"How to sharpen pencils" - sometimes I think this is me about analog photography?

TheToadMen · May 14, 2014

[video=vimeo;60718161]http://vimeo.com/60718161[/video]

pdeeh · May 14, 2014

excellent. absolutely deadpan

snapguy · May 14, 2014

worry

Well, it all makes perfect sense to me. Should I be worried?

TheToadMen · May 14, 2014

snapguy said:
Well, it all makes perfect sense to me. Should I be worried?

Not on APUG

dehk · May 14, 2014

Very informative.

Rick A · May 14, 2014

Nice to know I've been doing it right all these years.

Toffle · May 14, 2014

There are so many things wrong with his process that I don't know where to begin. For one thing, it is called a "stylus" and not a pencil. This shows his ignorance even before he botches the whole job right in front of the camera. And he's satisfied with the work that he does. That is just so sad. His finishing and clean up is an absolute embarrassment, and anyone who thinks otherwise is wasting their time with pencils. For another thing, he obviously knows nothing about pencils if he really thinks No. 2 are worth anyone's time, effort or money. They are pure shite.

(Now to get back to the flame wars over at hammerforum.com)

TheToadMen · May 14, 2014

Toffle said:
There are so many things wrong with his process that I don't know where to begin. For one thing, it is called a "stylus" and not a pencil. This shows his ignorance even before he botches the whole job right in front of the camera. And he's satisfied with the work that he does. That is just so sad. His finishing and clean up is an absolute embarrassment, and anyone who thinks otherwise is wasting their time with pencils. For another thing, he obviously knows nothing about pencils if he really thinks No. 2 are worth anyone's time, effort or money. They are pure shite.

(Now to get back to the flame wars over at hammerforum.com)

As I have said before: we gotta have more cowbell !!

But rest assured: You can rent one at Borrow Lenses for your next photo shoot.

When still in doubt, just watch this instruction video (the full 10 minutes) while contemplating your next shot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svCuxBTLznA ...

So you won't get "goated" along the way ..... :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aLYvZ5sX28

gone · May 14, 2014

Oh man, did anyone else see themselves on this thing? I'm going to start sending my film off to Walgreens or something.

I thought that hammer on the hammerforum website was a little too pricey for me, so I've gone back to a drill and screws. I asked about hammers & nails vs other types of fasteners over at the construction site, and they mentioned screws. At least that's what I think they said. I'm pretty sure they said that I should get a screw, or something like that. Does anyone know where I can get a solar recharger (German, not Japanese) and a 1000' power cord for working in the neighborhood?

Richard S. (rich815) · May 14, 2014

My favorite line in the video: "....a certain hardscrabble authenticity..."

Richard S. (rich815) · May 14, 2014

"How to sharpen pencils" - sometimes I think this is me about analog photogra...

This video is more a very needed public service message but along the same lines. Admire the sound effects of box flaps being opened and knives withdrawn from pockets, and the perfect slow motion moments: http://youtu.be/xrdHe__tt3U

Gerald C Koch · May 14, 2014

What may be lost on many people is that he ACTUALLY DOES show you how to sharpen a pencil if you are an architect, illustrator or draftsman. Having taken mechanical drawing that was the first thing that we were taught. Although he does err in his choice of hardness, a #3 H or #4 2H being preferred.

cliveh · May 14, 2014

I think the concept is very valid, as there are many things people take for granted as unimportant or have an I know how to do that attitude. I know from working with students for example, that many people dont know how to cut cardboard properly.

Gerald C Koch · May 14, 2014

cliveh said:
I think the concept is very valid, as there are many things people take for granted as unimportant or have an I know how to do that attitude. I know from working with students for example, that many people dont know how to cut cardboard properly.

We constantly see students in video clips in school. Invariably they show that students do not know how to hold a pencil or a pen. Something else that is no longer taught. Their fingers must be terribly cramped at the end of the day. No wonder they hate school.

darkosaric · May 14, 2014

momus said:
Oh man, did anyone else see themselves on this thing?

Yes. +1

darkosaric · May 14, 2014

TheToadMen said:
So you won't get "goated" along the way ..... :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aLYvZ5sX28

This one is censored in Germany

pbromaghin · May 14, 2014

Oh yeah? Well I learned how to sharpen pencils from my grandmother, an old Irish girl. She cut all the way through the lead and didn't need any of that sissified rubbing-on-abrasive nonsense. And she was able to get it sharp enough to do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. It took an awfully fine point to stay inside those tiny little boxes.

Gerald C Koch · May 14, 2014

I might also add that there is a subtle connection between this video and photography. A famous photographer recommended using carpenter's pencils in the darkroom because their shape prevents them from rolling away in the dark. This type pencil must be sharpened by hand.

resummerfield · May 14, 2014

... like looking in a mirror.... I especially like how he destroyed the pencil at the end, because the more you practice, the better you will get. Perfect.

TheToadMen · May 14, 2014

darkosaric said:
So you won't get "goated" along the way ..... :

Click to expand...

This one is censored in Germany

Maybe it will work in Germany if I embed the film here in this thread??

[video=youtube_share;-aLYvZ5sX28]http://youtu.be/-aLYvZ5sX28[/video]

or this direct link: http://youtu.be/-aLYvZ5sX28

David Brown · May 15, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
... carpenter's pencils ... This type pencil must be sharpened by hand.

Nope, not really ...

Dead Link Removed

darkosaric · May 15, 2014

TheToadMen said:
Maybe it will work in Germany if I embed the film here in this thread??

No. But thanks for extra effort .

Gerald C Koch · May 15, 2014

David Brown said:
Nope, not really ...

Dead Link Removed

One of the nice things about APUG is the chance that someone knows of a new device/technology and is willing to share. Thanks for the tip.

ntenny · May 15, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
We constantly see students in video clips in school. Invariably they show that students do not know how to hold a pencil or a pen. Something else that is no longer taught. Their fingers must be terribly cramped at the end of the day. No wonder they hate school.

Anecdote-data-and-all-that, but I can confirm that my now-6-year-old son got plenty of instruction in how to hold a pencil or pen in preschool and kindergarten.

Apropos of this general discussion, let me recommend this film from 1927, which apparently was *seriously* necessary at the time even though it seems obvious enough to be silly now: https://archive.org/details/HowtoUse1927

(Well, it's obvious to those of us who are old enough to remember dial telephones in the first place. A few years ago I started meeting adults who truly didn't know why we call it "dialing" a phone!)

-NT

Vaughn · May 15, 2014

Love the sharpening video -- I have watched it 3 times. He had me at "I have an artisan pencil sharpening business"!

"How to sharpen pencils" - sometimes I think this is me about analog photography?

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