables you to take your time to compose your shot, as you can adjust the camera’s position and angle with greater precision.
Light Painting: the tripod’s stability allows the Urbexers very long exposure times, making it the ideal tool for light painting.

Creative Control: it allows you to experiment with different shutter speeds, apertures, and ISO settings, as well as use different lenses or filters without worrying about camera shake.

On the other hand, for some urebexers, this is also part of the problem : they’re just too damn stable. I mean, where’s the fun in that? Why settle for a perfectly composed, sharp image when you could go for the blurry, shaky, “artsy” look instead? Anyways, who needs a tripod when you can just lean your camera on a friend’s head? LOL

There are however several alternatives to both tripods and your friend’s head, depending on specific situation and desired outcome.

• Monopod: a single-legged support used to stabilize a camera. Particularly useful for situations where you need to move around quickly or where a tripod would be impractical. However, it doesn’t provide the same level of stability.
• Beanbag: can be used as a simple and inexpensive camera support. It can be placed on a flat surface such as a rock or a wall, to stabilize your camera.
• Wall or ground support: Sometimes, you can use a nearby wall, tree or other sturdy object as a support for your camera.
• Handheld: In some situations where you need to move around quickly, handheld photography may be the best option. However, it can be challenging to get sharp images without a support. Fast shutter is therefore essential.
• Image stabilization: Many modern cameras and lenses have built-in image stabilization technology. This can reduce camera shake and produce sharper images, especially when shooting handheld.

Finally, let’s not forget the social aspect of using a tripod. Sure, it’s a great way to look like a serious Urbexer, but it also screams “HEY EVERYONE, LOOK AT ME, I’M TAKING A PICTURE!”

So, tripodes only work when you think “Who needs to blend in and capture candid moments when I can draw attention to myself and ruin the moment entirely?”