8.19.2015

Sometimes you have to step in and be the machinist.


I was photographing at a spare parts fabricating shop in Georgetown, Texas yesterday and one of the things on my list was to get a bunch of shots of this new machine. The foreman clicked it on so the screen would be live but he was quick to add that the shop was on a tight schedule that day and he couldn't afford to pull any of his people off their other jobs to pose for me.  I had gotten a lot of images of the machine by itself already. Wide verticals, exciting forced perspective shots, shots looking straight into the machine.... but I wanted on set of shots that showed someone working at the machine.

I set the self-timer on the D750 to ten seconds, framed up the shots I wanted and went for it. I just wanted the human element. I'm glad I didn't wear cargo shorts....

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gives a whole new meaning to "facing the Mazak" ;-)

Anonymous said...

Great improvisation. It should be a clear path for new photographers with aspirations.

Max Rottersman said...

A little photoshoping and it would capture everyone's imagination about where "Muzak" comes from :)

Bill Stormont said...

Texting, Texas-style!

MikeR said...

"I'm glad I didn't wear cargo shorts...."

Why? Got a thing about bare legs?

Kirk, Photographer/Writer said...

Naw, Mike, I've got fabulous legs and a great tan but they would violate the basic safety regs of a working machine shop. Wore my steel toed shoes as well. Gosh, it almost sounds like industrial photography is a blue color sport.

amolitor said...

I wonder what Lewis Hine would make of this!

Anonymous said...

Even from behind, it is obvious you are baffled by the thing.

Wayne

Dave said...

A little photoshoping and it would capture everyone's imagination about where "Muzak" comes from :)

Like most people even know what Muzak is, haha...

The capabilities of those Mazaks are amazing --for the most part, the machinist sets the program and watches. Your photo pretty much says what a modern machinist's job is like!