john carnett

Sometimes you’re the last to try something. Adobe came out with its Lightroom digital darkroom and photo-organization software a few years ago, and followed up with Lightroom 2 last year. I played with both of them for about 10 minutes when they launched, and then ran back to Photoshop. I’m a digital tech freak, but I was set in my ways. Most of what Lightroom does can be done in Photoshop, after all.

But... I’ve just finished reading Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure, by Mikkel Aaland (O’Reilly Media; $44.99), and I’m a changed man. I’ve been locked away in my studio for weeks now playing with the software, the book and my digital images.

PopSci's booth at Maker Faire was a crowd favorite (and we're not just saying that)—mainly because the projects displayed by contributors John Carnett and Theo Gray were both ingenious and superfun.

Want to make ice cream in 30 seconds, using liquid nitrogen? No problem.

How about an automatic beer-making, storing, and pouring machine? You can make one.

Video games your thing? Build a beautiful arcade table for your home.

Think watching movies in the backyard would be fun? We do, too! All the projects definitely struck a chord with the Austin audience. Next year we'll bring some scantily clad punk-rock fire dancers and a bike modded out with LED lights, and we'll be a total shoo-in. —Megan Miller

PopSci is is back at the now twice-annual travelling DIY circus that is Maker Faire. The Bay Area iteration was a blast earlier this year (see our coverage here) but this time, not only is the sweet smell of BBQ mingling with the solder fumes here in Austin, TX, we've also brought along some of PopSci's finest makers—staff photographer John Carnett, who has brought along his amazing all-in-one beer-brewing Device as well as the welded-steel vintage Arcade Table, and Theodore Gray, author of our PopSci-meets-Mr. Wizard "Gray Matter" column (check out his latest work here). We'll also be raffling off some original creations from our main project man Dave Prochnow.

Stay tuned right here for the best of Maker Faire Austin, starting Saturday, October 20. —John Mahoney

Last fall, PopSci staff photographer John Carnett and writer Larry Smith spent a weekend at the home of self-taught jetpack builder Juan Manuel Lozano, in the suburbs of Mexico City. Here, we give you John's account of their time with the aspiring rocket man. To read more about Juan Lozano and his homebrew jetpack, click here.

You'll need the QuickTime plug-in to view this video.