In addition to being a photographer, I am an aspiring woodworker and maker of things–furniture, kitchen knives, stereo speakers, and other stuff. Moreover, I am often compared to the Peanuts character, Pigpen, leaving a trail of sawdust in my wake.

Some of us say that sawdust is simply “man glitter,” but my wife’s not moved by that characterization. Anxious to relocate my increasingly dusty (glittery) hobbies, she and my daughters gave me a membership to The Bodgery — a member-run maker space in the former Oscar Mayer plant here in Madison.

Since joining this organization, I’ve been impressed by the talent and craftsmanship of my fellow members. I’ve also come to appreciate the sense of community and camaraderie that we share. On June 18, I had the pleasure of photographing fellow bodger Jay as he launched his handmade drift boat.

That inspired me to create more portraits that tell the story of our diverse membership and their varied creative interests. I put out a call for volunteers, and my first three subjects took the plunge yesterday!

Tona, Jim, and Rich

Tona, a fellow photographer who was kind enough to assist with my setup, posed with some of her CNC laser creations. Jim, a master craftsman, is pictured with one of his lovely benches made out of rare Sassafras wood, Finally, Rich, maker of music, serenaded the shop with a couple of nice folk songs while I photographed, All in all, a very good start to the project.

I look forward to adding more portraits to this series. If you are a member of the Bodgery, click here for more information and the sign-up form.