Self-conscious about using a tripod

so i'm just starting out in photography, but i feel weird using a tripod. i try not to whenever possible because i'd rather handhold. but i see all these beautiful photos on this site that require a tripod and i'm thinking i'd like to shoot like that...but i don't feel like walking around town or in a city with a tripod. anyone feel weird using one? should i just suck it up and not worry about it?

Fear is only important to yourself, it doesn't affect anyone else.

It's like this, you could be walking around with a tripod and feel self-conscious about it or you could walk around with 5 tripods and be confident as hell. Either way, no one will care.. the only person that cares is you.

I never used to shoot in public places because I was "self-conscious" about people watching me shoot a model but once you get over it, you take control (as a photographer is supposed too) and then people become intimidated by you!

When I shot my friends engagement pics, people would stop in their tracks, walk around or apologize.. interesting how people react when you have a huge camera in your hands! Use it to your advantage and do what you do best, forget about everyone else.

Generally you should be able to get away with a tripod for a lot of photos given that you can bump the ISO on the XTI up to about 400 without noise being visible at all. That should be enough to give you hand holdable shutter speeds - 1/(focal length*1.6) as a general rule will give sharp photos. So if your lens is at 50mm your shutter should be less that 1/80.

Some areas you will not be able to use a tripod (busy sidewalks etc), but in general I dont worry about taking mine out and setting up unless I'm in a very busy street where i would be more worried about it being knocked over than people looking at me.

Yeah, I feel a bit goofy breaking out the tripod. I shouldn't though for what I just spent on it, I should be carrying it everywhere I go.

It did however come in quite handy the other day allowing me to get some shots I otherwise wouldn't have been able to get of some night herons.

Using a tripod will improve your photography. Get a release to go with it if you don't have one. Or you could use the timer.

I did too at first, but it does make a huge difference in the conditions you can shoot in (low-light), etc).

Plus it ups your street creds and can be used a good weapon.

nw85887 wrote in post #6359796
I did too at first, but it does make a huge difference in the conditions you can shoot in (low-light), etc).

Plus it ups your street creds and can be used a good weapon.

BAM! POW! BIFF!! SOCKO! Holy pancakes, Batman!

Put a 70-200L and a good head on the end of a heavy Manfrotto and you are ready for war!

timrocks311 wrote in post #6357732
...but i don't feel like walking around town or in a city with a tripod.

I don't feel like it either... so I walk around with a monopod! I have a physical disability which requires me to walk with a stick, so I use a cheap hiking staff/monopod. Not as good as a tripod, but convenient when walking around and you need to shoot quickly. Also great for indoor sporting events.

If you keep worrying about how you are percieved when you're out w/ your tripod, you'll miss out on alot of good photography. I used have that hang-up myself, until I started getting alot of compliments on the shots I made with a tripod. It's reached the point where a photographer friend of mine recommended that I make prints and try to sell them. So now, I go about my business with the attittude that this is what I do, I'm good at it, and I don't care what anybody thinks while I'm doing my thing. Besides, you'll never hear of a carpenter or plumber being self conscious about the tools they carry to get the job done, right?

I used to be self-conscious about using a tripod (still am occasionally), but eventually you realize you miss so many shots that you get over it.