The challenge of photographing the gang at Syyn Labs was capturing their individual talents and playful sense of mischief (read: firing fireballs into the L.A. night sky). They're the embodiment of a Rube Goldberg machine, an eclectic cast of characters who pool their talents to create amazing spectacles for the likes of OK Go and Google.

Here's a glimpse of the five-and-a-half-hour shoot by photographer Angela Boatwright that lasted until 1 a.m. (typical office hours at Syyn). The chap twirling fire while balanced on an exercise ball is Eric Gradman, a software engineer, roboticist, and circus performer. Dan Busby, a physicist and engineer, demonstrates the high-voltage arc in a Jacob's Ladder demo.

Video courtesy of Syyn Labs.

Read the article [1]

Browse the slideshow [2]

See the Rube Goldberg Machine [3]

Making of the Rube Goldberg machine [4]

And obsessive breakdown of the Rube Goldberg machine [5]