I don’t always keep my camera on a tripod when I’m on my trips. There are too many missed opportunities for great photos when you limit yourself to only taking photos using a tripod. I think some of my best photos have been taken while just holding the camera. If there is enough light and you are using a fast shutter speed and your camera has really good stabilization in the body or lens, take the camera off the tripod and experiment!

Below are two photos I took on my last trip. The first one is of moss covered boulders along Burney Creek. I didn’t need a tripod for this shot. There was a large amount of light and I was able to use a fast shutter speed. My camera also has in-body stabilization which helps quite a bit.

The second photo is a one second exposure of Burney Creek. I wanted to try something different, so a longer exposure was what I thought would be interesting. I’ve seen other photographers do photos like this, so I was pretty happy with the end result. Long exposures like this require a very still camera, so I used my tripod for it.

I hope everyone is having a fun holiday season. Try and take time out from your busy schedule and do something you enjoy. We’re all living in such a fast paced world. Sometimes you need to slow down and enjoy those great seasonal moments. Go look at holiday lights or eat at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try or read that book you’ve been wanting to read. The possibilities are endless…

Have a great week everyone!