Rob Clark's Trip from LA to NYC
By Roy Stevens
As I have tried to make my photography kit more versatile, I have gone through several different things from small tripods to bean bags. Each one was only useful in a limited way and had their own drawbacks. I saw the Platypod though an online video and was intrigued enough to try it out. My first trip was to New York City and Brooklyn. Being from LA I was preparing for the inability to utilize my tripod in areas that I’d want to. To my great surprise, New York City is quite fair about tripods in that the prevailing wisdom is, don’t get in the way or act dangerously. As a result, my opportunities to use the Platypod were limited… at first.
The first day I used it effectively was when I was shooting with friend, and talented NYC photographer, Jason Madden, at governor’s island. My wife was off in another area with my tripod and I wanted to shoot the Manhattan skyline with my telephoto and stitch together a panorama. The Platypod allowed me to use my 2nd ball head and actually make the pano I was after without my tripod! The stability was much better than a tiny tripod and much more precise than bean bags, even shooting from an uneven rock. The rubber feet adjusted perfectly to the surface of the rock.
Although I had a satisfying experience at Governor’s island, I wasn’t sold on the idea that the Platypod was a necessary part of my bag yet. A few days later we were shooting again at a location recommended by another NYC photographer friend Terrell Shedrick, The Crown at 50 Bowery. It was here that the Platypod really shined and became a permanent part of my bag. When we arrived at the rooftop, I was required to check my bag that contained my tripod. It didn’t matter because rooftops and observation decks typically restrict usage of tripods anyway. Despite the stunning views in all directions, at that point it didn’t look like I was going to get any good locations to setup for good compositions, then it hit me… The Platypod.
I noticed these small railings on the glass that were perfect size to nestle the Platypod on. With it and my standard ball head, I was able to even use my 70-200mm and shoot 30 second exposures through one-inch thick glass! This is when the Platypod became a permanent part of my kit. These nightscapes are 30 second exposures and would not be possible without the Platypod. Combine that with the super high-quality materials, light weight, and flexibility of the mounting options of the plate itself makes it indispensable!
To see more of my photography, check out my website at www.aestheticimagesphotography.com!
About the Author:
From a young age, Rob Clark, Aesthetic Images Photography, has had the fortune of photographing beautiful settings all over the world, leading him to develop an editorial / photojournalist style. Over the years he has stretched himself, exploring many styles of photography, from landscape to macro, street to modern art. Lately he has been focusing his signature photography skills to real estate and property applications.
