Hear about new products and specials first with the NatureScapes.Net store newsletter!
Cleaning Supplies: Sensor Cleaning, Lenses and Other Equipment
Flash Accessories: The Need for Flash, Extending your Flash Range, and Flash Brackets
Camera Support
An often overlooked and underestimated but critical component in photography is proper camera support. Even the best glass and cameras aren't capable of their full potential if they are capturing images from an unstable platform.
Handholding
Generally, cameras with shorter focal length lenses may be handheld provided proper technique and adequate shutter speed. A good rule of thumb is that you should be able to handhold at shutter speeds equivalent to or exceeding 1 over your focal length. For instance, a 200mm lens could be handheld at 1/200th of a second shutter speed or faster. For cameras or lenses with anti-shake technology, handholding may be possible at lower shutter speeds. In other situations, or even if a camera could be handheld, adding sturdy support will improve your chances of sharper captures.
Tripods and Tripod Heads
The most common form of camera support is a tripod with head. There are plenty to choose from and if you are in the market it can be overwhelming. A few basic considerations can help you narrow the selection down considerably.
How do you plan to use your tripod? Are you going to hike with it and take landscape photographs, or use it with heavy super telephotos for birds, or for macro, or do you need it for a variety of applications? Consider weight if you will have to carry it a lot, collapsed length if you travel frequently, and minimum height if you need to use it ground level. Make sure it will fit your height and that you shop for the right tripod head as well.
What gear will the tripod be used with? Be sure the tripod and head are rated for the weight of your equipment. This is not an area to skimp on or overlook. If you've done your best to acquire the right camera and glass for your endeavors, the cost of the right tripod and head is a necessary expense to maximize your chances of optimal results.
Gitzo has earned a reputation for quality and performance among nature photographers, so the NatureScapes.Net store stocks a great selection of the most popular carbon fiber and basalt Gitzo tripods. Our stock includes:
Series 1 tripods for up to 200mm lenses, weighing about 2.5 pounds and are 21"-24" closed
Series 2 tripods for up to 300mm lenses, weighing about 3.1-3.6 pounds, and are 22"-25" closed
Series 3 tripods for up to 500mm lenses or professional medium format, weighing about 3.8-4.75 pounds, and are 22"-28" closed (note that while this series is not rated for 600mm, many photographers use this focal length with it successfully)
Series 5 tripods for up to 600mm lenses or medium and large format, weighing about 6.5-6.75 pounds, and are about 23" closed
In addition to sturdy tripods of lightweight carbon fiber or basalt, some features to look for include anti-leg rotation (when adjusting section the others on the same leg won't turn). On tripods with columns, look for the ground level set (removable column which saves weight and allows the tripod to go lower), rapid column (quick adjusting column), and a reversible column (invert the column to change angle or do low-level macro work).
Check our store pages for a list of the most popular tripods and their specifications 
NatureScapes.Net offers the Wimberley Head II and Wimberley Sidekick tripod heads, which are excellent for smooth movement of medium to super telephoto lenses.
Level Shooting
Worth noting is an accessory for the Gitzo 3, 4, and 5 series tripods. Using the Gitzo G1321 leveling base means you no longer have to try to level your camera with frustrating, minute tripod leg adjustments. Just set up the tripod and in one easy movement level the base! Coordinate with either your long lens detent or a camera mounted bubble level for horizontal / vertical alignment, then track your subjects in any direction with confidence that horizons are straight. This is especially useful in ensuring level reflections in scenes with water. Perfect for capturing images to stitch for panoramics!
Beanbags
Items offered for sale in the NatureScapes.Net store have been evaluated based on a number of factors. The beanbags we carry are great for shooting out of a vehicle: they can be emptied and take up virtually no room when traveling to your destination, you can use any number of common products for fill (beans, rice, birdseed, etc. found in just about any grocery store), and when shooting you can get a beanbag in and out of the window quickly. One small disadvantage is that the lens controls can sometimes get bumped while resting on the beanbag, so be sure to check them from time to time. Alternately, you can mount your setup onto the NatureScapes.Net Skimmer, whether on the Wimberley C-10 clamp, on a ballhead or a gimbal head, and rest that on top of a beanbag. This can be an excellent way to shoot from a vehicle.
 | The Kinesis SafariSack can be purchased empty or with poly fill. It can be used flat, or use the cinch straps to fold it and shoot off of it "saddlebag style." As the name implies, it's excellent for safari - quick-release buckles enable you to attach the SafariSack to the roof rack of your Rangerover while shooting in Africa. It can also be used as a ballast to hang from a tripod and lend additional stability. |
The Wildlife Imaging Beanbag is a different shape and is great for photographing from a vehicle. Raise the window and still get the same support. The soft, non-scratch material on the top and underside help protect your car and your gear. It is flat and compact when emptied, making it great for travel.
Ground Pod
The incredibly popular NatureScapes.Net Skimmer ground pod is great for ground-level shooting. This product has been redesigned and is in the process of being manufactured - the first shipment may be in sometime in August 2007. As soon as we have new product photos and details they will be posted to the product page. When the shipment arrival date is more certain, we will be accepting preorders so photographers can reserve their Skimmer. To get email notification when we are accepting preorders, please click on the email notification list link: Skimmer Ground Pod email notification list
Cleaning Supplies
NatureScapes.Net stocks a variety of cleaning supplies for your photography gear.
Sensor Cleaning
Cleaning a DSLR sensor can be a nerve-wracking experience. Be sure to refer to your camera’s manual for cleaning guidelines. The simplest and first method of attack for minor dust that can easily be dislodged is a bulb blower , which directs a small blast of air at the sensor. Used regularly, it can help keep the sensor fairly clean.
