You know a tool is hyper-useful when you recognize its potential with little or no explanation. Perception depends of frame of reference, and photographers are quick to imagine how certain items mesh with their image-making work habits. Foil windshield visors become ad hoc reflectors, for instance, wooden boxes become props and discarded sunglasses translate into creative filters.

Here’s a trio of photo accessories that you may find indispensable once you comprehend the logic that conceived them.

Benro SupaDupa Tilthead
Benro, founded in 1995, is part of the MAC Group, a photo powerhouse that includes such brands as Tenba, Sekonic, Shimoda, x-rite Pantone, Toyo-View, Broncolor, Heliopan, Novoflex and several other names quite familiar to photographers. Perhaps because one of the staples in Benro’s product assortment is a lineup of monopods, they have devised a gizmo that increases the usefulness and functionality of the one-legged family of camera supports. Works great on tripods, too, incidentally.

The Benro SupaDupa Tilthead (dumb name, awesome product) allows photographers and filmmakers to precisely align their capture device in relation to the subject. It enables 90º tilt in one direction, 60º in the other and full 360º smooth panning. It accommodates standard 3/8 or 1/4-20 threaded mounts and includes an Arca-compatible quick release plate.

Beefy for sure, it supports equipment weighing up to 17.6 pounds (8kg), so heavy lenses and camera rigs are secure and safe. It also looks great, and weighs just 12.3 ounces (.35kg). I stopped believing in Santa Claus back when Pepsi Cola was still sold in 12-ounce glass bottles, but just to cover all the bases I’m asking the Jolly Old Elf to put a Benro SupaDupa Tilthead in my stocking this year.

Suggested price is $139.95. Here’s a link to find and Authorized Benro Dealer.

3 Legged Thing Pivot Magic Arms
3 Legged Thing  was founded about 15 years ago by Danny Lenihan in Stagsden, Bedfordshire, UK, a town north of London and a bit west of Box End. Their office is in one of the sheds that were once home to 30,000 chickens who produced 25,000 eggs per week whilst consuming 24 tons of chicken feed. True story—I’m not nearly clever enough to make stuff like this up.

3LT is best known for tripods, camera L-brackets, photo bags and a host of tripod accessories. They taught the world that tripods can be colorful and fun, just as long as they’re also brilliantly engineered, extraordinarily well made and realistically priced.

Which brings us to the 3 Legged Thing Pivot Magic Arms. Reminiscent of bionic joint implants, Pivot Magic Arms are designed to hold and attach lights, microphones, compact monitors, action cameras and other accessories to your tripod, L-bracket or mounting plate’s 1/4-20 thread. They’re available in two sizes: 5.9 inch (150mm) and 9.8 inch (250mm). They’re very sturdy; the Pivot 150 ($79.99) supports up to 11 pounds (2kg) and the Pivot 250 ($89.99) up to 6.6 pounds (3kg). Also, they come in two colorways, Lava (orange and black) and Darkness (matte black).

With these articulated marvels you can securely arrange the vital components of your camera set-up with precision and ease. Once constructed, you’re assured that your kit is configured the way you want it without mess or wasted time.

You can order Pivot Magic Arms today directly from 3 Legged Thing or click here to find an Authorized 3LT Dealer near you. Take a look at 3 Legged Thing’s complete line of tripods, L-brackets and other photo accessories, visit their website or check out the Official 3 Legged Thing Store at amazon.com.

GripTight GorillaPod Stand PRO
GripTight GorillaPod Stand PRO is from Joby, the company globally known for their widely loved (and extensively imitated) assortment of GorillaPod products. Joby is part of the Videndum Group, distributor of some of the most trusted photo accessories around, including Savage (seamless backgrounds), Lowepro, Manfrotto, Gitzo and others.

One look tells you that the GripTight GorillaPod Stand PRO is a smartphone holder that can be used as a tripod, or—by wrapping its knobby, octopus-like legs around a pole, fence, roof rack or other support of suitable size—a very sturdy freehand smartphone support. Made  from tough ABS plastic, TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) and stainless steel, this baby Gorilla adapts to nearly any situation. Order today from the Joby website; price is $69.95.

While on the Joby website, take a long look at their Outlet section. You may find the accessory you’ve been looking for, like maybe sneakers for your GorillaPod. Really.

