The tripod I usually use is way too heavy to bring on a backpacking trip. So I have been looking on some other opportunities, the first one is a Gorillpod. It seems fantastic, but then I must find a convenient rock, or tree or something if I want to take pictures from a higher point over the ground. I thought that may be tricky since I obviously would not be alone. And the other is a light weight version of a "regular" tripod. It would take up some more room in my bag, but then I have the opportunity to choose where i would like to take the pictures from.
Any experience in using a tripod to take sunrise/sunset pictures of the Ankor Wat? Recommendations?
Reply to this Hello Beathe, I did visit Angkor recently, and found that though there are large areas, finding somewhere to attach a Gorrillapod, especialy around the famous lake that can front the photos of the temple, could be an issue. There are not so many trees, and some of the stuctures may be too solid to wrap the legs of the Gorillapod around them.
I tend to take a small solid tripod - I've had one for years, and it is very light. Though you cannot get a lot of height on it, at least one can set it up in an area which doesn't have much in the way of trees and the like. Despite the room issues, I find that having a small tripod is a big benefit for low-light shots.
Reply to this I've had several tripods - the one I have now is my favorite. It's a cheap but small model - the smallest that I saw in any photography shops over several years.
It's about 35cm long compact, and 1.5m extended and weighs about 350g - nothing special about it other than that. I didn't have it when I was at angkor wat a few years ago - I was using a special travel tripod then - that compacted more but weighed much more... almost 1kg.
I don't think a gorillapod woud be upto task for an DSLR - as well as not having any height.
(Imperialists! FYI: 1inch = 2.54cm, 1kg = 2.2lbs, 1 ft ~= 30cm)
Reply to this Thanks for both of your opinions. They ( = the retailers) say that a Gorillapod slr-zoom can manage a weight up til 3 kg. And that should be enough for my DSLR.
But then again, I am not sure if I am ready to trust my beloved camera to a Gorillapod twistet around stuff. It seems more safe with something you can place on the ground. And the height-issue of course will probably make me find another tripod. Even though gorillapod seems like a fun new thing.
Reply to this I just came back from the Temples - sadly for the photographers amoungst us - half of Angkor Wat is covered with scaffolding 😞 - it looks to be part of some serious restoration - how long it will be like that I didn't find out - but I'd guess at least months.
Ta Prohm is also undergoing extensive restoration - and sadly about half is off limits.
But still - lots and lots of photo opportunities - seems like half the visitors are wielding DSLRs now 😊
Reply to this Half of Angkor Wat was covered when I was there too! It made photography difficult, but it was a good challenge. There was a bit of work around Ta Prohm, but most was still accessible, so looks like things are changing there. There was no restoration of note occuring at Preah Khan, The Bayon or Banteay Srei, and so one could wander freely.
Good to see that DSLRs are slowly taking over the world!
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