Cheap, Ugly, And Home-Made

Come to think of it, that describes a lot of my cousins...but we're not here to diss the family - we're here to show how to solve a problem. The problem is getting a low enough viewpoint in a shot, and getting it with absolute steadiness - steadiness that will allow you to repeat it after moving camera controls. I take tabletop pictures, as you'll know, and many of them have several images melded into one. The camera is fired for one layer, subjects are added or subtracted, the focus shifted, and it's fired again. The camera cannot shift between exposures, even if the aperture ring has to be opened and closed or the focus ring turned. Normally this is no problem, as the camera has an Arca-Swiss style rail on the bottom connected to an enormous Gitzo tripod. The Gitzo doesn't move a millimetre. But some subjects - like the aircraft on the little set, are well away from the edge of the field. I could try to extend the Gitzo into the set by means of some very old-school pipework, but the further you go away from the centre of gravity, the more danger of shake. And it is hell trying to lean in and over that Gitzo to fire things off. So it was off to the Little Studio's Little Shed and the Big Bin O' Relics. I rescued a nut and washer, a piece of MDF board, and two bits of foam-core board. A half hour of sawing, gluing , and painting delivered what I like to think of as the Queen Mary of camera supports. The fact that the camera cradle has the side mount is the key - that and the fact that the leftover Cullmann ball head has enough grip to support it sideways. If I had not had the Cullmann I think I'd have gone for a Joby X or a Benro head. CE stocks them both, as well as other brands. It is not the sort of job for a three-way head. The weight is enough to anchor the thing firmly - had it not been so a layer of felt on the underside would ensure that it sticks to most surfaces. I can operate the controls between exposures without fear of movement ruining both shots. Remember that you don't always need a fat wallet to succeed - just a fat head full of ideas.