Case Study: Manufacturing Photography for Magnetic Metals
Manufacturing Photography Assignment
I was hired to photograph the manufacturing processes and industrial machinery at Magnetic Metals’ Orange County facility, where I created polished images of complex, gritty industrial equipment.
The art director needed a manufacturing photographer who could create a visual narrative of the production process so their engineering clients could understand how materials were produced.
Solving Technical Issues
The first technical problem I noticed was that some industrial cutting processes happened in enclosures with oil-smudged windows, which prevented a camera from clearly showing the inside. Also, in some industrial processes, the order of manufacturing stages did not align with the art director's goals.
Additionally, I could see that significant retouching of machine surfaces was necessary because industrial processes can be messy. The art director liked my natural light style, and I explained that the style involved some lighting, setup, and significant post-production to achieve the look and his goals.
Building the Final Image
I’ve worked with designers and industrial clients for many years, which helps me anticipate their needs and issues. So, I shoot to an iPad so my clients can see the issues I see and the direction I am going.
The images below are before-and-after photographs of the metal-cutting process.
Through post-production techniques, I was able to show what the cutting machine looks like in process and clean up some of the blemishes on the machine. The final image accurately shows how the cutting process works while giving engineers a clear view of the machinery.
The images below show a similar problem where we couldn’t see the process because dirty windows and the doors prevented viewing the interior. So we shot multiple plates. First, we shot a base exposure, then shot the lit interior with the doors open to show it. For safety, the operator stepped away from the machine momentarily while we shot the interior image, and we shot him separately with the doors closed on a third frame.
The third example below shows a firing process after it was finished, so we choreographed the moment to show the magnetic coils at the final production stage. The final image accurately represents the coils exiting the furnace. We also cleaned up the furnace surface and lit the cases and operator minimally to keep the documentary look. I prefer to light as little as possible and as much as necessary.
A Natural-Light Industrial Style
My industrial photography style relies heavily on natural light and a photojournalistic approach. But I often have to choreograph and minimally light images to meet the client’s needs. For example, the first two images below were minimally lit while still keeping a natural look. The rest of the images are photographed with available light as if I were shooting a story for a magazine. This is the style my clients hire me for.
I should add that I am often photographing scenes I think are relevant or interesting, even though the art director never requested those. This is another reason my clients hire me. I see what they do not.
I have worked as an industrial photographer in Los Angeles for more than 30 years. My background includes automotive production sets, movie sets, photojournalism, architectural photography, and corporate portraiture, which helps me anticipate and solve problems before I begin shooting.
