When my husband, Steve, and I had the opportunity to fly to Seattle for the weekend earlier this fall, I knew I had to get that quintessential shot of the Space Needle towering up through the Seattle skyline.

Now, if you’re familiar with landscape/cityscape photography, you know a tripod is almost always a necessity. But traveling with one on an airplane isn’t always easy. So, when I discovered the Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod Kit, I was ecstatic! Here is a tripod that is so convenient it fits inside my small-sized camera bag alongside my camera and spare lens. Perfect for carrying through airport security.

The PIXI gave me the stability I needed to capture the photo below, all wrapped up in a lightweight and portable size.

Nikon D7000 | 18-55mm lens at 24mm | f/8 | 1/15 sec | ISO 100 | Edited using Color Efex Pro

When using this tripod, you’ll need some sort of sturdy surface to set it on, a table, counter top, ledge, etc. For the above shot, I found a stone ledge along the fence line of Kerry Park, which is perched at the top of Queen Anne Hill, located just outside of downtown Seattle. I used my Nikon D7000 with my 18-55mm lens attached and my remote shutter, in order to use the slower shutter speed required for this shot. This particular fall evening was spectacular! The sun was just beginning to set, giving a beautiful peach glow to everything it touched (I later enhanced this effect using Color Efex Pro in Photoshop).

The PIXI is designed especially for the iPhone (with the clamp shown below) and entry-level DSLRs with a standard non-professional lens attached. Although my Nikon D7000 is a bit large for the PIXI, I went ahead and used it for the above shot, securing it by wrapping the camera strap around my wrist a few times, as to prevent it from tumbling down the hill.

When using the PIXI with your iPhone, it can either be used as a tripod for still shots, or it can also be used as a grip to help steady the phone while recording video, as shown in the photo below (right).

Oh, and see that little red button? Push it, and you’ll be able to tilt your camera on the ball baring joint to compose the perfect shot!

While the Manfrotto PIXI is a great compact tripod choice when traveling, especially when you’re on vacation and packing tons of gear is out of the question, it’s also great for those times when you want to step in front of the camera and join your friends and family in the photo!