Dragons in the Pit

Had a cool shoot last week. My client looks after the PR for Celtic Energy a open cast coal mining operation here in sunny south wales. Celtic sponsors the local Rugby regional team the Newport Gwent Dragons. So the Story goes - Some players are coming out to meet sponsors and 6 of the players are coming to the site. Luckily my client was really flexible and allows me to put my own stamp onto these images to make them a little bit different from you conventional PR images you get around here.

So anyway, my mind start whirring, as I have visited a few of these sites previously I instantly thought of using one of the monster trucks. And then I started thinking I would light this baby up ! In order to to do this I guessed I would need a lot of light. Being in the middle of a mine and not owning any big lights with power pack's, small strobes was the way forward. Inspired by the strobist website and martin prihoda I set about planning the shoot.

Problem was I only have 3 SB units at my disposal so luckily I mentioned this job to my friend Chris who really helped me out by loaning me 3 of his flash heads and his pocket full of pocket wizards !

So Kit sorted, batteries charged, fingers crossed for some tidy weather.

So I turn up for the shoot and as you can see from the photo up top the good weather didn't make an appearance. However I do think that the rain in the shot adds to the grittiness of the image. Nothing I can do about the weather, and living in Wales you would think I'd be used to it ! I digress.

I go about setting up my shot, in a way the bad weather has done me a favour as I am not going to need so much power from my strobes to overpower the ambient. So I am down in the open cast pit, up to my ankles in black coal slurry(nice) horizontal rain and it's freezin. Who said a photographers job is glamorous ! The really nice truck driver Keith is ever so helpful in standing in as a model to test my levels. And I am good to go.

The guys from the Dragons eventually turn up about and hour later ! I'm still standing in the rain! in fairness to them, the place was a nightmare to find, I got lost myself on my way there. SAT NAV can be a bit hit and miss around the welsh valleys! But it was my intention to be all ready for the guys when they turned up. As I knew they would be in rugby kit I didn't want them standing around in the cold and the rain. So once they turned up they were out of the Land Rover and back in 5 mins. Job done (for my shot) It was just a case of tearing the lights down to stop them getting to wet and then take some more general PR shots.

On the whole I was pleased with the outcome of the shot and I also learnt a load more about myself and my equipment, and I just love the buzz of just trying something new and not just going for the safe on camera sterile option.

Stay tuned for my next escapade !