photography

21
Sep
Morning Warmth Is A Color
Mine Photos / Mining / The People / 0 Comment / September 21, 2020

Warm colors get more attention.

This is an old image, one that I have resurrected from my archives to play with in post editing. I will often look back on older images with a new perception that I have acquired over the years since capturing it. Would I have done things differently? You bet I would. Things that I can create in post production I now try to create at the time of capture to make to make the image authentic. I very rarely do extensive photoshop to the images but once in awhile I like to test my creativity. See comments for original photo.
#miningphotog


16
Sep
What About Your “Snapshots”?
The People / 0 Comment / September 16, 2020

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


11
Sep
The Green Light
Marketing / Mine Photos / Mining / Mining Equipment / 0 Comment / September 11, 2020

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


10
Sep
Set Yourself Up For Success
Mine Photos / Mining / Mining Equipment / 0 Comment / September 10, 2020

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.


8
Sep
Shedding Some Light On The Subject
Mine Photos / Mining / Mining Equipment / Photography / 0 Comment / September 8, 2020

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.”


4
Sep
Underground In B&W
The People / 0 Comment / September 4, 2020

Another image where removing the color and adding some grain gives it that “nostalgic” feeling of mining life underground even though it was created less than year ago during my visit to the Young Davidson Mine Last October with Penda Productions.

25+ years ago I used to abundantly go through rolls and rolls of TMAX 3200 B&W film that had this wonderful grain composition within it. #miningphotog #undergroundminer #miningphotographer


26
Aug
An Image Is Only Useful When The Client Uses it.
Mining Equipment / Photography / 0 Comment / August 26, 2020

I get asked the question “What do mining companies need images for?” a lot and my answer is “anything & everything”.


25
Aug
Case In Point | Mining Photographer
Commercial / Industrial / Mining / Mining Magazine / Photography / 0 Comment / August 25, 2020

Over the years I have gone through a large variety of cases to hold my gear and all have eventually perished one way or another over time considering the environments I bring them to. I have been eyeing this Nanuk 965 case for awhile now for my international travels and I finally got it in my hands last month. I prefer rolling cases for my gear (as does my assistant) for ease of movement as well as the multiple handle locations throughout the case. Yesterday we finally got to load all the gear into it and bring it out on the job for the first time. I am looking forward to adding to my collection………….as does my assistant lol. Check out these Canadian made cases at www.nanuk.com


27
Jul
Seabee In The Fall
Mining / Photography / The People / 0 Comment / July 27, 2020

I try to capture all the stages of operation when I am on location for a few days to create a stock image library for the client. A few key images of each stage can be used throughout the year in a variety of applications like annual/sustainability reports, blog posts, magazine articles and so forth. Here I managed to get out with the Seabee geology team from SSR Mining to create some images while working in the field. We managed to capture a good variety of images outdoors showcasing the beautiful Saskatchewan Fall colors.


22
Jul
Capturing A Company
Marketing / Mining / Photography / 0 Comment / July 22, 2020

I often get asked “Do you have a game plan when you go to site?” and my answer is yes I do, but it’s a refined rough plan. There are so many factors involved that influence my photography while I am on site. Is the weather accommodating for surface shots? Are the key people available for this time? Is the equipment operational and in the location you want it photographed and so forth. The majority of times my shooting schedule changes multiple times due to all these factors converging at once.

For some jobs it’s a “play it by ear” scenario. We have a rough outline of who what where when and so we get out there and see what’s going. I will capture what I can, when I can, how I can. Site images, people working, vehicles moving, processes, people pictures, environmental, community projects, drilling, open pit operations, hauling, exploration, maintenance, underground, surveying, field work, are things I try to capture while I am there. If it’s happening, I can capture it one way or another. Some images I can get creative with lighting and composition with my equipment while others it’s a shoot from the hip opportunity, but either way I try to create an image that is pleasing to the company and can be used within their marketing. After all, this is why they hired me.

No matter what the scenario is there is always challenges and problem solving in order to achieve the best possible image at that moment, even if it is just a “snapshot”. Where you position yourself, what direction the ambient light is coming from as well as the quality of it (yes, there are different qualities of sunlight), what lens to use to frame the image and what camera settings to apply to achieve a dynamic capture…………all decided within seconds.

If all goes well (and it usually does) my clients are left with a variety of images captured safely and professionally. “Professional” encompasses a lot more than just an image…………but that’s another post. 🙂



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