Mothers of Invention

It's a moment that most serious photographers have experienced: You're in the middle of a shoot, and you realize that none of the off-the-shelf photo gear at your disposal can solve the particular technical problem you're facing or produce the creative effect you want. You cobble together a solution and move on. Then there are those photographers who stop and think, "I'm likely to have this problem or want this effect again. What can I build myself?"