Since you guys were less-than-helpful…😝

[TwoWheeler]

…when I asked about ground level tripods, I was forced to conjure up my own solution:

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It’s not perfect - not crazy about “hanging the camera from the hot shoe” and it’s not overly rigid, but it’ll do, for now. I wouldn’t trust it for anything above about 2” off the ground, but that’s not the intended use.

I might make a metal version later on or I might make an Arca Swiss mount that extends out then down, then forks out either side of the lens and then attaches to a plate mounted the “proper” way.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Just lay in the dirt and mud like the rest of us!

 

[David Berry]

Just lie in the dirt and mud like the rest of us!

And how do the geriatrics amongst us get up afterwards?

To be serious (it’s difficult these days), I’ll challenge myself to suspend my R5m2 + RF100 macro with no more than 1mm clearance from the aforementioned ‘dirt and mud’… and do so without acquiring yet more gear from our Amazonian friends!

Is that possible?

… David

 

[Photofarmer]

And how do the geriatrics amongst us get up afterwards?

To be serious (it’s difficult these days), I’ll challenge myself to suspend my R5m2 + RF100 macro with no more than 1mm clearance from the aforementioned ‘dirt and mud’… and do so without acquiring yet more gear from our Amazonian friends!

Is that possible?

… David

hehe went out with daughter photographing ghost mushrooms had cameras set up just waiting for more darkness tripped and went arse over tit managed to get up daughter said you need companion when storm chasing dad you might fall and be like a turtle on its back and cant get up

 

[Archibald]

You can make a camera stand out of the base of a music stand.

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This places the camera a few inches high. It works great with the subject on a small scissor lift jack.

Of course you can use many different objects in place of the music stand base to support the ball head.

 

[TwoWheeler]

Just lay in the dirt and mud like the rest of us!

I still have to, but the camera doesn’t - good God man, where are your priorities????

To be serious (it’s difficult these days), I’ll challenge myself to suspend my R5m2 + RF100 macro with no more than 1mm clearance from the aforementioned ‘dirt and mud’…

See above. I can get right down to the ground, if necessary, without touching it. In the photo, it’s sitting on my Arca plate, which I could take off, if I wanted to get the last 3/8” (10mm).

And how do the geriatrics amongst us get up afterwards?

My neighbors probably look out the window at me lying on the ground taking mushroom photos and go “Oh look, he’s drunk on the front lawn again…”

and do so without acquiring yet more gear from our Amazonian friends!

Is that possible?

You could buy a Prusa printer without going through Scamazon…

 

[David Berry]

Giving Plan B a run for its money…

Plan A (I think this is what is shown in TW's photo in post #1.) :

1. Set up the tripod normally.
2. Remove the centre column and insert upside down.
3. 

Plan B (following photos) :

1. DO NOT fiddle with the centre column (leave it in its normal position).
   — photo #1
2. Swing the legs way beyond their most-splayed position, so that they're pointing upward.
   — photo #2
3. Invert the entire tripod.
   — photo #3

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[TwoWheeler]

Giving Plan B a run for its money…

Plan A (I think this is what is shown in TW's photo in post #1.) :

1. Set up the tripod normally.
2. Remove the centre column and insert upside down.
3. 

4. Perfect either the art of headstands or learn to work upside down. (Or by an Australian model R5 just for low level shots).

Plan B (following photos) :

1. DO NOT fiddle with the centre column (leave it in its normal position).
   — photo #1
2. Swing the legs way beyond their most-splayed position, so that they're pointing upward.
   — photo #2
3. Invert the entire tripod.
   — photo #3

This requires a fancy-ass gimbal head and a lens collar/foot - worth more than my tripod. (And my lens didn’t even come with a lens hood, much less a tripod collar.

…and you’re still not low enough.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Use the lens collar.

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Or add the L-Bracket from your other camera body.

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[TwoWheeler]

What is this lens collar you speak of? Here in non-L land this is only rumor…like lens hoods….