frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I can't find it now but I have seen tripods where you can mount the camera on the bottom of the Center Post. Some tripods allow you to remove the center post and then open the legs all the way out setting the tripod at ground level. You can always use a bean bag or whatever but here is a link to a DIY mount for ground level.

https://digital-photography-school.com/a-project-for-the-new-year-how-to-make-a-diy-ground-pod/

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Look for a Platypod or one of it's cheaper knock-off units. Add a ball head and you have a versatile camera stand to use for low angles.

HiFromSusan

That's a great idea, about te frying pan. Sturdy and as low as the length of the 3/8" bolt!

Rational1

I have a "Neewer 20 inches/50 Centimeters Portable Compact Desktop Macro Mini Tripod with 360 Degree Ball Head,1/4 inches Quick Release Plate, Bag for DSLR Camera, Video Camcorder up to 11 pounds/5 kilograms" which can be found at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSAEZN8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

The legs rotate to nearly horizontal to your camera placement can be from about one inch to 20 inches from the surface. I use it with a Canon 5D MarkIV with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens which is a good sized lens and the tripods holds it without problem.

EddieE Loc: Dallas, TX

Now I am gonna make a dirt cheap suggestion. Use a sandbag/beanbag. If you're not too rough with it you can get a bag of beans at the grocery store for a buck.

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

Cut a square piece of plywood, say 12x12 inch. Run a 1/4 20 s screw through the center. Mount a small tripod head and you are good to go.

Judgeled1 Loc: Georgia

Not sure if this is what you want but check out the Platypod.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Look at this video for an idea of what to do. Around the 5 minutes and 4 seconds mark. Also you can splay the kegs out like Gene mentioned.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

It would depend on the head that you use. The only way I could see using a gimbal would be if you had the platypod strapped to something solid.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Sorry here’s the link
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm2JH9N7Wvs

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Any modern tripod Alphabravo can get your DSLR camera as low as you wish, without any additional gadgets.
When you turn them upside down.

However, if you want to make this simple job complicated, there are tons of gadgets available.

keithtaffy

Try a zip-loc or such with some sand in it to cradle your camera. You can even set that on a rock the height you need. Improvise!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I made a "ground pod" from a cast aluminum baking pan with hole drilled and a ballhead bolted into it. That worked well and could be slid around easily, as needed. I mostly used this with large telephotos, when I wanted to work with them really close to ground level. A problem was there's no way to adjust the height, aside from piling up some dirt or rocks to sit the whole rig upon. However it was much cheaper than the commercial versions (most prices shown at links below are without a ballhead or gimbal that will still be needed):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/544674-REG/Naturescapes_SKM_II_SKM_II_Skimmer_Ground_Pod.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvO6eFLLa0kEYxdzuDPPaDULy4UzO9Yp7YbTgv_BLOKkUasI5pmYAc4aApuBEALw_wcB
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/841511-REG/Kirk_PO_2PC_Low_Pod.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvOPmxnqvdf29fZUJ-jlqjp3C16PfRghhjG7BVZC2At-5hMy_AFhRqwaArkEEALw_wcB
https://www.adorama.com/kirlap1sb.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvN8qh61s0e9U4RaPnyEP0jjjCNdFSkRH-2M89jV8tWLPZwuJK_C7h0aAmNPEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvN8qh61s0e9U4RaPnyEP0jjjCNdFSkRH-2M89jV8tWLPZwuJK_C7h0aAmNPEALw_wcB&utm_source=adl-gbase-p
https://www.adorama.com/jdttp.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvPSaDni2zRUQ6LMN9lDr3rJawahM5fmaddLa1XH0z5Bp9vymm6Fe_QaAjnTEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvPSaDni2zRUQ6LMN9lDr3rJawahM5fmaddLa1XH0z5Bp9vymm6Fe_QaAjnTEALw_wcB&utm_source=adl-gbase-p
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Tabletop-Mini-Tripods/ci/391/N/4075788740?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_support-weight_1445%3A15-lb%7C17-lb%7C18-lb%7C22-lb%7C33-lb

Another approach is a tripod with a reversible center column that can be used to "hang" the camera underneath. I have a tripod I've rigged up to work this way. Some "travel" tripods have reverse folding legs, to be able to fold up particularly compact. Those might work great for this technique. Mine requires the center column be removed from the normal orientation and reinstalled upside down, which is a somewhat fiddly process. With the travel tripods, you could just leave the legs reversed, spread them a little, adjust the length as needed and then drop the center column to where you want the camera to end up. If using the viewfinder, and angle finder or the rear screen of the camera, this works best with lenses that have a tripod collar so the camera isn't upside down. But if you use a remote and shoot tethered (wired or wirelessly, even a phone can work} it won't matter if the camera needs to be upside down.

old poet

I have this one. It is strong, has 3 leg adjustments for height and stability.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=slik%20pro%20dxshort&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps

DaveC Loc: Illinois

The problem with Platypod’s is that they are not very versatile. I have a Gitzo carbon fiber G2227. This tripod has legs that will splay independently to any angle, down to flat, and an offset center column that can be tilted to any angle from vertical to inverted vertical. You can set your camera to any height over almost any terrain. It is no longer made but used ones are available.