I'm catching up on your older videos. Thank you for this one! Brought back tons of memories for me. I got kicked out of the Brownies (pre-girl scout), and I was my dad's tool runner. In return he taught me how to do stuff and answered every "why" question I had 😄, so I'm constantly building my own mini studios. Fun!
A quiet late response i guess for this fast RUclips world. Thx for all your effort in sharing your thoughts - i have lately started to snoot my flashes into telephoto lenses and bundle the light by doing so. Since over a year i am watching your videos now - and i wanna thank you so much. Your series on Adorama was what brought me into flash photography and i keep learning so much, though what you do with your videos. Much aappreciation from another Daniel
I know this video is getting "old" by RUclips standards, but I can surely relate. Growing up, my Dad was one that did everything himself, and I'd watch it all and learn. Sure, you can buy things, but making something yourself and the learning process is where the growth happens. Get your hands dirty and make something. You never know when being able to DIY could save your butt. Thanks, Daniel!
Interesting, Daniel. I love hearing your stories about learning things in sometimes-unexpected ways. I couldn’t agree more about being a well-rounded human being. I was a mono-mind about music (drumming/arranging) until I was about 40 years old. I think that during that period, I became “stiff”. Then, I started to step out of my rather narrow experience, (living on the road, and working in nightclubs and casinos) and to appreciate things in a different ways. When you live in a box, you just “see the inside of the box”. Also agreed… Every human that I ever admired had that child-like quality of exploring, inventing, and playing. (and of course, limitless energy and impeccable technique doesn’t hurt) The mono-mind approach of being a “serious performer” gets old, and lacks emotion, and as one of my heroes said “Those who emote the most are the best.” It’s also good to hear someone I respect reaffirm those things. You and Seth cover so much ground, and share so much, so quickly, that I’m amazed you have time to sleep. So… Thank you!
PVC pipe and their related fittings are big boy Tinker Toys. Years ago I built a 6 X 3 foot reflector and a 3 X 4 foot shooting table with a clear top made of Lexan. Lexan is better than Plexiglass as it does not scratch easily or crack.
I dig the DIY aspect. I built some great cheap 2'x3' diffusion panels using aluminum window frame kits from Home Depot, Savage Translum plastic (medium-weight, which I absolutely love) and white gaf tape. I use them constantly.
Seems you and I had a very similar upbringing. Was not in the boy scouts but was a Webelo. My father as did everything around the home as far as remodeling / repairs etc. I've learned a lot from my parents and as you say you don't really appreciate it until you are on your own.
Awesome talk! Whenever I am in Lowe's or Home Depot and I wander by something with male or female 1/4 20 or 3/8 16 I instinctively stop and ponder what use I could get out of it. I have lost money doing that because half the time my ideas don't pan out. But you're right that it's still fun to try. Also I learned from working with Loctite threadlocker that flipping from red to blue isn't just for elections. I have so many pieces that I was SURE I would never want separated again.... until I did.
Good ideas. My Dad was the same way, he did everything, and did it pretty darned well. It appears that you live in a relatively quiet, peaceful neighborhood. Have a good thanksgiving if you do such things.
Nice talk Daniel I myself got in to photography because my brother loved taking photo's and he bought me my first camera think it was a Zenith E way back then, and we done all are own work on are cars like breaks, clutch, gearbox even a engine change a few times haha. My brother has gone now but he was a Canon shooter swore by Canon so out of respect for him I too i'm a Canon shooter, Love the work you do so keep them vid's coming .
Daily driving Land Rovers from the 60s & 70s will also make you very handy. Managed to get home more than a couple of times with little more than a Swiss army knife and a pair of vice grips.
When I started putting more into cosplay photography there's been some DIY things I've had to piece together to help get closer to what I had in mind for a shoot. Like finding out no one made large backdrops in the color I wanted so I ordered some 10 x 20 white muslins and made it look like a bunch of Smurfs died in my washing machine. Or needing some stands to hold some clear plates of donuts but no one had ones in a neutral color nor were they tall enough. So I made them myself. And then I would reuse them for a Halloween set by repainting them in this antique bronze paint that totally fit. Or by making six snoots out of poster board and aluminum foil since at the time I couldn't justify buying actual snoots. But as I went through all of that there was something about those processes that got me out of the photographer mindset and I've come to really enjoy them. It kinda helps me slow down and really think through how we're going to do things. Which comes in handy when the time comes that we're out shooting. Still need to scrape out those bits of clear casting resin in one bath tub though.
