Getting down low can make for a better (read different) landscape photograph. Here’s a tip to inexpensively protect your knees.
Closed cell foam
I stumbled into this idea when I opened up some packaging. The product was surrounded by closed cell foam. This type of closed cell foam has a little give to make it comfortable on which to kneel but will hold up to rocks and rough terrain. I cut my main kneeling pad to a size of eight by twelve inches. That makes it possible to rest both knees on it. I added a key chain holder and a carabiner clip. The pad hangs from my back pack or waist pouch from the metal rings. It weighs very little but protect my knees from damp, cold or rough places.
Get small
If you really want to pare down your extras you can use an even smaller piece of closed cell foam. This works for kneeling with a single knee. I cut this one to a four inch by four inch size. It slips inside my bags for carrying and takes little space.
Buy some
If you haven’t got some old packing closed cell foam you can buy some inexpensive knee pads from Amazon or your local hardware store for between 10 and 20 bucks. Then, custom cut them to the size you want.
If you have some cool low cost hacks for photography share them in the comments below.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Bunnings – the chain of hardware stores in Australia – sell kneelers for gardeners made of closed-cell foam. They are about 6″ x14″ with a cut-out handhold in one end. They sell for only a few dollars. I take one every time I go to the Botanical Garden.
Thanks Anne, They’ve got those at hardware stores and garden centers here in the US as well. Thanks for sharing!