One of the benefits of being a commercial photographer is the access it affords. I don’t mean political or celebrity, rather access to situations most people never want to venture into. For me, that means access to industrial work spaces. Blue collar work is endlessly fascinating to me. I find it so true and honest. I’ve always loved seeing (and photographing) how things are built and repaired. I especially love meeting (and photographing) the people that do that work. Industrial workplaces are exciting. They tend to be be very loud and often dirty, at least while the work is being done. I’ve photographed lots of industrial workers over the years. Some of my favorites are in the aviation and maritime industries. I guess you could say anything to do with transportation is pretty exciting. As a commercial photographer I am usually commissioned to document the work that’s being done – show the process. This involves photographing people using a fly on the wall approach. I am there, but unseen. Pete Souza used this approach to great success while shooting the Reagan and Obama White Houses. Totally different subject I know, but the same approach. The idea being the subject is so comfortable with you being there they go about their business as though you aren’t there. They get to the point where they don’t even notice you. That is my goal when documenting blue collar work.
Then there are the portraits. Inevitably there are workers and spaces that visually demand to be photographed as a portrait. This is not Fly on the Wall stuff. Their unique look, or their particular environment, sometimes both, beckon for a traditional portrait. I always seem to come away from these projects with strong portraits. I’ve built a trust at this point. My goal as a portrait photographer is to present these workers as heroic, as I see them, in the environment that I have so much respect for.
