Technical challenges
Michael Evans enjoys the technical challenges and the diverse
nature of industrial photography. One minute he might be
photographing an industrial complex or laboratory, the next, a
close up of work that includes something as elusive as a fish’s tail.
Some subjects have their own inherent difficulties. One client
wanted him to capture an industrial laser cutter in action with
the impressive resulting sparks. The laser was situated in a dark
room to which there was no access during the actual operation
because exposure to it causes blindness. The laser head and
arm moved continuously and rapidly throughout the process,
as did the product that was being drilled. By using a remote
camera trigger combined with several off-camera f lash units
and a variety of exposures, Evans ingeniously worked around
the problems. At the other end of the scale, including large
buildings or machinery in the frame is not all that difficult with
the arsenal of lenses and post-production techniques such as
panoramic stitching available today. The key, he tells Australian
Photography, is in creating an interesting composition out of
what may at first appear to be a mundane subject.
“For me personally, industrial photography simply means
documenting the diversity of the world as it works, whether
it be a high tech piece of factory machinery, a winemaker
agitating his grapes, or a miner drilling half a kilometre
underground," says Evans. "I always try to add a sense of drama
to my images, whether it be by composition, camera angle,
lens selection, or lighting. Where it is practical, I strive to
incorporate people in my shoots, not only for a sense of scale,AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 59
ABOVE
Product shot of
ventilation system
for AC Industries at
Bendigo Gold mine.
Photo by Michael
Evans. Canon EOS
5D Mk III, 16-35mm
f2.8 L II lens, 4s @
f8, ISO 800, three
external flash units.AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY MARCH 2016