Gear

Tripods

Throughout my 20 year career as a professional flower and garden photographer I have always used Manfrotto tripods - and frankly I would not want to switch. The best one is the 058 - it is the strongest tripod I have come across - able to hold rock still all cameras including the heavyweight medium format Hasselblad and Pentax 6x7 and Digital SLR's with long lenses attached. Yesterday I was shooting a garden near Manchester and I had my Canon IDS MK II with a 180mm macro lens attached - and the pictures were pin sharp with no hint whatsoever of camera shake (the lens is over 1 foot long with its lens hood). The 058 is a sturdy beast, strong but incredibly easy to use. The way that all three legs slide up and down simultaneously by pressing just two leg release levers means that I can set up in a matter of seconds - essential when photographing in gardens at dawn when the light is often changing by the second.

The legs, as well as moving up and down simultaneously, can be quickly moved up and down individually as well, again using the leg release levers. In addition, the mobile junction ring is lockable in any position along the centre column - aiding a speedy tripod set - up. I often take pictures of gardens and borders from a high viewpoint using a metal stepladder - and the 058 is superbly strong and sturdy even when the legs and centre column are extended to their maximum height - almost 8 foot.

The 058 also has rubber feet with retractable spikes. I find the spikes are great when I am shooting in the garden as they add rigidity to my set up by digging into lawns and damp ground, whereas the rubber feet are great when I need the tripod to stand firm on patios and rooftop gardens.

I have also been using the Manfrotto 410 geared head in conjunction with the 058 tripod. The head offers precise geared movement in 3 directions - pan, tilt and levelling - but you can also make rapid adjustments by using one hand to rotate the control rings through 90 degrees in a clockwise direction, whilst using the other hand to move the camera to the desired position.Releasing the control ring locks the head immediately in position - again speeding up the time needed to get the camera in the correct position.

Buy this tripod here

Buy this head here