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Visit National Geographic’s “Q” in His Inventor’s Workshop | National Geographic


everything I build is made from sin air

everything I build is made from sin air essentially I have to have to think

essentially I have to have to think

essentially I have to have to think really hard and come up with a solution

really hard and come up with a solution

really hard and come up with a solution and sometimes I get lucky

I have to make the photographer’s happy

I have to make the photographer’s happy and asked for help and I have to produce

and asked for help and I have to produce

and asked for help and I have to produce a useful solution that allows them to

a useful solution that allows them to

a useful solution that allows them to take the photograph in an effortless way

take the photograph in an effortless way

take the photograph in an effortless way and have for 32 years

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught myself running to somebody saying

caught myself running to somebody saying

caught myself running to somebody saying look what I just built isn’t that the

look what I just built isn’t that the

look what I just built isn’t that the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen you

most amazing thing you’ve ever seen you

most amazing thing you’ve ever seen you know what this does you haven’t have any

know what this does you haven’t have any

know what this does you haven’t have any idea what the hell I could tell you you

idea what the hell I could tell you you

idea what the hell I could tell you you know and I’m crazy I know that but it’s

know and I’m crazy I know that but it’s

know and I’m crazy I know that but it’s a useful crazy it turns out when a

a useful crazy it turns out when a

a useful crazy it turns out when a photographer comes to me and says I’m

photographer comes to me and says I’m

photographer comes to me and says I’m going to go that to West Africa in two

going to go that to West Africa in two

going to go that to West Africa in two months and I’m going to be taking

months and I’m going to be taking

months and I’m going to be taking photographs of upside down hanging Birds

photographs of upside down hanging Birds

photographs of upside down hanging Birds or something like that I’ve never been

or something like that I’ve never been

or something like that I’ve never been to Africa I’ve never been to the place

to Africa I’ve never been to the place

to Africa I’ve never been to the place where these birds live so I have to kind

where these birds live so I have to kind

where these birds live so I have to kind of imagine all the circumstances under

of imagine all the circumstances under

of imagine all the circumstances under which this photograph will be taken the

joy in building is the discovery of the

joy in building is the discovery of the solutions after I develop a clear plan

solutions after I develop a clear plan

solutions after I develop a clear plan in my in my head of the direction I want

in my in my head of the direction I want

in my in my head of the direction I want to take the project I start making

to take the project I start making

to take the project I start making sketches and the sketches show me what

sketches and the sketches show me what

sketches and the sketches show me what is possible with materials that I have

is possible with materials that I have

is possible with materials that I have on hand I’ve made equipment ranging from

on hand I’ve made equipment ranging from

on hand I’ve made equipment ranging from a full-size lifelike hippopotamus to

a full-size lifelike hippopotamus to

a full-size lifelike hippopotamus to extremely precise miniature deep-ocean

extremely precise miniature deep-ocean

extremely precise miniature deep-ocean housings small radio-controlled camera

housings small radio-controlled camera

housings small radio-controlled camera cars and displays for explorers Hall

the part that gives me the greatest

the part that gives me the greatest fulfillment is the feeling of not being

fulfillment is the feeling of not being

fulfillment is the feeling of not being able to be stopped

I’m a naturally nervous person it’s very

I’m a naturally nervous person it’s very uncomfortable for me to sit still so I

uncomfortable for me to sit still so I

uncomfortable for me to sit still so I just stated

just stated

just stated I build up kind of a picture of how I

I build up kind of a picture of how I

I build up kind of a picture of how I could completely build something from

could completely build something from

could completely build something from start to finish in my head once that

start to finish in my head once that

start to finish in my head once that path is clear in my head basically I

path is clear in my head basically I

path is clear in my head basically I have to get the world out of my way

have to get the world out of my way

have to get the world out of my way until I can build that thing I can’t do

until I can build that thing I can’t do

until I can build that thing I can’t do anything else basically it’s as though

anything else basically it’s as though

anything else basically it’s as though there’s somebody else in charge of my

there’s somebody else in charge of my

there’s somebody else in charge of my brain occasionally you run into a job

brain occasionally you run into a job

brain occasionally you run into a job which is more rewarding than another job

which is more rewarding than another job

which is more rewarding than another job and this has been a rewarding job for me

and this has been a rewarding job for me

and this has been a rewarding job for me because I’ve been building things all my

because I’ve been building things all my

because I’ve been building things all my life and if I were not doing this work

life and if I were not doing this work

life and if I were not doing this work for National Geographic I would be doing

for National Geographic I would be doing

for National Geographic I would be doing it for someone I just have to

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