How do you carry your tripod over hill & dale?

[Vaughn]

Tripod rests on the shoulder pad/strap of the pack -- the pod can be balanced on the shoulder (as per Austin) for short periods of time if my hands are needed for something else (adjusting pack, eating on the move, etc.

I also carry the Ries full extended -- ready for use, better balance, and no knobs where it rests on the shoulder.

[kev curry]

Plumbers foam pipe insulation material around the legs then bound in black gaffers tape.
Great padding and good protection against knocks. The insulation material comes in long tubes that are pre split down the middle so they can easily be wrapped around pipes. Ive also attached an adjustable strap to the pod so that I can carry it slung around my neck like a bag when I need to be hands free.

[Scotty230358]

For short distances I carry it but if I have a way to go then it is lashed to the side of my rucksack (a Kelty Redwing modified by Photobackpacker)

[Doremus Scudder]

I carry a rather light tripod, switching hands most of the time. However, when the going gets rough, it gets strapped to the bottom of my fanny pack so I can scramble with all fours.

Best

Doremus Scudder

[bsimison]

I've custom-fitted a shoulder strap for my lightweight carbon-fiber Gitzo mountaineer. It hangs vertically and is easy to access, especially when shooting events when I need the support quickly.

[Scott Walker]

Shoulder strap

[MIke Sherck]

I made a shoulder strap for the little Bogen tripod I use for 4x5 and carry that over a shoulder. For the 8x10 monorail, I screw it to the top of the tripod and just carry it over one shoulder.

Mike

[Steve M Hostetter]

over the shoulder boulder holder

[ajmiller]

Shoulder strap over shoulder.

[William McEwen]

We've all seen the pictures of Ansel carrying his tripod over his shoulder with a view camera attached. I've never felt safe doing that -- plus, back in my landscape photography days, I was usually in a dense swamp, and the camera surely would have caught on something.

But the great thing about the Sinar monorail I used back then was how easily portable it all was. Camera bag over the shoulder, and tripod carried by hand. When I found a promising spot, I'd just pull the camera out of the case and mount it on the tripod. Ready for duty in just a few seconds. No unfolding, etc.

The Lifetime movie about Stieglitz (and O'Keeffe) mentioned here recently showed Jeremy Irons as Stieglitz, carrying his 8x10 Kodak 2D and tripod in a way I've never seen before.

He had the tripod over his shoulder. The camera was folded, and hanging from the tripod's legs by the camera's handstrap. Camera was out in front of him. (Screen shot available on request.)

I have no idea if Stieglitz actually carried his camera this way. (I'm a Stieglitz disciple, and have read all there is to read about him.) I'd try this with my 8x10 Wisner, but it's a Wisner, so it doesn't stay securely shut.