LUMBERJOCKS – Lights, Camera, Action!
FYI – this video was shot with the video feature of a small inexpensive pocket digital camera becuase my digital video camera was included in the shot. So if you have a pocket digital camera, you can start posting woodworking video content!
If you are like me, when not in your shop its fun to watch woodworking videos and podcasts.
Did you take the Digital Lumberjock Quiz?
See if you can answer the following questions:
1. Wears a surgical scrub cap and has a passion for furniture design
2. Boston accent and an unabashed approach to period furniture
3. Warm friendly Southern accent with a straight forward approach to woodworking
4. Posts audio & video woodworking content featuring intro music by 3 F33T UP
5. Festool, Powematic, technology & too much energy
OK, if you know the answers than you need to get a life and get out into your shop!
If you don’t know the answers than you are missing out on some great woodworking content on the Internet.
Either way, consider adding some video woodworking content of your own. Lumberjocks is a great forum to share some video of your woodworking experiences. Perhaps document your newest project, a unique technique or special woodworking skill.
While doing a bit of research for this series, I contacted some of our favorite woodworking podcast producers. Neil Lamens was very generous with his time and offered the following advice during a series of email messages. “If I could make a suggestion, keep the editing software as simple as possible. Time becomes a major issue in getting podcasts posted. Especially when you have another job. Late nights are not unusual.” He also alluded to the need for good lighting stating, “you’ll be surprised how well the light bounces off the ceiling and the camera adjusts exposure.”
UPDATE (Thanks to Neil) – “To add to your plastic bag dust protector, if shooting when sanding, cut a hole in the plastic bag, extend just lens through and seal with rubber bands around the camera body.”
Matt Vanderlist responded with a well thought out discussion on making shop videos that I have included as a PDF document. This is a great source of inspiration and advice.
Marc Spagnuolo forwarded a link to his website that describes his equipment, as well as, a tutorial link he wrote for Lumberjocks detailing uploading video on BlipTV. He also shared that he does his editing on a Mac using Final Cut Express stating that “. . . As far as planning episodes go, I usually just wing it for the most part. I typically have a rough outline of what I want to do, and I go out there and just start running my lips. LOL”.
This blog entry shares how I make low-tech and low-cost woodworking focused video content in my shop. I have written this blog entry for the average Digital Lumberjock. Now, this is not meant to make you a Neil Lamens or a Matt Vanderlist, but rather expose you to a simple primer explaining how to post your own video using simple equipment you may already have available. Granted, videography takes time to set-up and produce. It might even slow you down a bit. The benefit is that this is a lot of fun and a great skill to add to your repertoire. It also gives you a chance to appreciate your work from a new perspective.
What’s my motive? More woodworking videos of course!
My tips are use a tripod for a steady shot and try for the best lighting possible. Have fun and start shooting!
DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA
VIDEO CAMERA POWER SUPPLY
DIGITAL VIEDO CAMERA EXTRA BATTERY, REMOTE CONTROL, EXTRA DV TAPE
WIRELESS MICROPHONE
CAMERA CABLE, LENS BRUSH, VELCRO CABLE TIES
TRIPOD
SHOP LIGHTS
POWER CORD & MULTI-OUTLET
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
16 comments so far
furnitologist
home | projects | blog
166 posts in 404 days
posted 244 days ago
Hey David….............I should have taken my owe advice… “Late nights are not unusual”, had to get it done. That’s a very good post to get everybody going. You hit all the equipment you need. To add to your plastic bag dust protector, if shooting when sanding, cut a hole in the plastic bag, extend just lens through and seal with rubber bands around the camera body.
Everything one will need is all in your post.
Lee A. Jesberger
home | projects | blog
2097 posts in 370 days
posted 243 days ago
David;
I think I figured out what your electrical problem is!
You can’t plug the cords in like that.
What you need is cordless extension cords.
No charge for this expert advice!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
mot
home | projects | blog
4831 posts in 427 days
posted 243 days ago
Great content, David! I didn’t realize I was agoraphobic, until you did the panoramic view in the video. Nice space you got there!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Bob #2
home | projects | blog
1635 posts in 412 days
posted 243 days ago
Thanks for clueing me in on this fascinating part of this communication thing.
Al I need now is a decent camera and something to say.
The latter could take a while.
Mot, I had no idea you were scared of farming!
Cheers
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Thos. Angle
home | projects | blog
3246 posts in 353 days
posted 243 days ago
Tom’s scared of farming, Bob’s scared of talking and I don’t have enough savy to handle all that equipment. I think if I learn one more thing before the first of the year, my head will explode. But…....thanks David for trying to get us old fogeys up to speed.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
David
home | projects | blog
1801 posts in 530 days
posted 243 days ago
Thomas -
LOL
Old fogey my _ ! I have an ulterior motive in that I want to see more what happens in everyone’s shops!
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5256 posts in 457 days
posted 243 days ago
David, I do most of my woodworking in a Spandex outfit – I really don’t think that you would ever wash that picture out of your eyes, so I better hold off on the videos :-)).
Just kidding, I am working my way up to trying one. I thought that I’d do a video using the CarveWright machine, so everybody can get a look at how the thing works (or doesn’t work a lot of the time). Thanks for the push.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
2450 posts in 490 days
posted 243 days ago
Cajunpen – AHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
David – Thanks for the post, you have been most helpful to me and I will get to video posting at some point. I seem to struggle on the computer for a while and then, in a moment of epiphany, figure it out. Right now I am also working quite a bit so that I can get back home to my wife and dogs. Oh yeah and the grandkids.
Back to Cajunpen – AHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
David
home | projects | blog
1801 posts in 530 days
posted 243 days ago
Cajunpen . . . I am thinking of this Spandex idea . . . no I will stay with a t-shirt & jeans from this end. Probably not good to see me in Spandex either! I am looking forward to seeing your CarveWright in action sometime!
Todd – Thanks for the kind comments! I know what you mean about moments of epiphany . . . have a lot of those as I explore uncharted ground! You have your priorities straight although I think I need to check your ID because you look too young to have grandchildren! By the way, if I have not mentioned it in the past – thank you for your service! I was just reading the blog series posted by Sarge and I am feeling a bit patriotic.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
mot
home | projects | blog
4831 posts in 427 days
posted 242 days ago
I work in spandex in the shop all the time. It’s not too bad. When working at the lathe, you don’t get chips in all your pockets and stuck all over you.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
2261 posts in 455 days
posted 242 days ago
Ah, good to Spi-tato man again…
Ditto the AHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!, Bill and Todd. LOL
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Dick Cain
home | projects | blog
4298 posts in 690 days
posted 242 days ago
I’ve been away, way to long. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Great job!!!
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Bill
home | projects | blog
2508 posts in 552 days
posted 242 days ago
Cool video David. A nice set up to produce your vids. I bet we see more soon.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
David
home | projects | blog
1801 posts in 530 days
posted 242 days ago
Guys, thanks again for the kind words!
Dick it is great to see you!
I’m looking for one of those fancy spiderman stretchy work aprons and blue work boots . . . ! LOL
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
dennis mitchell
home | projects | blog
2802 posts in 705 days
posted 231 days ago
Great job. Thanks for the info!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
David
home | projects | blog
1801 posts in 530 days
posted 231 days ago
Hi Dennis! Thanks for the kind words.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com