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
Yup, I do take “snapshots” when I am working. . When I am doing a creative shoot I am always scanning my surroundings to see what is going on and if anything could be a possible “candid” moment, just like B roll with video. These images are on the fly available light and are great for social media and annual reports. I really do mean it when I say I try to capture everyone and everything.
Some turn out and some don’t but I always say:
“You never know until you try, and if you fail you are no worse off than before you tried.”
#miningphotog #candidphotography #photographyformarketing
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.
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
New Grounds With Normet
I found myself underground again but this time within a different scenario, one of Canada’s largest transit expansion. This was the first time I have been introduced to the tunneling environment and I felt right at home from the get go. I had a few hours to capture the equipment and processes for my client Normet www.normet.com and I was eager to capture as much as I could while I had this opportunity.
Concrete sprayers, transmixers and dumper trucks where busy pushing forward with the expansion and as I looked around I discovered a whole new “city” alive with the hustle and bustle of people and machines.
I have been photographing industry for over 20 years and each time I discover something new it’s like the first time all over again. Even though it’s very similar to the underground mining environment I frequent, new challenges always emerge to overcome when trying to create those images that stand out and that’s the challenge I love to accept and tackle.
Thanks to Jason Huck for bringing me on board to capture the story images.
You can read more on Normet & the Toronto transit expansion at https://lnkd.in/eapeBZW
www.normet.com
www.miningphotog.com
There is something about the clinical cleanliness that I like in a medical photograph. It’s bright, lighter tones, lots of white, crisp and clean. Everything about the image creating process is still the same with me no matter what the environment is. Find the scene, create the frame, showcase the main subject, and tell a story. When looking at an image there should be a distinct subject that the eyes are drawn to first, as well, the background and environment should compliment the subject.
Too many competing subjects can make the image “busy” and if the viewer has to guess what the main subject is, then the image is not doing it’s intended job. Yes each image we create should have a purpose.
Image created last Fall for Health Sciences North Foundation here in Sudbury On.
I warmed things up getting back into the grind and creating new images.
Salto Heat Treating (www.saltoheattreating.ca) is open for business and I got a first hand look at the facilities, processes and the people that are making it happen. Chris Mehanna (pictured here) the Operational Lead Hand for Salto took the time to explain to me the different services that this facility can offer using state of the art equipment and robotics.
It felt good to be back in the image creating saddle again and sharing the images we recently created.
This style of mining/industrial portrait has become one of my signature looks. I have referred to it in the past as my “Thank You” portrait for taking the time to allow me to photograph them in their environment. This was taken last year at the end of “The Drift” shoot. Thanks Cindy and Vale Creighton Mine for making this happen.
Rahnmet (www.rahnmet.ca) has been repairing steel, cast iron and bronze parts for over 90 years and I got to see the process first hand while I visited their shop located in North Bay Ontario back in late 2018.
I photographed this P&H 4100 XPC Shovel at the Marigold Open pit mine in Nevada this past October. With a skilled operator the movement of this machine is poetry.
