Weekly Poll: Do you DIY?

[Nicole]

In case you hadn't seen, we do have our DIY thread, and lots of people on the forums have had great suggestions about building gear and making gear for their photography.

So, this week I'm curious if you do DIY photography gear.

Of course, if you do DIY, why not share some of the things that you've made, or even some sites that you enjoy finding new things to make at. Some sites to get you started:

• DIYPhotography.net
• Photojojo
• Photocritic

[Saralonde]

I'm a cheapskate at heart, so yes I do some DIY. Nothing fancy, but I've built a light box using a cardboard box, I've been known to use an indexcard to bounce flash, and my "home studio" consists of lights from a home improvement store and fabric backrounds from the Joann fabric store. I usually try a DIY solution first and if I outgrow it, then I'll buy something "ready made."

[Manila_Joe]

Originally Posted by Saralonde

I usually try a DIY solution first and if I outgrow it, then I'll buy something "ready made."

That sounds like a good suggestion for me and all the other frugal (cheap) people out there.

[windrider86]

i've come up with some mighty interseting set ups. some of which i am grateful i didnt get electrocuted. Of course i would prfere to purchase things ready made but my pocketbook doesnt always agree with me

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by windrider86

i've come up with some mighty interseting set ups. some of which i am grateful i didnt get electrocuted. Of course i would prfere to purchase things ready made but my pocketbook doesnt always agree with me

Now those sound like interesting stories that I'm sure we'd love to hear

[mrodgers]

I use ratchets as hammers and have a screwdriver that I specifically sharpened on the benchgrinder to use as a chisel, and I use that often. I also built my own RC airplane from the guts of a cheapie and cheap foamboard as the airframe. It flew a total of one circle around the field and now resides in a pile in the garage.

Oh, you are talking in the photography sense. I would like to do a DIY lightbox, and I've searched out DIY tripods too. I was searching tripod DIY when I looked over at the old broken floorlamp and went, "Hmmm". Thus I posted my floorlamp-tripod in the DIY thread here (or a mod moved my post into the thread for me actually).

[Marmalade]

diy- all the way. I have already made a light box. I too use shop lights from Home Depot. I use a table cloth instead of fabric from Joann's though. You can always go to my Flckr page and set my cameo set up-Tissue paper, hard plastic, and a hiking headlamp.

But all that may change, my mom gave me all her old photo stuff. I have a real backdrop now, lights, light stands and about three tri-pods.

[wulf]

If I can figure out a way to make something, especially if it gets more use out of components that would otherwise be junk, then I am happy to do that. Doubly so if I am looking for help with a one-shot or limited use set up that doesn't have to store away neatly or be particularly durable.

Wulf

[Saralonde]

Great ideas for DIYers on the blog today.

[Matthew James Norman]

As someone else once said, taking photos is a hobby for me and not a profession, so I can't always afford, or justify, the price of accessories. If I can make my own then I will give it a damn good try.