The next method for more stubborn dust that won’t blow off is the LensPen SensorKlear . Roughly the size of a standard ballpoint pen, it is simple to use, convenient and proven safe and effective for digital camera sensors. Its flat tip is ideally suited for digital sensors.
For stubborn spots that will not come off with a blower or SensorKlear, try a DUST-AID kit or wet method with Sensor Swabs. DUST-AID DSLR Camera Sensor Cleaner is a great solution for removing static stuck dust. Best of all, DUST-AID passes airport security and uses no liquids or canned air. Note that DUST-AID cannot remove welded on particles, for those a wet cleaning method may be necessary.
Wet methods may be necessary for a very dirty sensor or one with welded on particles. Start by using a bulb blower to remove all dust possible before proceeding with a wet cleaning. Photographic Solutions offers Sensor Swabs and two solutions, ECLIPSE and E2 (the latter for tin oxide sensors).
Lenses and Other Equipment
While a dust speck on a sensor can be quite prominent in photos, dust or spots on a front element may not show up at all. Some photographers polish the front element regularly to keep it clean, but in reality not only is it possible the dust isn’t causing any issues, over cleaning the glass may damage the thin layer of coating on the front element.
Use of a bulb blower or other safe forced air tool (not canned air, which may have chemicals) can help blow dust off of the glass without making physical contact. For cleaning, Photographic Solutions PEC*PADs and ECLIPSE solution are excellent tools. LensPens are portable and effective for smaller glass. Microfiber cleaning cloths are another cleaning option.
Tips: Store cleaning tools sealed in clean, dry ziplock bags to keep them from getting dirty. A clean, soft-bristled paint brush can be a nice accessory, especially to brush off sandy equipment after a day shooting shorebirds.
Flash Accessories
Do I Need Flash?
One of the advantages of being an outdoor photographer is having the sun as a light source. However, with wildlife subjects there is often an advantage to using flash to bring out additional detail.
Use of flash can bring out details, even on a dark bird. Manipulating your flash settings and
camera's exposure settings can allow you to darken a light background as well.
Extending Your Flash Range
When photographing wildlife with effective focal lengths of 300mm or more, using the Better Beamer Flash Extender focuses the output from the flash unit to concentrate it on the subject. This not only allows for greater flash range, but also reduces the power required, enabling faster flash recycle times. Therefore, flash may work each time during a short but fast burst of frames, even without supplemental power to the flash. Better Beamer Flash Extenders are available for a variety of flash units. Also see the NatureScapes.Net article on using your Flash Extender.
Better Beamer product page
Using Flash Brackets
Flash brackets that allow you to mount your flash unit off the camera are useful in a variety of situations. In telephoto applications, raising the flash higher minimizes red or "steel" eye in wildlife photos, since the directional lighting is on a different plane than the lens. This also helps reduce shadows from flash use by casting the shadow downward behind the subject where it is less apparent.
Here, flash brackets raise the flash above the lens, mounted to the lens plate with the lens foot to
the side - a common setup when shooting from a beanbag or Wimberley Sidekick.
With macro applications, control over flash position is key; at times the subject may be so close that light might go right over the subject while using the flash on-camera.
Additionally, use of flash brackets maintains the flash position regardless of horizontal or vertical shooting and provides a convenient handle when hand holding.
The components in the Wimberley flash bracket system are sturdy, lightweight, fully intercompatible, and require no tools to attach, adjust, or disassemble. Each features an Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamp: easy to affix, adjust and remove. Connections are solid. Modules from this system can be purchased individually or grouped in popular configurations. Wimberley Flash Brackets
Save My Shoulders!
Telephoto setups are not only heavy, they can be awkward to carry. One common method for carrying gear in the field is over the shoulder. This can place a lot of pressure on your neck and shoulders. It is not uncommon to end up with soreness and bruises, especially after working for several days in the field. But many times it’s the best way to carry your equipment and be ready for any action that might head your way, so despite it all we keep enduring it.
TIP: Always check to ensure your gear is secured before putting it over your shoulder.
There are several products offered that provide padding to help carry equipment in this manner. In addition to acquiring some padding, also consider switching between left and right shoulders often so each side gets frequent breaks. Also, small shifts in how the equipment is being carried can often make a big difference on how your body needs to support it. Moving it around frequently can help minimize chances of overstressing one area in particular. If you’re spending several long days in the field, this can be important to helping you continue carrying your rig through to the end of the shoot.
LegCoats
LegCoats come in different sizes, custom fitted for specific tripods since tripod leg sections vary in length and diameter. The neoprene covering is rugged in function, yet soft against your shoulder. While the covers can be adhered to the legs, the fit is good enough that you may not even want to do so. In addition to providing padding for your shoulders with the rig set over it at a diagonal, LegCoats also provide some padding if you choose to place your shoulder directly under the flat plate.
Additionally, these leg covers offer some protection to your tripod legs when packed in your checked bag for air travel, and the covering also acts as a thermal barrier – especially convenient when handling your tripod in colder temperatures.
LegCoats are available for a variety of tripods, come in sets of three, in black or a variety of camo patterns. LegCoats
The Pod Pad
This triangular pad attaches via Velcro at the top of the tripod between two legs. It provides a nice cushion for the shoulder. If you tend to carry your equipment over your shoulder with the exterior of the tripod legs against you, whether the legs are opened or closed, this may be a good solution for you. If you like to put your shoulder up through between the legs of the tripod so it’s against the underside of the flat plate, this pad doesn’t work as well. Pod Pads come in medium or large, in camo or black, and can fit most any tripod. Pod Pads
Note that these options offered at NatureScapes.Net are attached via Velcro, making them easy to remove when needed – such as when you might be working in the water and don’t want to get the padding wet.
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