Why I Bought a Broken Tripod at an Artists’ Open House Event
My mother lived in the Bridgeport area when she was growing up. She eventually left Connecticut and headed to her life in New York City where she would meet my father. And the rest is Lester history.
My identity is that of a New Yorker, who now resides in Connecticut, but it’s not lost on me that half of my family’s history hails back to Bridgeport.
Today, Bridgeport hosts thriving artist communities. One place you can find that community is in the American Fabrics Arts Building where artists rent their studios. And a couple times a year, there’s the AmFab open studios event where many of the artists display and sell their paintings and art.
My wife and I often enjoy going for a couple hours. And we did just that this past weekend.
Walking through the Early 20th Century
This time, I found myself particularly attracted to the old building itself. It’s a converted mill originally designed for lace manufacturing in the early 20th century. So, I decided to take a few pictures as we walked about.
2008 Movie Set
Did you know that scenes from the 2008 film “Righteous Kill” with Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino were filmed here? You can see how these two hallway doors were modified for the movie.
A Camera Tripod with No Name
As we continued our exploration, I turned a corner. Off to the left, I spotted a few old camera tripods on a platform. They first seemed part of an art installation, but as I walked closer, I realized they were all for sale.
One tripod spoke to me. It was a professional model with a spreader on the legs and nice fluid ball head.
I pulled it down and tested it out. It had a few cobwebs attached to its frame but was otherwise in good shape. The big drawback was this tripod was missing its quick-release plate that you would need to attach a camera onto it. So, I would have to buy that elsewhere.
But I couldn’t figure out the manufacturer, and the seller didn’t know either. That would require more research. (It’s odd that there wasn’t a company name branded onto the frame.)
So, for the moment, it was an unusable tripod. Not quite broken, but useless for now.
Second Life?
I own a couple of lighter tripods for my timelapses and videos, but this one was beefier. I could use it.
The price: $20.
Hmmm… That’s certainly a great price. (Tripods like this one start in the hundreds and go up from there.) But there’s a good reason for this ‘bargain.’ It would need some additional, unknown spend.
What were the odds that I would eventually find a solution?
Maybe 50/50.
But I bought it anyway. I wasn’t initially sure why.
One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure
Then, I carried this mystery tripod over my shoulder as my wife and I walked about the artists’ studios a little longer. I couldn’t be happier.
I can’t paint. I have no idea how to sculpt, and I don’t draw. But I can snap a photo or two, and I’m working on evolving my timelapse videos.
As I passed by more artists in their studios, nobody batted an eye. It was as if everyone carried a hulking tripod about their day. And then it struck me. It was so obvious.
A brush and paint can take many forms. This tripod was waiting for me. The universe had offered me a tool to practice more of my own art.My creative spirit was energized. Not bad for a couple hours on a weekend.
Unexpected Saturday Afternoon
My wife and I left the AmFab studios, and as we drove out of Bridgeport, I reflected on this place where my family’s history still remains mostly unknown to me. But that’s another story.
For now, I felt entirely grateful. And yes, it’s time to get to work fixing my new tripod. If anybody recognizes the manufacturer, please let me know!
At Home with Tech 