A leftover sign, old hardware, chain, and a camera reference: that’s where this commission began. In Scrap Camera, I turn those found materials into a handmade camera sculpture, working through the body, grip, viewfinder, controls, and lens one piece at a time.
Watch the full Scrap Camera build on YouTube to follow the cutting, fitting, grinding, and welding from the scrap hunt to the final reveal.
Starting with the body
I start by cutting the camera body from a leftover sign. A Canon camera provides the reference, but the materials give this piece its own character. The challenge is getting the outline and proportions to read as a camera while making room for all the irregular parts that go into it.
The grip and viewfinder need to sit in the right relationship to the body. A small change in placement can change the whole silhouette. There’s plenty of checking, cutting, and adjusting as those shapes come together on the table.
Small parts make the camera
The details are where the scrap starts doing more than filling space. Chain and hardware bring texture to the surface, while the top controls and viewfinder help make the object recognizable. Each piece has to work with its neighbors, both visually and as something I can actually weld in place.
The lens gives the front its focal point. From there, the glass, camera back, and finishing details pull the build together. The film includes the decisions along the way, with shop talk and the sounds of the work, so you can see how the sculpture develops rather than only seeing the finished result.
Tools from the shop
Cutting, grinding, and MIG welding do much of the work in this build. If you’re interested in the equipment, here are two links from my shop gear list. Models or sizes may differ from those shown in the film.
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See the transformation
Watch Scrap Camera on YouTube and let me know which detail catches your eye. Subscribe to Hercworx for more metal sculpture builds and a closer look at the work behind them.
For more finished work, explore the Hercworx portfolio. Have an idea for a custom sculpture? Get in touch about a commission.