Frank Howarth used the construction of this outdoor chair as the focal point for a recent stop-motion animation that tickles the soul and boggles the mind.
Just the other day, a Shop Talk Live listener by the name of “Tuck” wrote me, suggesting that I have a look at a woodworking video by furniture maker Frank Howarth. The stop motion animation, shot with a conventional digital SLR camera, shows the entire construction process for an outdoor chair of Howarth’s design. What makes this short film unique however, is the fact that not once in the entire piece, is a woodworker, or even a hand, seen in a shot. A pencil line magically appears on a board, a circular saw makes its way down a board for a smooth rip cut, heck, even the finish is applied by a phantom.
Howarth uses a Canon 5D slr set atop a tripod. A wireless shutter release is used to capture each frame. As he explains it in his subsequent behind-the-scenes video, the key here is never to touch the camera. The mere tapping of an index finger on the camera’s shutter release is enough to throw off an entire shot–thus the wireless, electronic release.
I cannot imagine how much time this 10-minute video took to produce but I’m certainly glad it was made. Here’s to ingenuity, artistic talent, and good old-fashioned woodworking chutzpah!
H/T Tucker!
Building a Lawn Chair
The Making of the Lawn Chair Stop-Motion Animation
Frank Howarth shares his technique for producing what I’ve dubbed the “phantom woodworker.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ALjdGFDLpYI%3Flist%3DUU3_VCOJMaivgcGqPCTePLBA
Comments
That was an amazing video. Very entertaining and with cool sound effects too. I know a lot of effort went into this video. Great job!
Great video! Also liked the chair.
I want to see that done with HAND tools. That will make my day.. .and probably a few others....
Very Cool! That's the beauty of power tools - they pretty much make the things themselves! I really appreciate the how-to video also.
Really a fun video. Thanks for your effort. Really enjoyed both videos.
Brilliant video! Just awesome!
Frank, as a fellow woodworker/digital artist, I want to offer my congratulations and admiration for your various skills. They are, woodworking, planning, excellent camera work, wonderful sound editing, superb post-processing. enormous patience and a good sense of humor.
I also would say your equipment, both for working wood and that with which you made this video are impressive, not to speak of the imaginative way you used it.
It makes me wonder - how do you describe yourself? Do you think of yourself as a woodworker first? A photographer? Videographer? Sound technician?
Whatever you call yourself, you do it exceedingly well!
I thought I might try to make up a compound word that would incorporate all those job descriptions, but I gave up almost immediately.
Thanks for this great piece of work
Don "Dances With Wood" Butler
Wonderful, There are so many videos and so little time but I'm really glad I decided to take time to watch your (add any positive description here) challenging effort here.
So in the end, did you spend more time building the chair or making the video? (My money is on the video.) In any case, both are terrific !
Greetings,... very nice chair, and very nice video too!! This is the first time I've had the opportunity to view a educational, or a how-to, video like this. Easy to understand, and highly entertaining. I know this must have taken quite a while to create,... but I'm sure glad you did it. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this project.
The power tools that were used had a lot to do with how the chair was made,... i.e., the huge table on the band saw, the planer, etc.
Fan-super-tastic job. Looking forward to your next video!
-Steve
I always suspected that this is the kind of thing that goes on in our shops when our backs are turned.
Who needs a CNC?
That was awesome
Amazing video, wonderful shop, splendid workmanship, but the chair looks a little uncomfortable.
I'm sure the Claymation folks will be especially impressed with this fine effort. The educational value is exceeded only by the entertainment factor. Truly enjoyable. If I were to nitpick, (and I'm not, you understand!), but if I were, wouldn't the chair arms be a bit more comfortable rounded over where the hands rest? (Also, I'll trade shops & power tools with you in a New York Minute!)
Great video. Awesome shop with serious tools! I love the chair but the arms should have been rounded over at the front and along the edges. Great job all around.
Nice....and thats a sick bandsaw!
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks so much for this window into your mind.
My wife's first comment was," Oh ,that's what that machine that you bought does"! Ouch!!
Somewhere Charles and Ray Eames are nodding in approval and applauding. Beautifully done with wit and grace. And the chairs ain't half shabby none, neither!
Thanks for a great video. Very fun to watch and educational to see how you built the chair. Very nice chair design too.
Great video! The magic shop!
Brilliant, I smiled all the way through.
Great chair, but the video is quite superb, not just a bit of stop animation, but a witty artistic creation in itself.
I admire your imagination, creativity, and your workshop!
Many thanks
Bill Eastwood
That was amazing - great job in all aspects.
Amazing work, both in the chairs and the video! And the shop of my dreams! A many wonderous thing. Thank you!
Wow! This beats Norm! Can't stop watching it. Thank you.
Great job!! Thanks for both videos. Also, I like the chair.
Brill'...Brill'....congratulations. Question: With the camera so close to the work, how did you cope with the dust contaminating your equipment...??
WOW !! great work !! love this.
Love stop-motion animation! This was very cool. I'm sure this must be a tedious process. Thank you for making and sharing this!
Loved it! Just missed the sweet smell of the shop.
Beautiful chair. Amazing video. Congratulations.
Ed, (and all others),
that's a pretty cool video. it reminded of one my brother sent me a year or so ago. i looked it up and it's the same person (frank howarth). i liked this one even better w/ turning a segmented bowl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFFS9PsghCI
Altogether enchanting! Thanks for sharing it.
Amazing... very inspiring...
Awesome videos...very entertaining and obviously a great deal of effort to make. Thank you for sharing this wonderful
build.
amazing video lovely chair
Really good to see, it is amazing!
The most clever and entertaining video I have seen in years! Well done. Thank you for the excellent effort.
Hi Ed.
Glad you liked Frank's video. I wrote him myself to thank him for that. His presentation style and video chops really make for an entertaining and interesting demonstration of skills.
For those interested in how Frank was able to create this video, check out his video on that:
http://www.subsassy.com/shop/?p=1089
Tuck
I stumbled across Frank Howarth's work several months ago on YouTube and subscribed to his channel. I have yet to be disappointed with his woodworking and his videos. He does soom amazing work. If you enjoy shop tours, he has several videos on building his shop and a tour through his shop that would make any woodworker jealous. Just amazing!
That's the most entertaining woodwork video I've seen in years! Beats the pants off the 'usual' stuff by miles.
Really, really interesting. I don't know which I liked more. The initial video, the making of the video, or the design of the chair. Very impressive.
Awesome
Awesome! Amazing talent as a woodworker and the film was fantastic. I am lusting after your shop and that wondrous bandsaw!!! Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing video. Wish I had that kind of equipment and room in my shop. Thanks for sharing!
WOW!!!
Amazing effort for a video, and fantastic detail in the photography
Thank you
Crafted very well. Well done.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in