Medical Device Photography

Most people don’t like to think about the things that surgeons do while they’re working. We’re happy enough to have their help when it’s needed. One of the things I love about commercial photography is that it give’s me a peek behind the curtain, into industries and professions that ordinarily are invisible. It’s necessary to learn at least a little about things you’re photographing to tell the story. I am interested in your thoughts and comments.

Happy New Year

As the current year ends and a new year begins it’s a good time for introspection. Personally, I have family, friends, and health to be thankful for. A wider global view reveals many people working hard to make a better world. This includes people designing medical devices that perform well and protect health care workers from dangerous toxins. I don’t imagine advertising photography is saving the world, but hopefully, it’s more pleasant to look at. Thanks to all of our clients and suppliers for a wonderful year. May 2015 be even better!

1966 Mustang

I recently met Barry at a parking lot where a lot of, well, car nuts (enthusiasts, whatever, this is Detroit!) hang out with their hot, customized, modified, cars. Barry’s 1966 Mustang has 500 plus horsepower under the hood, a strengthened frame so it doesn't twist, because that's a lot of power. It has a new hood scoop, tires, wheels, awesome! He brought it to the studio so I could photograph it for a day. This is the first of a few shots that I did. Afterword, I showed it to my friend Jim Tocco from Designers & Partners. He added some art direction and text. You can see the original here. As always, I’m interested in what Emmeline or anyone else thinks.

Industrial Table Top Photography

We have been forging metal for thousands of years.  Modern industrial processes are used to forge a wide array of automotive parts. As it involves shiny metal, I enjoy photographing it. In this case, it’s a die and the finished forged part. I stood them up on a table top in my studio using blocks and shims. Afterwords, I put them on a brown background in Photoshop. I’m always interested in your thoughts and comments.

Medical Equipment Photography

This is a tourniquet used when doing surgery on hands, arms, legs and feet. We weren’t doing surgery in the studio; it’s not nearly clean enough. The red and blue together with the low-key feel help make this an interesting photograph. The doctor was my assistant. He’s very good, but I’d get nervous if he were working on me in a hospital. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.

Gourds

It’s a classically autumn vegetable. Cultivated for centuries, they have been used for food, kitchen tools, toys, musical instruments and decoration. They have fascinating shapes and colors that make interesting subject matter for photography. I’m sticking with the simple approach again, a single light source and a white background. I feel that it allows the nature of the gourd to be revealed. As always, comments are welcome.

Industrial on White

It works for vegetables, why not industrial parts? A simple graphic shape on a white background lets the object express itself. Lots of time spent prepping, photographing and retouching the part reveals the beauty inherent in the object that serves some other useful purpose. The beauty that surrounds us unnoticed is uncovered. I love the quote attributed to Albert Einstein:

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

As always, I am interested in your thoughts.

Root Vegetables

Root Vegetables have that gnarled, misshapen, twisted look that I find intriguing. I added glamor to these beets with water, giving them a little shine. It contrasts with the messy root hair and debris on the stems. Photographically, a single light and a simple white background let the beets be the star.

Health Care Photography

I had the opportunity to work with an excellent art director on a project for a local medical equipment manufacturer. This is one of several photographs we made that day in my studio. Collaboration was theme of the day, as we worked together to making photographs that would enhance the design of the brochure. As always, please let me know what you think.

Collaboration

I enjoy working alone. When you finish, you have a sense of accomplishment; you know the photograph is yours. Fortunately, I also enjoy collaborating with clients. Working with a designer or art director to create images that work for the client, and solving the visual problems to communicate their story can be enjoyable and gratifying. Collaboration is at the core of commercial photography. It’s my job to make real the image that lives in my client’s head. This is one of several photos we captured for a medical technologies firm. Working with a wonderful art director and writer/account person, it was a terrific day.

More Vegetables on White

Wax beans provide an interesting subject. The simple curving shape, and nice yellow color make for a less dramatic image than the Garlic Scapes. Still, there is a quiet, subtle beauty to the yellow beans. The organic shapes and calming horizontal lines. Odd numbers seem to work better too. Please let me know what you think.

Small Product Photography

I took a CPR class a few years ago, the EMTs doing the class emphasized how important breathing is to being alive. So not breathing dust, pollen or particulate is likewise important too. These masks are the simplest form of defense. Of course making an interesting photo is my job, a background with some texture helps. As always, I'm interested in your thoughts.

Carrots right out of the Ground

I like reality, in advertising photography there is an ideal of perfection. I like perfection too, but sometimes, the gritty reality of things is far more interesting. Perfect, straight, and clean carrots might be preferred for some situations, but I like the dirty twisted ones. We got these from our CSA, and they tasted great once they were cleaned up. Please let me know what you think! 

Industrial Space Helmet

No, not really, just industrial hazardous environment protection. Still, it’s kinda cool looking. I enjoy trying to make ordinary things interesting. Photographing pea pods or industrial products, it’s a blast. Please let me know what you think!

Plumbing Products Photography

Who could love stop valves? Well, I guess plumbers, or photographers. I do; because I love to photograph shiny things. A big part of shooting any product is getting it clean and prepped. It’s much easier and faster for stop valves than for tires, but it’s crucial for any product photography. Everyone is in a hurry these days, but sometimes it’s necessary to slow down and do it right. As always, I’m interested in your thoughts.

Vegetables on White

It turns out that lots of vegetables are really beautiful. Garlic scapes are right up there. Graceful curves are the best visual part. They’re pretty good when eaten too. I had a hard time deciding my favorite, so I picked three. As always, I’m interested in your thoughts.

Simple Vegetable Photography

Radicchio, is another one of those really attractive vegetables. I thought a very simple treatment with the dark background would complement the simple beauty of the radicchio. For me, photography it is the ability to reveal the essence of an object, or person. Sometimes, that means high production value and complicated lighting.  Other times it means one light in a very simple background. As always I'm interested in your comments and thoughts.

Green Storm Trooper?

Or is it Boba Fett? It kind of looks like it could be a space helmet of some kind. It’s not, of course. It’s protective gear you wear when working in a dangerous environment. Still, who doesn’t want to be an astronaut? My job is to make it look as cool as possible. I am always interested it your thoughts and comments.

Pea Pod Photographer

My 5th grade teacher liked to call me Pea-Pod. He had pet names for other kids too, like Meatball and Hotdog. Now, my daughter calls me Pizza. (Long story) I guess I just inspire food names. Personally, I like the visual organic forms of raw food. Less really is more in this case. As always, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts and comments.

Industrial Group Shots

I’ve never been a fan of large group product shots. Often, product managers are in the decision tree and want their products to look particularly good. The truth is, all a group shots with ten or more products can say is, we have a bunch of products. Or we can make a bunch of different products. Optimal view and lighting of individual parts is almost always sacrificed for overall composition and lighting needsIn this case, it was limited to 11 parts. All drive train parts, in the early stages of production. This is part of a series of photographs that also includes wheel ends, engine, and transmission parts. We shot from a very high angle with a wide angle lens to provide a more interesting and unusual perspective. As always, I’m interested in your thoughts.