Being something of an amateur photographer, I can understand the need for proper lighting. Without it, that brilliant shot you set up can end up looking a mess, regardless of what you do. Of course, buying the right flash can be a rather costly endeavor. So what does the cash-strapped photographer do? He builds his own.

One particular DIY-er decided that he wanted a ring flash, without spending a ton of cash. While there are a number of solutions out there, he decided to experiment with using fiber optic cables to transport the light. After all, that’s essentially what they’re made to do. After bundling 150 of the cables together and fastening them to a piece of acrylic, he mounted it to the lens of his camera and ended up with a pretty good ring flash for macro photography. Sure, it takes away from the sleek design of the camera, but it does work.