Especially when you’re traveling, you don’t always want to be carrying around a tripod. But, sometimes you want to take a long exposure. You can do your best by stabilizing against something solid or find a flat surface, but sometimes they can be hard to come by. This is where the beanbag comes in. A small beanbag can turn any rough or sloped surface into a temporary camera stand, holding your camera straight and steady. Carefully place the bag, and shape it so it creates a flat surface. Then put your camera on a 10-second timer, set it down, and voila! Portable, easy tripod.