Industrial photoshoot (Part 2) - The personal touch of the manufacturing site
Photographing the machines and products here at Lucoma’s manufacturing site was great. It became a somewhat tricky when they brough in the fire and water as I have never photographed fire, except for a flame of a burning candle. The fire machine was hired to spit out flames so the the images could show show how resistant the vents are in extreme heat. Here is where some logic started kicking in and the many hours of street photography in different light settings helped to be able to think on my feet. And no, not that I photographed fire in the streets, it was just that I felt comfortable with my camera and I knew what settings to use. Was it perfect? Probably not for the highly qualified photographer critical eye, but if the fire machine blew out the flames and I only had that second to capture the fire, then yes, for me it was good enough.
These challenges were great. Much of what was done and created were figured out in the moment. I used what was available and looking back, this is what made it so authentic. The snow effect didn’t work so well so artificial snow had to be brough in. Even though this was not quite what I thought would be good, the rest of the team were happy with this plan
A manufacturing site is nothing without the people who work there. I walked around the premises to try and find a background that might work for the profile pictures. I had no backdrop with me and there were no clear wall space to be found. I spotted these wonderful metal dividers with red frames. I thought this would be great to keep with the colour scheme of the products and the rest of the machinery. I made my own setup to create some depth in the photographs and my idea was to not have it all done like typical headshots. I think in such small companies it is lovey to have staff be seen also with their own personalities.
I love to photograph people and what brings me so much joy is when it’s someone who is camera shy at first but then ends up being so comfortable in front of the lens. I tried to find a way for everybody to be their authentic selves. A photograph has no purpose in my eyes if it doesn’t capture the real person. Not only did I use my magic make-shift background, but I asked each member of staff to show me which of the machinery on site has some meaning to them. This was unbelievable! I was not sure if I should ask them to do this but, in actual fact, they each had their favourite machine or spot. What I also found unbelievable was just how much their body language chanced the moment they could hang on this piece of machinery. It was like a baby’s comfy blanket. I treasure these photographs. I don’t know these people but by the way they were standing there beside or behind some of these machines, I could clearly sense their personalities. Of this whole shoot these pictures are the highlights for me. It gave a very personal touch to a manufacturing floor. Something I never expected to see.
This whole experience, the photography part, meeting the people, going from totally stressed out to a ball of excitement, sharing sandwiches as only the Swiss can make and being spoiled so much by the staff of Lucoma, made this photoshoot still one of the highlights of my time as photographer.