Ok, this one is not for everyone but I thought that it was a clever DIY project. Food and photography goes hand to hand. But this time, it is on an usual way. An inexpensive frying pan creates the base of your own custom made ground pod.
Besides the cost savings, the benefits are that it is lighter than the commercially available ground pods and that you can make it at the height that fits your body. If you are interested, the project is simple to make. Check the instructions at Digital Photography School and at Photo Migrations.
I try to remember this fun thing the next time I meet a serious photographer.