A Few of My Favorite Builds
Published January 23, 2025 · 1:17 · 28,590 views
About This Video
A camera stabilizer from 2009 for a Canon SD 870 that never really worked right. Now it's just a sculpture, a beautiful failure. A tool wall inspired by a book Van saw in Tom Sachs's studio about a famous tool rack some master craftsman had built for himself. Rudimentary but built just right, albeit not perfectly. The Destroyer lamp: 8-lb sledge base, added switches, heat lamps, wobbles but doesn't fall down. Van's invention, but you can make one if you like. Each build is a micro-argument for making things by hand.
Transcript
this is a camera stabilizer I made in 2009 for my Canon SD 870 I want to show
you how my new steady cam works so I'm riding my skateboard down Broadway but I never really got it to work right so now
it's just a sculpture these nuts are to counterbalance the weight of the camera same with this smooshed Penny thing the
gimbal is from drivetrain linkage off of a radio controlled car totally impractical but I like the way it turned
out and I guess it's a beautiful failure this steady cam I built this tool wall got the idea from a book I saw in Tom
Sax's Studio about a famous tool rack thing that some master Craftsman had built for himself mine is rudimentary
but I love it and I think I built it just right albeit not perfectly
I use this Destroyer lamp on every shoot they wobble but they don't fall down 8 lb sledge base added switches to the
lamps heat lamps the Destroyer lamp is my invention but you can make one if you like
Products & Tools Mentioned
- Canon SD 870 uses — camera used to document builds
People Referenced
Tom Sachs