Camera Labs

I recently returned from the Caribbean where I took 1700 shots on beaches, in the cities, in rain forests, on the boat, on a catamaran etc. with no tripod. I get back and I watch the training videos and most are taking significant time setting up on a tripod but advising hey look up, look back, look around for additional shots. Long and short of it, fooling with the tripod recently in some secent pristine wooded areas pretty much sapped my creative juices and the pace with which I was composing and taking shots. Is it possible outside of the obvious shots with very slow shutter speed to have a really good IS lens and let it fly without issues? I trashed only a few of the cruise shots due to camera shake. I am a beginner from the standpoint of using an DSLR.

With modern day cameras, dont be scared to push the ISO up if you're experiencing camera shake, but yes a tripod can be handy.

_________________
Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

It's horses for courses really. When travelling you don't necessarily have the time to set up a tripod and it can slow things down dramatically - you're right. Also, when you're travelling, you may not be in the right place at the right time/light/sun position so oyu just try to grab the shot you're after.

However, if you're being a bit more considered with your shooting and want to frame a shot critically, then the tripod is the way to go. Using filters to create an effect, or bracketing multiple images for a later HDR or blend and a tripod's definitely more helpful, despite advances in DSLRs recently.

Whenever I'm travelling I have my tripod packed but only use it at dusk/night or very early morning. You also have to consider that if you are shooting around cities you will potentially get in the way and draw more attention to yourself, maybe missing the shot you're after.

As others have said - it's up to the photographer. Short answer - of course you can do fine without a tripod for anything but slow shutter shots, and if handheld is your preference, go to it. Personally, I only use a tripod when I know I'll be taking shots at shutter speeds of 1/2 second or less, consistently. Sometimes that may be daytime too, like when I'm using ND filters for long exposures...but generally, it's mostly at night. And sometimes even at night or for longish exposures, I didn't feel like bringing the tripod, or didn't necessarily plan on long exposures, and will get by handheld relying on image stabilization, a good steady stance, and/or something to lean on or support with.

Having traveled extensively through the Caribbean every year for the past 30 years...I can say I've only once ever had a tripod set up on island ground - to do some night shots of a ship at dockside. I've used tripods on board ships for long exposures, but for landscape, scenic, architecture, walkaround, and HDR, I've gone handheld.

_________________
Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

Really...come on...you should be able to take hand held shots...most of the time

Just got up early and set up my tripod to take a shot of the sunrise across the lake. Used my remote. Nice to see the same shot as the sun rose. Otherwise, I seem to be good hand-held. Certainly will need it with the slow shutter speed. That's my next training project. Perhaps some car trails.