Keeping all hoses secure as routine maintenance is performed on this Alimak Raise Climber deep in the underground at Tahoe Resources Lakeshore Gold Mine
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.
It’s personal. Like your favorite jacket or pair of shoes your head protection on the job is a part of you. It’s familiar. I actually take the time to look at the “personalization” of someones headgear. The more it stands out, the better the image I always say.
There is always something going on when you are on site. The hustle and bustle of a mine is everywhere around you and it’s sort of like a small town city that is always moving. Everyone has their job to do and every job is an integral part of the operation no matter how big or small. I enjoy walking around the site capturing the daily activities as they unfold and I am constantly scanning the area for an interesting image capture like this image where miners are using the the rails to bring equipment and supplies in and out of the mine.
I received a few messages in regards to my last post in regards to candid images while on site. Do I use lighting, do I stage them am I stopping production?. The answers are yes, no and no. Photographing weddings over the years (I stopped 6 years ago) hones ones skill in anticipating a moment. You look at the current scenario and visualize where the next moment will happen, so while on site if I do have lighting with me, I place my lighting where I think the “scene” is heading and anticipate the moment I wish to capture. Just a little bit of extra light can help fill in some shadows and draw the focus to the subject of the image.
He took a quick break in the action so that I could create his portrait which was used recently for Ascendant’s social media and trade show booth. I’ll say it again, my favourite aspect of being a Mining Photographer is photographing the people in their working environment.
I spent a good hour photographing Alicia and her grader while visiting Goldcorp’s Red Lake Mine all the while asking her about her job, background and the mining life she is now a part of. When people love their jobs, the company they work for, and the people they are working with the results show through in the images I create for them.
Although I have not been photographing the mine as long as it’s been around I am however happy that I was at least a small part of documenting some of the people, procedures and facilities of Stobie Mine here in Sudbury Ontario for the past 6 years. Watching the last skip on the big screen with the head frame just outside the tent was a bitter sweet moment for a lot of people who have called this mine home, and although a time capsule was created with various items commemorating the past, present, and hopefully future of Stobie mine, the memories of this place will be held dear to most peoples hearts who worked there. Thanks again Stobie, it was a pleasure.
Please watch this video created by Ryan Kosiki and Over The Atlantic of the people, memories and “The Last Skip”
All photographs © Mining Industrial Photographer James Hodgins
Now that 2016 is in full swing in the mining industrial sectors it’s time to start thinking about this years marketing materials and online portfolio. Trade show season is only a few months away and you don’t want to leave it until the last minute so you are scrambling for images for your presentations, trade show booths, investor reports and online updates. A full day shoot can yield high quality “wow factor” images that can be used throughout the year without repeating the use of images. I will work directly with your creative marketing team to formulate a shoot schedule and scenario list that would work best for your company.
James Hodgins from Sudbury Ontario is a professional Mining Industrial Commercial photographer with over 20 years experience.
I love everything about this photo. The lighting, the shallow depth of field, the sharpness, his expression and the background.
James Hodgins is a mining industrial photographer located in Ontario Canada
