Sometimes I joke that I’m great at watching people work hard. It’s a joke but the reality is that creating images of moving parts with people moving around requires the same focus as covering a sporting event. Things are happening all around at different times and can be dangerous if you’re not paying attention. When I get to a facility like this I’m always trying to focus on the actions and procedures that make the most impact. What is it this facility does to create the products? I’m always interested in the process from raw product to how it’s loaded and sent out.
A worker checks his work manipulating the metal.
A worker assembles pieces of a rebar cage that is built for a parking structure.
This facility manufactures rebar into usable portions and segments. I witnessed the unloading off a train car, then the manipulation of the materials into different lengths and sizes. These workers are the first set of quality control for the product or order. Each piece is bent and tied into specific puzzle pieces to form a larger “cage”. Once the cage is assembled it must be tied and secured which takes the human touch. This team worked closely with each other to ensure the proper assembly.
Workers move a cage in the assembly area before loading onto a flatbed truck trailer.
The cages are headed to a job site where they’re ready to be implemented with little to no onsite work required. There are many different cages with strict specifications and end use parameters. Everyone on the team requires the same level of attention, it all fits together like a giant 3D puzzle piece.
Photographing machinery and the people who operate them is always exciting for me because their interaction with the environment is changing constantly and there is often little to no time for any posed shots and zero redos. The action reminds me of shooting sports where there are things happening all over but you must focus on what tells the story, what actions are critical to this operation.
Finished cages are loaded on flatbed truck trailers for transport.
Being able to anticipate the actions and the positioning helps to keep some of the good light on the action. I had the goal of lighting some of these scenes but when I saw the pace and overall environment we decided to keep it more reportage and less commercially lit. Everything was happening fast and the thought of slowing it all down seemed like a bad idea, better to ride the train and see all the sites then to get stuck in one corner of the factory.
So many of these machines run their own specific action but with out the skilled technician they come to a quiet stillness. Back from lunch, the machines are back on and the whole building is buzzing with activity. I must keep an eye out for my safety as there are hazards in every direction. What I like about this type of photography is that it is rarely shown with any artistry or attention to the craft. The skill of these people is undeniable and is worthy of highlighting. The work looks tough and the pictures should convey that toughness.
Although many times there is no time for portraits, if I can steal a few seconds of their time I always try to get a few posed portraits if the situation allows. Portraits of workers in the factory can be tricky but I’ve found that people are generally interested in why the photos are being taken. I let them know I’m there to tell the story of the work they do with respect people are normally okay with being photographed.
I’m looking forward to the next field trip to a factory or industry building. I am constantly amazed by the work being done all over the nation that is overlooked. In a lot of ways these are the people that keep the country moving, the factors of production and distribution. Anytime I’m able to showcase this type of work I’ll be there to look for what makes the wheels turn.
I’m a commercial photographer in the Sacramento area looking for more opportunities to photograph inside large factories of all kinds. The work is the exciting part, not the product. I am always focused on the persons involved with the actual day to day work. Telling that story is telling the story of a larger piece to the work force. Whether it is agriculture, manufacturing, textiles, or all kinds of fabrication, I want to show your workforce with respect and admiration.
You can see more of my work on the website: www.kevinfiscus.com