Some of my first mining shoots where within the exploration field specifically Diamond Drilling and Atlas Copco. It was (and still is) challenging to create unique images in such a small space especially if the rig is still operating.
#miningphotog #explorationdrilling #atlascopco #diamonddrillers
A quick view under the hood of the Relay at Miller Technology’s facility in North Bay Ontario where I created a series of images of the fabrication process of some of the fleet vehicles. Later, I photographed the Relay in it’s working environment underground at the Young Davidson Mine in Matachewan Ontario Here
My first and only cap lamp that I still use today is Jannatec’s “The ONE Cap Lamp” which is easily recognizable by it’s Green outer shell. Now with their new ENSO Smart Helmet’s (pictured here), that same distinguished green is available along with 6 other colors.
#miningphotog #smarthelment #caplamp
Anticipating a moment before it happens is a learned skill in my opinion. With experience comes repetition and with repetition comes opportunity. “Focusing” (yes pun intended) on these opportunities can set yourself up for success, just like it did for this image below. I watched the lighting, I watched road, I got into position and anticipated the moment to capture.
Sometimes I use strobes, sometimes I use Led’s, sometimes I use flashlights, headlights and cap lamps. I get asked “what lighting equipment do you use?” and my answer is “Everything.” I seldom know how I am going to execute a capture until I know a few things. What do I have to work with, what’s the environment like, how much time do I have and how is the image going to be used by my client. I could use 1 light or even 10 lights for a capture, it could be a 1/200th of a second exposure or a 2 minute exposure. Asking me how many lights I use is the same as asking “how many images do I get?” (I used to get that a lot) and my secondary answer is “as many as it takes to get the job done.”
I get asked the question “What do mining companies need images for?” a lot and my answer is “anything & everything”.
The first time I was at Pure Gold’s www.puregoldmining.com site I had the opportunity to capture some great underground images like this one below. I don’t get that many opportunities to photograph the jackleg now a days but I wish I did as I have many creative ideas on how to photograph it differently than in the past.
#miningphotog #jacklegminer #undergroundmining #puregold #miningphotographer
Driving to the next location on site we passed by this Hitachi front shovel excavator that was in the process of getting refueled. It was the perfect opportunity to capture a few images without disrupting production. We drove past this area a few times during the last few days but when the shovel is in operation I could only capture images from an outer perimeter but I wanted to show something up front and personal.
If you can give me 5 (maybe 10) minutes of your time I can capture a portrait of you to show your family and friends as well as create an image that can be an asset to the company’s image library. I LOVE creating images of people at work. It’s one of my favorite aspects of my career. A lot of the times the people I photograph have never had their image captured at work except for cell phone snapshots.
In my 25+ years experience I know that if you capture a great portrait of someone, they will cherish it, talk about it, and show it. I get excited when I am the “first” to create a work portrait of someone, especially if they have been in the industry longer than I have. When people are proud of what they do and where they do it, share it and talk about it, you just can’t go wrong.
#miningphotog #alamosgold #islandgold #epiroc #minetruck #miningphotographer
If your going to be in writing have the quality of images worthy of a cover. This months issue of Diesel Progress Magazine (www.dieselprogress.com) features the innovative Relay BEV from Miller Technology with electric drive systems lead developer Paul Summers behind the wheel.
I photographed the Relay in the Miller Industrial shop a few years back and then recently again in it’s working environment underground at the Young Davidson mine here in Northern Ontario. We created a good variety of key marketable images during that session with some of them featured within the issue’s write up.
www.dieselprogress.com
www.millertechnology.com
