Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com> wrote: > Please clarify tripods not working in dense brush, Doug. Tripods grab every bit of vegetation near them, even tripods with knurled lock rings. In order to set up a tripod one must have the legs fully spread before placing the tripod on the ground because the leg will grab the veggies and refuse to be spread otherwise. This means that you either find a bare patch of ground to spread the legs, then pick the tripod up lifting it 2 or more feet in the air with a 560mm lens perched on top, while the tripod head is trying to loosen enough that the lens tilts down and crashes onto the photographer's hands or head, and carry it in this fasion to the desired location. Alternatively, pick the spot where you want the tripod, pick the entire assembly up (2 or more feet into the air) and while holding it at this height and watching for the loose-head crash, use another free hand to spread the legs. Upon setting the tripod down you've found that the deer has moved just enough that a tall weed between you and the deer is in front of its face, and you need to move the tripod 3 inches to the left. Up the tripod goes, 2 or more feet in the air, the deer sees this strange object with its flopping-over lens growing really tall and thrashing about, and decides the grass is greener on the other side of the meadow. Just as well, the deer realizes, 'cuz the place he just left soon has the stench of foul language. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html