Production Photographer

Working as the stills photographer on a video production for the Soprema roofing people was something completely different to my usual fair. Whilst I am normally making carefully considered views of recently completed buildings and deliberate compositions of building systems in use, this was ‘blink and you miss it’ photography more akin to photojournalism in low light.

The shoot took place over four days in a farmers barn in Essex. Electrical power constraints provided just enough light for the video company but stills really need more. There was no question of using flash as it would ruin the video footage. Pushing close to the limits of viability in the low light conditions, images had to be grabbed during video takes as the dedicated team of roofing instructors and quality inspectors from Soprema moved rapidly through the process of installing four different roofing systems on a dummy roof set up inside the farmer’s barn. Clearly, the video was the first priority so I was anxious to stay out of their shot whilst still getting the images I needed to explain the systems being demonstrated.

It made a complete change for me. I like to think my long experience of photographing on construction sites and for the built-environment sector helped produce some compelling photography. The clients and ‘Inspired’ their creative agency were certainly delighted with the results.