For me, it’s quite liberating taking a camera off a tripod upon photographing a composed shot. Photos taken immediately after are my favorite. What mental process takes over? Curious. What do you enjoy the most? Landscape photography on a tripod or without?
For me, I scout and walk around my scene off tripod, get my composition then put it on a tripod. In that way, you don't commit yourself to a composition when a better one could be got. However, using a tripod allows you to take several shots at difference exposures and different aperatures, which i often and to use filters. I have to say thought I have handheld and just held a filter in front at times. I like your second shot, would have taken a second exposure to lighten up the bale. Watch your centre line, its smack in the middle on the first one.
Second shot was taken without a tripod and without filters. I dig your advice. Great stuff!
It's a personal choice I think. It also depends on the way you like to work and if you're very technical or not. I also scout without a tripod, but I don't have a single image in my Portfolio that was shot without one. That's mostly because I'm probably way too clinical in setting up my compositions and get annoyed about really minor things. A few centimeters left or right can make or break the balance of an image for me. So for example, in your first image, one of the first things I notice is that all 3 main elements (both bales and the sun) are on the left side of the frame, and that a wire is running through the bottom. I don't want to criticise your shot here, those are just the things that I try to avoid by taking plenty of time to position my camera, and to lock that in place with my tripod. Then it's just a matter of waiting for the right time to press the shutter.
I agree with the others here, it is generally a personal choice. If you can create an interesting shot with good light, then why not? There are some shots which need it, low light exposures, bracketing too compensate for high dynamic range etc...
I like using a tripod when I can for the consistency, but of course on a walk if I see a great scene, but don't want to miss the light, or an animal, than I'll go handheld
I like to shoot off tripod to get ideas for compositions, then switch to tripod for final shots. I shoot MFT and am often doing long exposures so for me it's often a requirement. But even when the shot could be done just as well hand held I think I like the way the tripod forces me to stop and think more about the composition. I slow down and am less likely to miss something off about the picture until later. But I agree it's a matter of preference, and many great shots can be taken off tripod.
I like to be deliberate for my city and landscape shots. Like the others here, I walk the shot before deciding how I want to render the scene I'm shooting. Once that's done, the camera goes on the tripod and I begin to work with the scene. I'll try different exposures, filters, wait for the light to change and start all over again. It takes some time, but usually when I'm finished shooting, I'm not finished enjoying the place I'm in. So, I'll leave the camera on the tripod (just in case) and hang out for awhile. Sure, I'll take handheld shots when I'm out and about, but when I find that special shot...I try to leave nothing to chance.