DIY Umbrella Mount 1. What you need (all available in the hardware store): - 2 pieces small L-shaped brackets. The ones pictured are "wall fixing brackets", which already had holes that can accommodate the bolts. I also saw sliding door brackets that would work. - 2 pieces 1/4" x 3/4" bolts, preferably with a philips head groove - 3 pieces corresponding nuts - 1 piece same diameter wingnut - 1 piece custom-cut aluminum tubing: 1.5in long, 3/4"; diameter. 2 holes have been drilled into the middle part of the tube (opposite sides) in order to accommodate bolt and screwdriver 2. Where each of the parts will pretty much go. Note that the bolt that will hold the flash is inserted through the mouth of the tube. The opposite hole is used to insert the screwdriver for tightening and adjustment. 3. The double nut at the top of the mount is deliberate. The first nut near the bracket is used to lock the final position of the bolt. The second nut on top of the first will lock everything into place. The bolt's position will differ depending on your flash receiver/shoe adapter. 4. Final placement of the umbrella mount onto the light stand. This particular stand (Studio Systems W803) has a 1/4"; diameter thread, similar to the others. 5. IR receiver, an example of flash mount/receiver with thread on the bottom. Cactus/ Gadget Infinity receivers and SMDV Flash Waves receivers have the same thread and diameter and can be mounted. I'm not sure about the others, since I've tried only the three receivers mentioned before. 6. The finished product with Nikon SB-24 and 36"; bounce umbrella. ***Limitations: The diameter of the aluminum tube is too big for the umbrella handle. This is a necessary evil so as to accommodate the placement of the vertical bolt. As you may have noticed, I had to use a little binder clip to hold the umbrella in place. I have yet to devise a better system of holding the umbrella in the aluminum tube. I also placed some foam inside the tube in order to lessen slack around the umbrella handle. Suggestions are welcome for improving this. Tilting of the umbrella mount can be acheived by loosening/tightening the wing nut. However, a philips screwdriver needs to be present to counter the wing nut. This is another limitation of the current design. ***Disclaimer: Those who try this design will be responsible for their results. The author won't be held liable for any damage or untoward incidents related to this device. For me, it's been working great so far, despite the two main limitations. Have fun, guys! ;) Oh, I almost forgot to mention the best thing about this project - everything cost around 300 Philippine Pesos, or about $6.78! ;)

Shot for a photo challenge on the theme of "Close Ups". I started by photographing fork tips, etc. Then noticed a screwdriver with interchangable tips. I lined the three pozidrive/philips heads up, and bingo. The tips were stood on a window sill with a black CD case behind to make the background. After a little playing I found I liked it with the middle bit closer to throw the others out of focus slightly. I used my DSLR with an old 1980's 50mm f1.8 lens attached via a reversing ring. This was my first full edit in Lightroom 3. Curves, desaturation (to about 20%, with a little more blue left), and one or two subtle tweaks, and this is the result. I could've got more in focus if I'd had time to set it all up on a tripod and used a smaller aperture, but I kind of like the very very limited depth of field. The one thing that struck me, as the title suggests, is the way the shape of them reminded me of bullets. :)