After finding the best times of day or evenings to photograph, I set out to create images that show the project at it’s best from every angle I can come up with.
It’s finding the unique approach that works for that particular project that I find is the most creative.

I’ve been shooting both industrial and architectural photography in the Yukon and NWT for over fifteen years and I still find it exciting and an exercise in creativity!

My latest assignment took me to the largest open pit mine in central Yukon, which from the sky must have looked like a crazy busy ant colony but with massive trucks the size of small houses moving rocks from one side of the site to another. The only direction I was given was to capture the workings of the mine, some portraits of the employees and to look for creative images that caught my eye. Pretty nice! So I took that instruction and ran with it for 24 hours of non-stop shooting.

What do I love about shooting at these places? Everything!
From the scale of the equipment in the environment, the employees I meet and the stories of how they ended up there, to the overall workings that make an operation, no matter how large, run like clockwork.
It’s a cornucopia of potential images!

Anyway, here is a selection of photos. Now close your eyes and imagine being the photographer on-site!

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To see more campaign work by Archbould Photography

Nothing builds confidence and skill like experience. Day after day, as journalists, we would be given 3-5 environmental portraits to shoot. Each one must tell the story, all on its own.  So here are some tips for the beginner – some basics that worked when I started and continue to work for me today.

Everything is easier when you have a formula – a recipe for success. My recipe is to do three things as soon as soon as I arrive – assess the subject, location, positioning.

Of course there are one million exceptions, but let’s not go there. If you can remember these three tasks, you can survive any environmental portrait shoot.

• Talk to the subject about his/her work and their vision for this environmental portrait.  Ninety-nine percent of the time they’ll greet you with “ugh, I hate getting my picture taken”, which is unlikely to make you feel great. But let it go. Your job is to make them feel interesting and relaxed. I let them know they are not alone and move right into “what is your job?” What do you love about your job? What do you think would, in a “snapshot,” illustrate your job to someone interested in your career? It helps to get them on board with the shoot and to feel more interesting.

• Check the location. Once the image is established, I figure out how to light it. I generally look up at the ceiling the minute I enter a room. Is it painted? Is it white? High or low? Can I bounce a flash off it? How can I make it help me? Then if there is time I may figure out a second or third flash to add drama, colour or accent. There isn’t always time or space and at a couple of shoots I wasn’t allowed to use flash, so every situation is unique.

• Check the setting for subject positioning. Is there a clutter free background I can use? Is there a background that speaks to his/her profession? How can I position my subject to make them look their best?
This should all take 5-10 minutes. That’s it. Any longer and you run the risk of losing your subject’s attention.

If you have the luxury of more time on your environmental shoot, get the first image in the bag, and then look around for a second unique angle. The more you shoot the better you’ll get. And don’t forget, ALWAYS shoot horizontal and vertical. You never know where they’ll want to use your portraits – increase your odds of success! Happy snapping.

Though un-predictable at most times I’ve also come to know the seasons for certain types of shoots. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I know late March and early to mid-April are great times to get those final winter shoots shot for outdoor adventure as our days are crazy long and our models don’t get frozen smiles, literally, on their faces in sub zero temperatures! And over the past 5 or so years I’ve learned mining exploration starts early spring or when the ground can be worked and my clients like me to shoot their sites once the foliage is green and operations are well underway.

But this year, things are being shaken up a bit with the Yukon’s rush for gold and mineral prices driving companies out into the field earlier than ever. How do I know this? For the first time I’m being asked to go shoot drilling rigs in mid February and am already booked in June for one client. So what do I take away from this curve ball? Well that no matter how much you study the market and feel you know your industry, it can change in a minute so you better be adaptable. Adaptability is the best characteristic for an assignment photographer to have I think.

This year instead of packing the usual bug dope and mosquito jacket in with my camera gear I’m going to pull out the winter boots and merino long johns for my next trip to the exploration camp! Oh and I might throw in a Hot Shot or two!

Meeting a lot of great people from across the Yukon who all took various routes to arrive at their career.

Photographing another 7 models today! It’s been a big campaign of 14 stories but in the end it will give them a good selection for posters, website and general promotional materials.