Keeping all hoses secure as routine maintenance is performed on this Alimak Raise Climber deep in the underground at Tahoe Resources Lakeshore Gold Mine
At Vale’s central tailings facility here in Sudbury straw is used for dust & odor control. Along with the use of biosolids the transformation of this once barren landscape has now been transformed into fields of swaying stalks of hay with areas of green vegetable growing vegetation.
More information can be found here Vale News & Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation
Sometimes while I am setting up my equipment for my next shot my subjects will continue working by discussing tasks at hand. When this happens, I will quickly adjust my equipment to accommodate the scenario and click away. Most of the time they don’t even know I am a capturing the scene.
As some of you already know via my social media feeds Joce and I attended the Vale Port Colborne Nickel Refinery 100th year celebration this past weekend. OTA and Vale showcased a history of memorabilia from over the years for everyone to look at along with guest speakers and videos. The highlight was the resurrection of the Refinery Shift Change Whistle that was brought out from the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum and refurbished to blow once more at this historical event. Joce and I had the honor of watching up close where I managed to get a quick video and some images.
View the video here
There is just something about this image. As I type this I still cant figure out why this image intrigues me. I have captured 1000’s of images underground over the years but as I was setting up my gear today at Pure Gold’s Madsen site I turned around and there it was. I had to capture it. It’s simple. Two miners having a conversation while they wait for the photographer. I told them to ignore me for a few minutes and I quickly added a little illumination so that my camera could record the scene as the conversation continued. To the photographer, this is gold.
Client: Pure Gold
www.puregoldmining.ca
Location: Madsen Site Red Lake Ontario
The silence gets broken every few minutes as the scoop keep coming and going illuminating the path as it proceeds by me.
It was just too hot to get any closer with my camera or I take the risk of melting something including myself.
When the equipment breaks they work diligently and fast to get it back up and running. Underground or above sun or rain the pressure is always there to be as quick and efficient as possible.
As she crawls her way along the rocky path illuminating the surroundings that briefly go by her presence is always one of wonder and awe.
I love it when I get to photograph equipment immediately after assembly when the paint is fresh, the tires are clean and there isn’t a scratch to be found like this Rock Breaker Scale Boss I photographed before it was shipped to it’s client.
