Ground level macro rig I built

[MichaelSoE]

I saw a video on making one of these using an old frying pan with a handle that screwed off. Since I did not have one and I didn't want to go to the second hand store in my area in an attempt to find one, I used an old cake pan I had in the closet.

I purchased a low profile ball head on amazon. Neewer Professional 35MM Low-Profile Ball Head. $29.69 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FB2Q5RC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details



I drilled a 1/4 hole for the bolt and added stick-on bumper pads so I could also do ground level video of the cats parading around the house. The hole for the bolt is offset from center by about an inch so if I use a longer lens I won't have to worry about the center of gravity lifting the cake pan off the ground.



This is what it looks like with the camera mounted. The center of the lens is only 4 1/2 inches off the ground.



And of course I had to rush outside and try it out. A frying pan, being heavier, would be a lot more stable but I used a time release shutter setting to avoid vibration. It also afforded me the option of using low iso, small aperture for maximum depth of field and slow shutter speed. My favorite way to shoot but almost impossible being that low to the ground and hand holding.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

1. Very cool!

[Walleye]

2. Good job, you solved a tough problem. Nice picture

[MichaelSoE]

3. Really. No more lying on my belly to get the shot. :)

[usonian]

4. Fabulous! There's hardly anything that a 1/4-20 bolt can't fix!!

I remember a tripod whose shaft had an adapter on the BOTTOM for low level photos.

I like yours better. Try weighting the pan. Better than drilling through an expensive frying pan, and easier. Especially those cast iron ones, or stainless, for that matter.

I had a problem with tall flowers. Couldn’t rig up a tent, so I drove a rod into the ground, and very loosely held the flower with a twist-tie. Naturally, the slightest breeze would shake them up.

[MichaelSoE]

5. Great idea. I hadn't thought about merely dropping a few rocks into the pan for added stability.

And I like your work-around for the tall flowers.

[usonian]

6. Simple is Beautiful!

Slightly converse, I read that washing machines are heavy to damp the vibrations, and they use (ta-daaa) concrete blocks, adding to the shipping costs.

SO

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40821915
Device could make washing machines lighter and greener

A typical budget washing machine is weighted by 25kg of concrete to stop it moving while on a spin cycle.

The new invention is a sealable plastic container that is filled with water - but only once the machine is in place.

The team at Nottingham Trent University says the change makes machines easier - and cheaper - to transport.

By replacing the concrete with empty containers, the weight of the machine is cut by a third.

Nobody figured that out until 2017.

[AndyS]

7. I have a similar rig for shooting ground level birds

on the beach at Galveston.

I'd offer two suggestions:
buy a saute pan from a thrift store, usually worn out and a dollar or two and remove the handle
The rounded bottom lets it slide easily.

use a 1/4 23 carriage bolt--it has a rounded head instead of a hex and will allow you to slide the the set up easily.

It beats spending $100 on a commercial product!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=scale-down,width=500,quality=95/

[MichaelSoE]

8. And the nice thing about ball heads is you can use your tripod if room allows

Not quite as low to the ground but better than the tripod in the lowest position.