Photography Monthly's tip week: Making the most of macro, Tip 2

Following yesterday’s tip in the first installment of our new weekly themes, it’s time to unveil tip two.

It’s day two of the Making the Most of Macro tip week so that means it’s time for the second tip to be explored.

Today’s tip, on the subject of macro photography is, tripod heaven:

When you’re belly-down on the forest floor, boots caked in mud and leaves building up around you, trying to get that perfect shot of a butterfly or fungi, the dreaded shakes can kick in.

Whether you’re edging ever closer to an insect that has fleetingly landed or there’s an interesting tree fungus that’s a little higher than you’d like, a shaky camera can spoil a perfect shot.

Having the anti-shake on can reduce the blur and distortion a little, but an unsteady hand is still an unsteady hand.

The best way to combat this is to have a decent tripod. Having a stable and reliable mount for your camera enables you to fiddle with the aperture, shutter speed and white balance as much as you like without losing the positioning or causing camera shake.

Firstly you want a good set of legs that are sturdy and easily adjustable. You also want a good strong central column that allows for smooth height changes. Lastly you want a decent tripod mount that moves easily, as the slightest adjustment to the camera can lead to big changes on the screen.

The leading names in tripod manufacturing are Benro, Giottos, Manfrotto and Vanguard. Visit their websites to explore their range of tripods and mounts and see what’s to your taste.

There are also mini tripods, which are great for getting down low and are easily maneuverable, available for DSLRs and can range from between £10 to £30. These are good for when your standard tripod can't quite get close enough and supports the camera while you adjust the settings.

When you’ve got to grips with your pod and accessories why not upload your perfectly composed, shake-free, macro photography to our online gallery and you could see your image featured as photo of the day!

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