In addition to being a product designer, UK-based Samuel Granger is an avid photographer. Those familiar with studio photography know there's already a bewildering array of lighting products on the market, but Granger spotted an unmet need in the area of macro photography.

"Lighting macro photography subjects is very challenging, taking up time and financial resources to achieve the 'right' set-up," Granger writes. "Existing products have the following problems: Lack of lighting control, often very expensive (£200 or above for a flash which can only achieve one lighting outcome), complicated to use, time consuming to set-up or change, restrictive in lighting positions and direction, not very portable."

Reckoning he could do better, Granger spent the past year developing Adaptalux, a portable, modular and easily-adjustable lighting rig. Kitted out with LEDs on flexible stalks, a small control center that they plug into and a variety of diffusers that attach with magnets, it's essentially a "miniature lighting studio." 

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Granger, now with a team behind him, has got it ready for prime time:

This one's coming down to the wire: The target is roughly US $150,000, and at press time they were at US $103,000 with 12 days left to pledge. Buy-in starts at US $150, and you can get in on it here.