I had similar experiences with teachers and professors. Really sad cases of people stuck in their ways or ideologues who hated being challenged when they were clearly wrong.
I think its a generation thing .. My Dad was a mechanic by trade but could build an rewire anything and my Grandmother was the best baker for miles around .. I wasn't in the scouts but always out exploring .. taught me alot I grew up an became an electronics engineer and not too shabby at DIY
It's always fun to improvise. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. BTW, while I was watching this and I did get a notice for it, Facebook failed to notify me of Seth's live shoot with Vanessa Joy. I did check my settings and I checked All for live notifications. Go figure. So I guess I like you more today, LOL. I really think that social media doesn't like me, LOL. Getting back to the creativity I suppose that's why a lot of us liked those MacGyver shows. For me it was Tinkertoy.
Can back you up on the scout thing. If you do it in above average time they would accuse you of actually not doing it. That was in the late 70's for me.
I was never a Boy Scout either. I was always a gearhead though. If my bike broke I certainly wasn't getting a new one so I learned how to fix it. My father spent his vacation time remodeling 1 room in the house every year, of course with me as free labor. While he managed to keep all his cars on the road for at least 10 years, it often wasn't pretty how he did it(coffee cans and hose clamps to patch exhaust leaks). I on the other hand started restoring cars before I even had a license. I'm not the best carpenter(ok I suck), but over the years none of my wood DIY projects has collapsed. I AM however a very capable welder and metal fabricator. I've made all sorts of mounts and stands for speedlights and backgrounds. The room I used as my studio in my last apartment had a full wall of south facing windows. I made frames from 1x1's and covered them with diffusion material to hang over the windows from 'command hooks'. It took me 2 minutes to change that one wall into a giant softbox. In my current basement studio there are only 2 tiny windows and a north facing sliding door. To fake window light I bounce flash off a wall through a floor-to-ceiling DIY scrim-jim style diffusion panel. With curtains hung from a background stand in front of it, it looks like a sliding door to a balcony. Instant high rise apartment in my basement. While a Lastolite HiLite would be nice, my solution was
I feel this concept is lost on much of the youth today - They are growing up in a world that is instant and the idea of fixing your own toilet - or climbing up on a roof to fix a leak is beyond many. I am the same - grew up doing these types of things with my father and learning to cook with my mother - And being a Machinist I have to think outside the box everyday, so do the same with photography.
@@DanielNortonPhotographer It is a very sad state of affairs, but yes the parents are to blame - We have an engineering student at work that does not understand basic Trig, can only use the CAD software to figure out a basic Triangle. The future is in the hands for morons:)
Hi Daniel I've a Challenge for you and Seth! Are you up for it?! To produce 3 differnt (looks) Pro Grade Portraits each! But here's the catch! You Only get to use 1 standard speedlight and trigger and what ever light Mod you can make yourself! (You Must Make it) 3 differnt looks each! Let's face it? Most of us that follow ye to learn can't afford (We're Amateurs) the lights and Mods that ye have access to or own. But a huge persentage will have a speedlight? It would make a great video and also challenge ye both?
That sucks, I did 42 merit badges in boy scouts. They're incredibly easy to finish. I don't know why anyone thinks they take so much time. And cub scouts are even easier. I enjoyed it, but if the leaders suck then the program sucks.
I'm catching up on your older videos. Thank you for this one! Brought back tons of memories for me. I got kicked out of the Brownies (pre-girl scout), and I was my dad's tool runner. In return he taught me how to do stuff and answered every "why" question I had 😄, so I'm constantly building my own mini studios. Fun!
Awesome
A quiet late response i guess for this fast RUclips world. Thx for all your effort in sharing your thoughts - i have lately started to snoot my flashes into telephoto lenses and bundle the light by doing so. Since over a year i am watching your videos now - and i wanna thank you so much. Your series on Adorama was what brought me into flash photography and i keep learning so much, though what you do with your videos. Much aappreciation from another Daniel
Very cool!
I luv these little talks.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you Daniel, love hearing your thoughts and experiences, also I so love the background, amazing colours and feeling.
Thanks!
I know this video is getting "old" by RUclips standards, but I can surely relate. Growing up, my Dad was one that did everything himself, and I'd watch it all and learn. Sure, you can buy things, but making something yourself and the learning process is where the growth happens. Get your hands dirty and make something. You never know when being able to DIY could save your butt. Thanks, Daniel!
Interesting, Daniel. I love hearing your stories about learning things in sometimes-unexpected ways.
