Clamps For Positioning Macro Subjects

[Geoff F]

Firstly, the flower is a purple leaved Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) which was a trial plant from Gardening Which last year. Despite lush attractive foliage most people failed to get any flowers, although I managed a reasonable display from some plants.

I kept the container grown plants in the greenhouse over winter and they produced a fine display of flowers this spring. Just starting to look a bit tatty now.

Mark 2 Flower Support is telescopic and adjustable to give support from ground level to 12 ins. including 2 ins. in the ground. Made from durable steel tubing; like Mike used. When not in use it collapses to 9 ins which fits inside my camera bag.

But not an easy make 'lash up' design like my previous model. It required a bit of hacksawing, drilling, thread cutting and welding. Everybody should have a well equipped shed in the garden!

Will have another think and post a photo tomorrow. Still looking for a stronger clip.

I have another idea but that will require a bit more welding so I might, as previously suggested, make the final product from stainless steel tube.

[Geoff F]

OK, here is today's version. Telescopic, reasonably durable, reaches to 12 ins above ground level but collapses to 9 ins to fit inside my camera bag.

But this model requires a tiny bit of engineering skill and equipment so may not be feasible for a lot of people. That is why I designed the previous model. (In reality, 'designed' may not be the correct term here - but it sounds nice and technical).

Made chiefly from the plastic coated steel tube which Mike recommended. A plastic clothes peg to hold the flower stem (softer grip type would be better) and a Bulldog paper clip (or whatever is their modern name) to give a firm grip for attaching to the upright.



The upright tube is in 2 different diameters so one slides inside the other. The complicated bit is making the locking screw; I have screwed a nut to the top of the bottom tube then drilled and tapped to take a thread with a wing nut attached. This may be a bit complicated for many people.

The side arm is simply a length of the smaller diameter tube with one end flattened then drilled and bolted to the Bulldog clip, which has been reduced in width. The clothes peg is simply tied and glued.

In the transportation mode:-


For longer reach, the side arm can simply be clipped onto a length of garden stake. Any height required is easily adjusted.




As an alternative for the telescopic upright, I did think about a car radio aerial but that may be too flexible. Also considered using a larger clamp to attach the side arm to a monopod or a tripod leg. But I am trying for something which takes up as little space as possible.

At least this has kept me amused for a few hours!

Geoff.

[Lancashire Lad]

To adjust clamping height with my clamps, I push the stake into the ground at an angle, instead of vertically, keeping the jaws of that stake's peg facing either up or down. This means that the second stake, clamping the subject/flower stem, can be held at any height from ground level up to about 425mm, depending on what angle the first stake is pushed in at. (If required, a slight twist of the ground stake will then adjust clamp height a few centimetres up or down, without affecting rigidity).

In comparison, Geoff F's, telescopic clamp can be fine tuned for height adjustment, and is very compact, so should fit inside most camera bags.

Horses for courses me thinks

PS: Does anyone else have any other useful home-made photography accessories to share?

Regards
Mike.

[acherontia]

What an excellent thread!
Necessity (ie don't want to pay silly prices/doesn't exist) is the mother of invention.

We've thought up a few things for various situations but not as ingenious as these!
I'm a dab hand at making waterproof camo lens/camera covers and various bean bags and Mr Acherontia is good at electrical home mades and he made a fine adjusting platform for macro photography.

Thankyou for some great ideas!

Acherontia

[Scubapauly]

I found this and thought it would be good to try. I bought some of the twisty rods from fleabay, just waiting on delivery.

DIY Plamp #1 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!