How to make a tripod more stable part 5

This how to make a tripod more stable article explains how to adapt a tripod for use in sandy or unstable ground conditions, where the legs of the tripod tend to sink into the ground because it isn’t firm enough to support them.

The solution can be used in film making, video making and photography, so I’ve included it in the photography category, and because it’s a low cost solution I’ve included it in the budget DIY film making category.
The idea can be used anywhere where the film maker or photographer shoots with a tripod in unstable ground conditions, such as in outdoor or wilderness film making and photography.

How the idea for making a tripod more stable in outdoor or wilderness film making and photography came to me

The idea came to me when I was film making with a tripod in sandy ground conditions, and found that the legs of the tripod tended to sink into the sand.
To make the problem worse, they tended to sink into the ground unevenly. One tripod leg would sink a few inches and another tripod leg would sink a few more inches.
Each time this happened I had to make the tripod level again.

How to make a tripod more stable as a temporary solution

I finished up having to hold one leg of the tripod while I was shooting, as you can see in the photo. below.

The idea is to control the camcorder or camera, not control the camcorder, camera and tripod!

This isn’t a good idea. The idea is to control the camcorder or camera, not control the camcorder, camera and tripod. It shouldn’t be necessary to control the tripod, not to the extent of preventing it from sinking into the ground, anyway.
Anyway, after this shoot I decided to find a solution to the problem.
The solution was pretty simple.

How to make a tripod more stable as a more permanent solution

The next time I did some outdoor film making and photography with a tripod I took three cheap plastic camping plates with me and placed these under the tripod legs to prevent them from sinking into the ground.
In theory you could use paper plates instead, but these might not be solid enough to support your camcorder or camera and tripod on sandy, unstable or possibly wet ground conditions.