Seascapes / Long Exposures

[Rebel]

I've come across a problem when I'm taking long exposures and the tripod legs are actually submerged in the sea... they sort of sink in the sand when the waves come in and out. This obviously causes the camera to move and results in blurred images.

Does anyone have any tips/solutions for this?

[Saorsa]

Rocks or Frisbees under the leg to spread the weight out. The tripod leg is too thin. A couple of mini frisbees or even some of the plastic plastic covers for dog/catfood might work.

[Shadowman]

Have you tried adding weights to the legs, hopefully there isn't much current flowing; otherwise lots of added motion?

[DonnaK]

Matt, I've used these when I sit my tripod on a rocky/sandy river bed. I'm not sure how deep you are putting the tripod, but the weight of my camera and lens holds the legs steady for me.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Weather.html

[NorthernFocus]

That's really a tough one. I've never really thought about it until now. But if you think about things on the beach in the surf zone that the sinking phenomenon doesn't effect, it's things like pilings or large rocks that are deep in the sand. The moving sand is a surface phenomenon. Even when you stand in the moving water your feet only sink so far then stabilize. So my thought is to set the pod up and wait a few minutes to see if it reaches a point that it stops sinking. Then take your shot. You could speed the process up by pushing/wiggling/working the legs into the sand. I think you still have an issue with just the water movement and added weight is probably a good idea too.

For what it's worth.

You made my poor brain cells wake up too soon this morning after 18 hours of airplanes/airports

[rpcrowe]

If you happen to be using a Giottos tripod, these may be the solutions:

http://www.adorama.com/GTSSWST.html

or not as good for your purposes but, more versatile..

http://www.adorama.com/GTMFS.html

However if you are using a Manfrotto tripod:

http://www.adorama.com/BG565.html or http://www.adorama.com/BG230.html

Or a Gitzo tripod:

http://www.adorama.com/GZ1586.html

I don't know just how well these accessories will stand up under salt water immersion. Perhaps, you could fabricate something along those lines...

[Mike Buckley]

Though I can appreciate why the solutions recommended so far might work in a river or stream or in soft sand or snow that isn't immersed in water, I won't be surprised to learn that that they won't work when submerged in the sea surf. Unlike the water of a river or stream that moves primarily in one direction, the sea surf is regularly moving in two opposite directions, causing the sand to move much more than the sand in a stream or river.

[NorthernFocus]

Rocks or Frisbees under the leg to spread the weight out. The tripod leg is too thin. A couple of mini frisbees or even some of the plastic plastic covers for dog/catfood might work.

I think what Matt is referring to isn't a surface area issue. It's the same thing as when you stand in the edge of the surf and your feet slowly sink in the sand as the moving water washes the sand from around/under them. Depending on the violence of the surf/speed of the moving water, it reaches a certain depth and stabilizes. The same thing happens of you stand in a gravel stream bed with really fast water.

[Shadowman]

I was thinking about something more along these contraptions.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Vest-Guy-C...tripod+weights

http://www.amazon.com/Sandbag-Sandba...ripod+weights\

[Saorsa]

I was thinking in terms of a mushroom anchor. The area would prevent further sinking even as sand washed up and over. In fact, I would put a 1 foot line with a bottle cork on it to permit retrieval.

The sinking comes from lateral motion. If you try to push a stick into the ground you can get it to go further by rocking it.

Which gives me another Idea. How about a couple of stakes that could be driven in to some depth with enough room between them to lash a monopod. Certainly some of the motion must come from differential action on three legs.

Or, keep your legs fairly upright and just rock them down to a more solid sand base. It's usually only a few inches down.

[NorthernFocus]

Good points, Brian. Either way the pod will settle to a point of equilibrium sooner or later. Clearly with more surface area sooner than later.

[Rebel]

That's really a tough one. I've never really thought about it until now. But if you think about things on the beach in the surf zone that the sinking phenomenon doesn't effect, it's things like pilings or large rocks that are deep in the sand. The moving sand is a surface phenomenon. Even when you stand in the moving water your feet only sink so far then stabilize. So my thought is to set the pod up and wait a few minutes to see if it reaches a point that it stops sinking. Then take your shot. You could speed the process up by pushing/wiggling/working the legs into the sand. I think you still have an issue with just the water movement and added weight is probably a good idea too.

For what it's worth.

You made my poor brain cells wake up too soon this morning after 18 hours of airplanes/airports

I think I'll try this next time, I try to find rocks when I can but this is not possible most of the time.

[James G]

Matt, a very interesting problem.
The only thing I can think of to stabilise the rig would be to try bedding a wooden? triangular frame with holes half way through to take the tripod legs and attach a centre column weight to increase the loading. Kind of spreading the load and increase surface area which would be subject to suction.

[rpcrowe]

These won't solve the sinking leg syndrome, but will protect your legs from the effects of saltwater/mud/sand, etc....

http://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=87

[IzzieK]

I remember a post quite a while back, I think it is from John 2 or Grahame (stagecoach) about putting your tripod on wellies...???