I'd like to share some of my newest acquisitions, as well as my enthusiasm for some new techniques.
I've had a SuperClamp for well over a year now, and I have really only used it to clip a speedlight onto a doorframe or something similar. I recently saw some neat applications in a magazine, so I wanted to share what I came up with.
I'm using two Impact SuperClamps ($20 each), the Bogen Superclamp ShortStud ($3) and an Impact Umbrella Holder($10).
The short stud replaces the standard stud and allows the ballhead to mount flush to the clamp. The standard stud allows to be fitted into the umbrella holder.
Now, I like to shoot flwoers close to the ground, and I was almost ready to buy a Kirk Low-Pod, but I think that this will satisfy my needs for the time being. While my tripod will allow me to invert the center pole, to make low shooting possible, I really hate operating my camera upside down....soooo, this option of mounting it to the leg, as low as I want becomes really handy. I can adjust the clamp to the height that I need and still retain the ballhead functions. I can spread the tripod legs as far as I need to get the stability, and I can even mount a flash offcamera for some nice side-ighting for closeups. I wanted to share with you, some of the images that I took of the whole set-up tonight.