I couldn’t agree more about being a well-rounded human being. I was a mono-mind about music (drumming/arranging) until I was about 40 years old. I think that during that period, I became “stiff”. Then, I started to step out of my rather narrow experience, (living on the road, and working in nightclubs and casinos) and to appreciate things in a different ways. When you live in a box, you just “see the inside of the box”.
Also agreed… Every human that I ever admired had that child-like quality of exploring, inventing, and playing. (and of course, limitless energy and impeccable technique doesn’t hurt) The mono-mind approach of being a “serious performer” gets old, and lacks emotion, and as one of my heroes said “Those who emote the most are the best.”
It’s also good to hear someone I respect reaffirm those things. You and Seth cover so much ground, and share so much, so quickly, that I’m amazed you have time to sleep. So… Thank you!
Thanks I appreciate all the comments and feedback
PVC pipe and their related fittings are big boy Tinker Toys. Years ago I built a 6 X 3 foot reflector and a 3 X 4 foot shooting table with a clear top made of Lexan. Lexan is better than Plexiglass as it does not scratch easily or crack.
True, good tip!
I dig the DIY aspect. I built some great cheap 2'x3' diffusion panels using aluminum window frame kits from Home Depot, Savage Translum plastic (medium-weight, which I absolutely love) and white gaf tape. I use them constantly.
Sweet!
Totally agree! Half the fun is figuring how to diy stuff! Good video! 👍😉
Yup! Thanks!
Seems you and I had a very similar upbringing. Was not in the boy scouts but was a Webelo. My father as did everything around the home as far as remodeling / repairs etc. I've learned a lot from my parents and as you say you don't really appreciate it until you are on your own.
great video I would like to hear how you to fitted a sunroof with a chain saw sounds fun
Awesome talk!
Whenever I am in Lowe's or Home Depot and I wander by something with male or female 1/4 20 or 3/8 16 I instinctively stop and ponder what use I could get out of it. I have lost money doing that because half the time my ideas don't pan out. But you're right that it's still fun to try.
Also I learned from working with Loctite threadlocker that flipping from red to blue isn't just for elections. I have so many pieces that I was SURE I would never want separated again.... until I did.
Nice!
Good ideas. My Dad was the same way, he did everything, and did it pretty darned well. It appears that you live in a relatively quiet, peaceful neighborhood. Have a good thanksgiving if you do such things.
Thanks! Yes it’s pretty quiet here
Nice talk Daniel I myself got in to photography because my brother loved taking photo's and he bought me my first camera think it was a Zenith E way back then, and we done all are own work on are cars like breaks, clutch, gearbox even a engine change a few times haha. My brother has gone now but he was a Canon shooter swore by Canon so out of respect for him I too i'm a Canon shooter, Love the work you do so keep them vid's coming .
Awesome to have such a great brother
Daily driving Land Rovers from the 60s & 70s will also make you very handy. Managed to get home more than a couple of times with little more than a Swiss army knife and a pair of vice grips.
But so worth it!
Listening to this as editing images....love your talks...J
Thanks!!
When I started putting more into cosplay photography there's been some DIY things I've had to piece together to help get closer to what I had in mind for a shoot. Like finding out no one made large backdrops in the color I wanted so I ordered some 10 x 20 white muslins and made it look like a bunch of Smurfs died in my washing machine. Or needing some stands to hold some clear plates of donuts but no one had ones in a neutral color nor were they tall enough. So I made them myself. And then I would reuse them for a Halloween set by repainting them in this antique bronze paint that totally fit. Or by making six snoots out of poster board and aluminum foil since at the time I couldn't justify buying actual snoots.
But as I went through all of that there was something about those processes that got me out of the photographer mindset and I've come to really enjoy them. It kinda helps me slow down and really think through how we're going to do things. Which comes in handy when the time comes that we're out shooting.
Still need to scrape out those bits of clear casting resin in one bath tub though.
Awesome! Yes, RIT Dye and raw canvas have been great friends of mine
Thanks for sharing. Listening to to you had me thinking of some DIY lighting I'd like to try.
Cool!
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍽🍁 Daniel Norton.
Thanks!! 🦃
Daniel Norton Photographer You’re very welcome 😉
@@DanielNortonPhotographer You are very welcome.
Hey Daniel, about that water dripping from left of your wind chime ... ; ) (And thanks for the video.)
Snow melting!
I had similar experiences with teachers and professors. Really sad cases of people stuck in their ways or ideologues who hated being challenged when they were clearly wrong.
Yes, it’s unfortunate
D.....I'm obsessing wiv getting one good portrait with my old flash units from the 80,s.....hannimex with auto stops!....