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Experienced photographers typically set their camera’s Mode Dial to Manual or Aperture Priority for most of their work. But there’s another option that’s frequently overlooked and you’ll learn exactly how it works and when to use it in the quick tutorial below.

This “secret” mode is known as “Hybrid Manual” and in offers plenty of control while avoiding intricacies of the conventional Manual mode. In the next 10 minutes instructor Pierre T. Lambert explains everything you need to know, and why he says that combining Manual Mode with Auto ISO is the best way to unlock the power of this style of shooting.

Lambert earned an engineering degree before deciding to pursue his true passion as a professional travel photographer. He explains the hybrid shooting mode like this: “It allows you to combine the flexibility of adjusting various parameters with the advantages of a camera’s intelligence, and a lot of experienced photographers use it every day.”

The best way to follow Lambert’s expert advice is to grab your camera and a notepad before launching the video. Along the way you’ll learn how ISO impacts images when shooting in Hybrid Auto, as well as the best way to adjust aperture and  shutter speed accordingly to achieve the best possible results.

By letting the camera set ISO automatically, all you have to take care of is the other two variables of the familiar Exposure Triangle. Lambert admits that there are extreme situations in which the exposure may miss the mark, like with a subject against a very bright background or the reverse.

So what to do? Lambert recommends leaving the camera set to Auto ISO and using EV Compensation to balance out the tones. His starting point is to bump exposure up or down by a single stop and take things further as necessary.

There are a few other key considerations to understand, and one of the most important is a setting that prevents the camera from increasing or decreasing ISO beyond reasonable limits. You’ll may have to dig through your camera’s to locate this option, but it works the same regardless of the specific model you own.

Once you get the hang of shooting in Hybrid Auto (and it doesn’t take long) there’s a good chance that you’ll use this powerful approach more often than not. Lambert’s instructional YouTube channel includes other helpful lessons like this one. So be sure to check it out.

We also suggest watching the tutorial we featured earlier with another accomplished outdoor photographer who demonstrates five powerful techniques for shooting and editing impressive photographs of birds and other wildlife subjects.

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Are you dissatisfied with the images you shoot of birds and other forms of wildlife? If so, you’ve come to the right place today. The video below provides a handful of pro techniques that are guaranteed to up your game—regardless the gear you currently own or the level of your skills.

This helpful lesson comes courtesy of our friends at Pangolin Wildlife Photography, a group of passionate photographers and guides based in Northern Botswana. The good news is that you needn’t travel to an exotic location to take advantage of the straightforward techniques, because everything you’ll learn will prove equally valuable when shooting at a nearby park or local wildlife sanctuary.

Photographer Sabine Stols spends much of her time in the wilds of Africa teaching workshops and leading photo safaris for guests who’ve traveled to Africa from across the globe, so she knows whereof she speaks. She promises that her easy-to-follow advice will “elevate the skills of all wildlife photographers who are  keen to improve their craft.”

Today’s episode covers a lot of ground in barely seven minutes, and Stols’ first tip is to “chase the light, not the subject.” We all know that the most dramatic light occurs at sunrise and just before sunset, and this fact is particularly important to wildlife shooters because many animals are most active while feeding during Golden Hour.

In other words, “a photograph of a common subject in great light is better that a less-effective image captured in harsh midday light” when it can be a frustrating  waste of time to be trudging around in the field. One technique that she recommends for Golden Hour photography is to shoot into the light rather than positioning it behind you.

Another technique that delivers compelling results is to capture photos that showcase animal behavior. This is why all accomplished wildlife photographers do their research and spend time observing subjects so they have an informed understanding of exactly what to expect when animals are feeding or engaged in everyday social behavior.

It’s also essential to develop your composition skills, especially when photographing subjects in motion, and Stols has some great suggestions on this topic. These include experimenting with different camera angles, as well as “treating the background of a scene with importance.”

Stols offers other suggestions for enhancing your wildlife imagery—whether the subjects are exotic big cats in the African bush, or interesting backyard birds that visit your home every day. In either case, you’ll be able to make the most of a situation by following her advice.

There’s much more to learn on the Pangolin Wildlife Photography YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore. And don’t miss the tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who explains why you should ignore the “ISO 100 myth” when shooting nature, wildlife, and landscape photographs.