How to Use a Tripod for Smooth Tracking Shots On the Cheap

With the ability to shoot video now nearly ubiquitous among DSLRs, many photographers take advantage and switch into video mode on occasion. But because video isn’t a photographer’s first priority, camera sliders and cranes that many videographers find necessary for beautiful, smooth tracking shots don’t always make the budget.

Thankfully, if you’re not in the market for a slider or crane, but you still want to shoot the occasional tracking shot, the folks at DSLR filmmaking tutorial site Fenchel & Janisch shared this simple trick for getting similar results using the tripod already at your disposal.

It’s nothing incredibly advanced, but the technique seems to yield good results. One angle of motion is achieved by leaning the tripod, and the other by loosening the tripod head and rotating the camera itself. Using the two together, you can get shots like this:

Of course, the results aren’t necessarily up to par with what you would get using professional equipment, but for the occasional videographer, it’ll help keep a little bit of extra money in your pocket. Check out the videos above to see Fenchel & Janisch’s Moritz Janisch put the tripod through its paces, and if you want to see more, you can head over to their website by clicking here.

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