Think!...
Till it hurts.
Auto flashes are pretty cool
I think its a generation thing .. My Dad was a mechanic by trade but could build an rewire anything and my Grandmother was the best baker for miles around .. I wasn't in the scouts but always out exploring .. taught me alot I grew up an became an electronics engineer and not too shabby at DIY
That sounds about right
I wish I had your DIY inclination. As we say in Sweden, I’ve got my thumb in the middle of my hand/palm.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It's always fun to improvise. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. BTW, while I was watching this and I did get a notice for it, Facebook failed to notify me of Seth's live shoot with Vanessa Joy. I did check my settings and I checked All for live notifications. Go figure. So I guess I like you more today, LOL. I really think that social media doesn't like me, LOL. Getting back to the creativity I suppose that's why a lot of us liked those MacGyver shows. For me it was Tinkertoy.
Ha ha, it’s the internet! Tinkertoys!
Can back you up on the scout thing. If you do it in above average time they would accuse you of actually not doing it. That was in the late 70's for me.
Great vid Daniel. Like a BTS on your childhood.
🙏🏻🙏🏻
I was never a Boy Scout either. I was always a gearhead though. If my bike broke I certainly wasn't getting a new one so I learned how to fix it. My father spent his vacation time remodeling 1 room in the house every year, of course with me as free labor. While he managed to keep all his cars on the road for at least 10 years, it often wasn't pretty how he did it(coffee cans and hose clamps to patch exhaust leaks). I on the other hand started restoring cars before I even had a license. I'm not the best carpenter(ok I suck), but over the years none of my wood DIY projects has collapsed. I AM however a very capable welder and metal fabricator. I've made all sorts of mounts and stands for speedlights and backgrounds.
The room I used as my studio in my last apartment had a full wall of south facing windows. I made frames from 1x1's and covered them with diffusion material to hang over the windows from 'command hooks'. It took me 2 minutes to change that one wall into a giant softbox. In my current basement studio there are only 2 tiny windows and a north facing sliding door. To fake window light I bounce flash off a wall through a floor-to-ceiling DIY scrim-jim style diffusion panel. With curtains hung from a background stand in front of it, it looks like a sliding door to a balcony. Instant high rise apartment in my basement. While a Lastolite HiLite would be nice, my solution was
Awesome!
Thank u :)
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hello. My favorite diy youtuber is April Wilkinson. Nice video.
Oh cool! I’ll check her out
I could share similar experiences
🙌🏻🙌🏻
Good to know you got over that cub stuff. It must have been very disturbing.
Do you still get urges to play with your woggle?
Hey, I look good in a kerchief 😝
You often say "when I was a boy" or "back in the film days I .. " and it always makes me wonder how old you actually are 😃
Older than the models - usually lol
@@DanielNortonPhotographer 27 and still going strong .. 😂
Cool
😊
Mmm...coffee...
☕️
That WEBELO story makes me sad. The things that children experience.
I turned out more or less well adjusted 😊
I feel this concept is lost on much of the youth today - They are growing up in a world that is instant and the idea of fixing your own toilet - or climbing up on a roof to fix a leak is beyond many. I am the same - grew up doing these types of things with my father and learning to cook with my mother - And being a Machinist I have to think outside the box everyday, so do the same with photography.
If it is lost on them, I blame the parents.. plenty of people I grew up with can barely turn a screw lol
@@DanielNortonPhotographer It is a very sad state of affairs, but yes the parents are to blame - We have an engineering student at work that does not understand basic Trig, can only use the CAD software to figure out a basic Triangle. The future is in the hands for morons:)
Hi Daniel I've a Challenge for you and Seth! Are you up for it?! To produce 3 differnt (looks) Pro Grade Portraits each! But here's the catch! You Only get to use 1 standard speedlight and trigger and what ever light Mod you can make yourself! (You Must Make it) 3 differnt looks each! Let's face it? Most of us that follow ye to learn can't afford (We're Amateurs) the lights and Mods that ye have access to or own. But a huge persentage will have a speedlight? It would make a great video and also challenge ye both?
This could be a thing.
That sucks, I did 42 merit badges in boy scouts. They're incredibly easy to finish. I don't know why anyone thinks they take so much time. And cub scouts are even easier. I enjoyed it, but if the leaders suck then the program sucks.
Indeed
White walls save my life.
Amen
Same Weblos story. Farm kid had no problem tying knots. Go figure.
Ha ha, yup
I think you should come to my house and build my wife a She Shed🤓