Hi, I attach a monopod to the lens and I rest it on my shoulder when I walk. The lens is the Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6. Heavy lens, but nice results!

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... Excellent photos! No cellphone can beat this perfection.

My two cents here... Did you consider buying a monopod? I never use a tripod, only a monopod. It is lightweight, easy to pack and versatile.

Hi Robert,

Here is my humble advice. I've taken a lot of photo of large groups when I was a political advisor (usually 5, 8...up to 20... and 50-70 on rare occasions. For a very large group:
1- Bring a medium size ladder. It will help you to get the last rows and to shoot over the tall guys.
2- Place the VIPs on the front row.
3- Curiously, let the others to assemble at their will, but making sure you have empty space around the edges of your frame.
4- Say to the guys: "If you do not see me with your two eyes, you will not be good on the photo..." That way, each person will find a way to have at least half of her face in the camera view.
5- You say to the guys, "Look a me!" showing your lens. "Oops! Sir, with the blue shirt, you are not looking a me". The distracted others will follow suit...
6- You say "OK, I will make a test, look at me! 3, 2, 1... click" In fact, it is not a test, you take 3 or 4 photos: they are your backup, and maybe one of these is the photo of the day! Make the final adjustments with the distracted guy...
7- Finally, you say, "OK guys, this is the historic moment! Your best smile...3, 2, 1...click...another one...3, 2, 1, click...And a last one...3,2,1...Final click.

Why the 3, 2 ,1? You do not want the guys to force a smile for 20 seconds... Often, amateur photographers do not give directions, so the poor "models" do not know when to hold their composure.

Please forgive this step by step advice. I hope it will be useful.

If possible, bring a back up camera. And don't forget, work with the sun in your back.

Pierre Bouillon

...Cozy, when it is cold outside. I took this photo in a rural house, in February 2021, during a winter vacation in Saint-Laurent-de-L'Île-d'Orléans (province of Québec, Canada). Photo: Pierre Bouillon.

Hi Jeffy,
I did a safari in Tanzania in 2015. I did not bring a tripod, and, if I had to go there again, I would not bring one. You will probably "hunt" aboard a Land Cruiser. A tripod would not be practical. You can rest the camera on the roof or the edge of the vehicle. You can also rest the camera on a small bean bag. That said, should you want to cover your bets, bring a monopod. Have a nice trip!