Had to pick between a tripod and a monopod for night shooting in Portland

I was out in Portland last month doing night shots of the bridges. My buddy swore a monopod would be enough. Said tripods are too bulky for city walking. I went with the tripod anyway. Big mistake. Carrying that thing up Burnside for 2 miles was brutal. But the shots came out crystal clear. His monopod shots had motion blur on every single one. So I got sharp photos, but my shoulder hated me. Anyone else deal with this trade off?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_brown12d ago

Did you try a lighter carbon fiber tripod or just stick with the cheap aluminum one?

mitchell.wade12d ago

Man that's just how it goes with gear sometimes. You trade one pain for another. Reminds me of those cheap headphones that sound great but fall apart in six months versus the expensive ones that last forever but sound flat. With photography there's always a catch. Tripod gives you sharpness but kills your back. Monopod saves your arm but the photos look like you were dancing. Portland hills don't help either. You basically have to decide which kind of regret you want to live with that night.