Camera on tripod with WINDY Conditions: Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to...

Transbuff1985 Loc: east central Iowa

Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to get any descent shots because the wind was so strong it just kept moving the telephoto lens like a leaf on a tree. The wind was strong enough it almost blew me off balance a couple of times so I am assuming it was over 30mph, with variable gusts. Any suggestions appreciated. Bob

Angmo

Keep your hand on top of the camera to further stabilize it. Get a sturdier heavier tripod. Bungiecord or tied it down it into one of those dog lawn screw things. I do that with studio lights outdoors too. Tent stakes. Stand on the windy side to further shield the camera from wind.

anotherview Loc: California

You can suspend a sandbag from the tripod. Some tripods come with a hook for this purpose.

Transbuff1985 wrote:

Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to get any descent shots because the wind was so strong it just kept moving the telephoto lens like a leaf on a tree. The wind was strong enough it almost blew me off balance a couple of times so I am assuming it was over 30mph, with variable gusts. Any suggestions appreciated. Bob

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Just hang on baby.

I was in Death Valley, at Zabriskie Point at sunset, hoping to get some night sky shots, sitting on a concrete bench, my tripod about 30" off the ground, D850 and 28-300 lens. Gusts were pushing the tripod back towards me, even with the weight of my camera bag. Decided it was time to fold and get back to the hotel.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Sure. Lots of times.

No idea whether or not it can be found on line, but see if you can find any of the images from Fay Godwin's book, _Land_. She made wind her friend.

Thirty mph wind, even with variable and/or higher gusts, doesn't make shooting difficult, it only makes shooting challenging. Don't remember who it was --maybe Edward Weston or Paul Strand or somebody like that-- but one of those greats described waiting for that moment between when wind would blow something to its apogee, the subject would briefly 'stop', and return to its opposing pendulum swing. On your side of things, camera-wise, think sand bags or weights of some kind. And if these don't work for you, don't bother trying to use the 600mm lens?

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Transbuff1985 wrote:

Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to get any descent shots because the wind was so strong it just kept moving the telephoto lens like a leaf on a tree. The wind was strong enough it almost blew me off balance a couple of times so I am assuming it was over 30mph, with variable gusts. Any suggestions appreciated. Bob

Yes.. I carry a small cheap laundry bag or utility bag with draw strings (one of the cotton or canvas ones like you get at Walmart). I can fill it with rocks, sand or whatever and hang it from the center support on my tripod with the bag hanging just off of the ground. This adds several pounds of ballast to the tripod making it much more stable. Then, when I'm ready to leave, I empty the bag and move on. Later, if I need to, I can refill it at my next location. Yes, I know that there are many grassy/weedy or whatever spots where there is no easy sand or rocks, but I can usually find something, even hang my camera bag under it.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

anotherview wrote:

You can suspend a sandbag from the tripod. Some tripods come with a hook for this purpose.

Then you'd have a sandbag (or whatever) swinging in the wind along with the camera. A good tripod with a wide leg stance - Gitzo and RRS come to mind - and some real vigilance is the best solution. Or just go home and come back out later when the conditions are better.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Transbuff1985 wrote:

Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to get any descent shots because the wind was so strong it just kept moving the telephoto lens like a leaf on a tree. The wind was strong enough it almost blew me off balance a couple of times so I am assuming it was over 30mph, with variable gusts. Any suggestions appreciated. Bob

Sounds like you have a tripod or head is not strong enough. People often buy a tripod before they get that two ton tele. In windless conditions it may hold, but soon as the wind cranks up, it doesn't pass muster. If you tele doesn't have a lens mount to distribute the weight, another problem. Bottom line you may need to investigate a tripod and head that will hold the weigh of your camera and lens. The tripod pages usually have a suggested weight for what gear! This will likely take you the $250+ Range.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Gene51 wrote:

Then you'd have a sandbag (or whatever) swinging in the wind along with the camera. A good tripod with a wide leg stance - Gitzo and RRS come to mind - and some real vigilance is the best solution. Or just go home and come back out later when the conditions are better.

actually, you don't. You have the bag just touch the ground or put rocks around it.. Actually, unless the wind is really blowing.... the bag won't move at all because it is low and high mass. Yes there are good tripods with good support and many ALSO have a hook on the bottom of the center support and offer a weight bag. Hmmm why purchase it from them when you can make one that does EXACLY the same thing?

anotherview Loc: California

Yep.

dcampbell52 wrote:

Yes.. I carry a small cheap laundry bag or utility... (show quote)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Transbuff1985 wrote:

Has anyone ever ventured out for the day to take some photos, only to have the wind come up in the afternoon. Making it hard with a tripod to get any descent shots because the wind was so strong it just kept moving the telephoto lens like a leaf on a tree. The wind was strong enough it almost blew me off balance a couple of times so I am assuming it was over 30mph, with variable gusts. Any suggestions appreciated. Bob

Many, if not most good tripods have a hook under the tube between the legs to hang a weighted bag from for additional stabilization. But sometimes it is just going to be too windy, period.

Chaostrain Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon

Cany143 wrote:

Sure. Lots of times. br br No idea whether or no... (show quote)

I practiced the timing the wind thing yesterday. I did my first aperture priority shots of some tiny flowers. I got set up during the low points of the wind then wait for the right moment. It took a few tries but I got some good shots.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Gene51 wrote:

Then you'd have a sandbag (or whatever) swinging in the wind along with the camera. A good tripod with a wide leg stance - Gitzo and RRS come to mind - and some real vigilance is the best solution. Or just go home and come back out later when the conditions are better.

I use a sack of weights hung from the center pole of the tripod. The string is long enough so the weights rest partially on the ground. This eliminates the swing if the weights were suspended off the ground and the partial contact is enough to eliminate the swing but still provide enough weight to stabilize.

Agree with the other posts on using a more stable/sturdy tripod and realizing that any setup will have problems in high winds and it is time to pack it up.

anotherview Loc: California

You can also put a bubble level in the camera's hotshoe. It will show movement at the top of the camera, and thus to the lens.

So waiting until the bubble settles allows an unblurred image capture.

I've used a remote shutter trigger device, too. Then the hand never touches the camera to release the shutter.

Using mirror lockup will also subtract any movement from operation of the mirror.

The several techniques noted here and elsewhere can ensure a rock steady camera and lens when releasing the shutter.

hpucker99 wrote:

I use a sack of weights hung from the center pole of the tripod. The string is long enough so the weights rest partially on the ground. This eliminates the swing if the weights were suspended off the ground and the partial contact is enough to eliminate the swing but still provide enough weight to stabilize.

Agree with the other posts on using a more stable/sturdy tripod and realizing that any setup will have problems in high winds and it is time to pack it up.

cmc65

Another factor to consider is wether or not you are using an extended center column. If this is the case retract it completely or remove it altogether if possible. In a good wind there is too much play