Yesterday I had a few experiences and encounters that made me think about what I’m doing with this photography lark. Some of it was a little depressing, some uplifting, but all of it lead to some serious pondering.

So today, in order to deal with this metaphysical weight on my brain, I built a new contraption. Sawing up metal and bashing holes in it with hammers always helps with such things I find.

My inspiration was a couple of ‘traps: Erich’s “Indiana Jones” rig and Dirk’s NikΩmega beast. While I like the simple cardboard box I’ve be swinging these last few months I felt I needed to make a bit more a statement. I wanted to look like this.

But it wasn’t just vanity. You might have noticed I haven’t taken at TTV at gigs since Christmas. The old ‘trap allowed the Fuji S7000 digital camera to be wedged in hard so longer exposures were possible. Even if the subject was blurred the square frame would be sharp. Something like this, for example, would be impossible. But the Nikon needs space between the lens and the tube to function. Rigidity need to occur elsewhere.

I found this relatively lightweight metal stuff in Wicks at £5.00 for 5 meters and chopped it down to size with a rusty hacksaw. My drill is shit but I was able to hammer holes in the metal which was much more fun. The Duaflex was secured using a long bolt through the lens hole and that red disk at the back and the Nikon using a flash side-mount thingy I’d gotten off eBay a while back. I had bought some bolts but the thread wasn’t right. The contraption worked but wasn’t too steady so more work was needed.

The metal was braced with bits of wood, the Duaflex raised slightly using cardboard and the lightproofing cardboard tube screwed into the metal. The three elements are separate although the tube and Duaflex are pretty much attached.

A second strip of metal was wedged into the back to increase rigidity and, after a few test shots in the garden it was time for the finishing touches.

(Click for bigger)

It’s heavier than before but not too heavy. I will probably modify it over time adding a handle or shoulder strap to make lugging it around less of a pain. And there’s still room for a compact box-’trap in my bag. But finally I can shoot in low light again! Yay!