Capturing Forever: Women Shaping Nature Photography

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A Gitzo Story By Francesca Page | Illustrator, Photographer and Writer | United Kingdom

It doesn’t matter where I am—whether here in the UK or overseas on some epic adventure.

It doesn’t matter if I’m sweating in the heat of the desert, trying to keep my hands warm in the bitterness of the Canadian tundra, or soaked through while photographing grey seals on the UK’s coastline.

It doesn’t matter if I’m hiking up a mountain or just working a few metres from the car.

It doesn’t matter if I’ll be out on location for a few hours or a few days.

It really doesn’t matter what the assignment is—I’m going to have a Gitzo tripod with me.

I can’t quite believe it’s been 16 years that I’ve been using a Gitzo tripod.

But, having turned 32 only a few days ago as I write this, that’s very much the case!

Investing in Longevity

I bought my first Gitzo (a Systematic 3541LS) way back then, having just completed my school exams. I wanted to invest in my photography for the long term, and after speaking to a couple of pros (shout out to Danny Green), they recommended the Gitzo line—imparting the knowledge that this would be one of those things I’d buy and never have to think about again. It was truly great advice.

Fast forward a few years. Having lugged my new tripod everywhere, I could feel my images improving. I’d grown from a youngster obsessed with photography to someone starting to pick up jobs—my images being used in magazine articles and on websites. My journey to becoming a pro had begun.

On shoots, I’d often see people without a tripod, especially on longer hikes. I’d get comments like “It’s a long way to lug a tripod,” or “You don’t need one of those if you use a fast shutter speed”. I duly dismissed those, thinking back to the advice from the pros who’d set me on this path.

A Moment That Changed Everything

One fateful day, I was on the coast in Norfolk. The drag down to Snettisham is a fair old way, especially when loaded down with kit. I’d borrowed a Nikon 500mm f/4 for the weekend, so ensuring I had a stable platform was a must.

My Systematic slung over my shoulder, I trudged through the gloom of a 4 a.m. start, down to the hides alongside a good friend of mine.
The morning wasn’t perfect—the sky was filled with a bank of cloud covering the horizon, where we’d hoped the sun would appear...

As we waited, it soon became apparent that it was actually going to be a rather special morning. The tide was just right—a super high spring tide, combined with an onshore wind that pushed an enormous flock of waders into the air. Thousands upon thousands of wingbeats exploded—a swarm of birds beyond impressive, swirling and dancing in the sky before settling right in front of our hide.

The morning was still dull, and looking through the viewfinder, it was one of those moments of excited panic. Even pushing the ISO, my shutter speeds were slow. Anyone who uses long lenses understands the frustration—but this is why you bring the tripod.

My rock-steady Systematic set up, I locked it off—camera fixed solid—pulling out my remote release to fire the shutter. The stability enabled me to capture not only sharp images in the moments when the birds were still, but also to lean into the movement of the flock—capturing them as they rushed around the small island in front of us. I made thousands of exposures, but only two mattered.
The first: a locked-off shot, the birds in motion, the frame brimming with energy.
The second: again locked down—the tripod eliminating any camera shake—revealing every detail in the mass of birds.

A perfect image.

One that made it onto a double-page spread in The Telegraph the following day. My first major international publication in the press—all down to my tripod!

The Constant Companion

Since then, my Gitzo has been everywhere with me—pecked by penguins in the Falklands, baked in the Amazon’s humidity, caked in salt from countless coastal shoots. It’s been dragged through mud, sand, and snow, but it’s still as reliable as the day I bought it.

I love that I can easily clean and maintain it anywhere—often giving it a rinse in a hotel shower after a long day’s work. If you look after your Gitzo, it will look after you.

Over time, my shooting style has evolved. I now use my tripod not just for long lenses, but also for remote-triggered shots that get my camera closer to wildlife. It’s amazing how one piece of gear can grow with you—how it can shape your craft as you mature as a photographer.

My Gitzo has been there through every challenge—steady when my hands were numb, patient when I wasn’t, dependable when conditions were anything but. It’s more than just equipment; it’s a companion that’s shared in every creative milestone.

I love the fact that I can simply unscrew the legs, pull them apart, and clean or maintain my tripods wherever I am. I’ve taken many a shower in hotel bathrooms with my Systematics, ensuring we’re both salt and sand-free after a hard day’s work. If you look after your Gitzo, it will look after you.

In the early years, it was all about supporting long, heavy lenses—but now, my tripod is often left in all manner of awkward positions as I retreat to trigger images remotely, getting my camera even closer to wildlife for a completely different view. It’s rather amazing how one piece of gear can be so transcendent as you grow as a photographer. The process of religiously using one has undoubtedly helped me develop my images over more than a decade of working professionally.

My constant companion of three perfectly stable legs, no matter what the environment throws at me. My loyal friend, day or night. When I’m busy trying to get some feeling back in my hands, my camera is still steadfast on the composition I’m after. It never tires like my arms do, or complains about the appalling conditions I’m once again pushing it into.

Evolving, but Never Replaced

As I pack up my kit for the next assignment, a few things have changed in my tripod selection. Rather than a 3 Series, I now usually rely on the more compact 4 Series GT4553S . It takes up less space in bags (ideal for air travel), goes a little lower on the first section, and is a bit chunkier—perfect for supporting my 600mm f/4 when needed.

I almost always have a second tripod with me. Whether it’s a 2 Series Traveler  for making behind-the-scenes content on big shoots, or the wonderful Mini Traveler  that’s just the best for supporting cameras for remote shooting.
My original 3 Series, well it’s still going strong! Having been used and abused, it still works flawlessly. I see it from time to time when I’m out on location—still holding up big cameras, still making images possible.

I gifted it to a friend a few years ago when I upgraded, and it really makes me smile knowing that the tripod I invested in more than a decade ago has not only supported me, from an enthusiast to a pro, but is now doing it all over again for a good friend of mine.

Having never missed a beat—and worked in all manner of conditions—the Systematic has just been the perfect tool.

Photography That Lasts Forever

When I first invested in Gitzo, I thought I was buying a tool. What I ended up with was the foundation of my craft—a partner that’s been there for every milestone in my career. Its reliability has allowed me to capture moments that have gone on to live far beyond the field—images published internationally, seen by audiences around the world, and still defining my work today.
Because when your equipment lasts forever, your photography can too.

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