[ Expanded from an original Facebook post of October 2016 ]
YouTube is a place of many contrasts.
Yes, there’s plenty of “OMG, this is so amazing” (it usually isn’t), or “OMG, this is so funny” (ditto).
But in amongst this and similar crap, there’s also plenty that’s interesting, informative, inspiring.
For the first two, try searching YouTube for e.g. “log cabin,” “18th Century cooking,” or “coin tricks.”
For all three together, commend me to Rod Humphrey, erstwhile (proud) U.S. Marine and Special Forces veteran, now a master woodturner.
Here’s someone who during their active service must have seen (and dealt?) much savagery, whose chosen activity in retirement is almost a polar opposite.
And as we follow the (always well-filmed) process of him turning log and lumber into stunning, often chatoyant beauty, Rod explains to us in his gentle voice just what he’s doing and why. (Chatoyance is a word you’ll hear him use occasionally. It means a kind of silk-like sheen that shimmers as the eye-line changes.)
In this way, we begin to understand some of the complexities of woodturning, and a large part of its appeal.
All this is done with a humility and an appreciation of others that might put any materialist striver to shame . . .
Hard to choose among the myriads of Rod’s videos to showcase, but try this one:
This is one in a planned occasional “Of their Hands” series, in which I’ll be spotlighting some of the folks I’ve found online who marry mortal and machine in mastery majestic.
There’s already a few of these on the site: I’m thinking in particular of Mr Chickadee, Mechanical perfection and Katzenjammer cobblers . . .
Interestingly, quite apart from the immersive pleasure of watching a thing done superlatively well, there’s often a kind of tranquility (maybe even healing?) to be had in watching these videos.
I suspect this at least partially reflects the satisfaction and contentment of those who are making the very best of their (co-)creative talents . . .
R Humphrey YouTube channel here