Manufacturing Photography is not just photographing large stainless steel machines for the sales brochures. Many times I am also asked to photograph the people that make it happen for their corporate branding.
I enjoy the variety. During a single day, I will use my technical skill to light a stainless steel enclosure or the product, explore the details to create interesting compositions, have conversations with the workers behind the scenes, and learn about how things are made.
Checking levels in a photostability chamber, using a photodiode sensor.
Part of this project was to show the process and the people behind the scenes of the manufacturing process.
Photographing enclosures and reach-In Chambers is particularly challenging, especially when they are stainless steel and large. Conditions aren't always ideal since I'm photographing on the manufacturing floor. Space is tight and ambient light is low and mixed color. We needed to light the exterior of the cabinet, maintain the illumination of the display screen, add light to the front of the interior elements, maintain the details inside, and show the light coming from the light banks of the machine. All that while not creating large reflections or showing the manufacturing going on around us. It was like photographing a large mirror. Everything shows up.
An assembly worker on the manufacturing floor wires and labels components to be installed in an enclosure
I enjoy seeing and learning what the people behind the scenes do and how it all comes together.
I was drawn to photography because I love to explore details. I started out exploring the details of the natural world, but now I also enjoy exploring the details of the manufactured world.
It's important to have someone in charge, someone to make sure everything runs smoothly and on time. Robert was my go to on this project. He made sure everyone and everything I needed to photograph was ready when I was, made sure I had the space to set up lights, and kept the area safe.