I can’t think of another way I would have wanted to spend my lunch hour last week than getting a tour of Lethbridge’s “Haul All Equipment” factory on the North Side. Vice President Kelly Philipp welcomed my team openly and gave us a fascinating tour of what I think is one of Lethbridge’s best-kept business success secrets. When I first researched the company, I expected a small operation of assembly-line workers grumpily making trash containers – boy was I mistaken! Haul All’s facility is massive, and the amount of energy in the place is addicitve.

This was an assignment for the University of Lethbridge’s Management Matters magazine, which I’ve been a fortunate contributor to this season. Kelly’s strong support of the University and the Management Faculty’s “Co-op” program is reason alone for showcasing him and his facility.

My assistant Trevor and I donned hard hats and protective gear to tour an expansive facility of welders, painters, and assemblers working on anything from construction fans to refitting industrial truck bodies and trailers. Kelly tells me that the distinctive shape of their wildlife-proof trash containers are a trademark of the company, and only manufactured in the Lethbridge facility for distribution and sale nation wide.

I wanted to capture the energy of a busy production plant, so I setup a series of shots to composite in post production. Kelly was a great host and was willing to try any of our crazy ideas – he put is trust in us and knew we were there to capture atypical commerical photography, which I think we did with great success!

All frames were shot with a Canon 7D, using manual-focus lenses (primarily the SAMYANG 85mm 1.4, and 7mm 3.5 fisheye). I had originally bought the primes for video work – they have very nice focus-rings, but have been loving the challenge of getting a sharp shot out of manual focus (which in turn will help my future video work).

I created a behind-the-scenes video around the post production required for the composited shot you see in the feature photograph:

“Haul All” Lethbridge Factory Tour is a post from: Lethbridge Photographer

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1. Lethbridge Management Student Society

Yesterday I teamed up with fellow Lethbridge photographer Starsha Battrick (as assist) to shoot with Ravi Seyedmahmoud – University of Lethbridge student who recently volunteered with the Flying Doctors of Canada. I wanted to use an aviation location for this shoot, so I set off to get permission to shoot in Hangar no. 7 at the Lethbridge Airport; home to QL Aviation, Airwest Flight Support, and Executive Flight Centre. The staff at Airwest Flight Support were super friendly and eager to help, so I arrived with a Tim Horton’s gift card to thank them for their trouble.

Ravi was just in the process of visiting Lethbridge from Edmonton, so he was able to shoot with us on short notice. We hauled gear through the maze of airplanes parked on site, and proceeded to set lights and use some of the gorgeous available sunlight coming through the giant windows that surround the building. Ravi was fantastic to work with, and Starsha was an excellent extra set of hands for the day.

This was my first commercial shoot to use almost all manual focus prime lenses, I’m still getting the hang of focusing at such wide apertures – but I think you’ll agree the resulting photos benefit from such a shallow depth of field.

Here are some of the photos we submitted to Management Matters Magazine.

Flying Doctors of Canada is a post from: Lethbridge Photographer

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I’ve been hired by the University of Lethbridge Management Faculty to work on their latest issue of Management Matters. This is an abrupt change in my photography and a welcome direction in the wedding off-season. I’ve assigned to create environmental portraits for a diverse set of people featured at various stages of their management career. The following photo is from my very first assignment: to create an intimate portrait of Phillip North, Lawer for North & Company located in downtown Lethbridge.

Phillip was a fantastic subject to work with. My assistant Brien and I hauled 4 trips of studio lighting gear up 6 floors to rearrange Phil’s boardroom and get the light “just right”. On Monday, I’m planning some location work at the Lethbridge Airport to work with a volunteer for the “Flying Doctors of Canada”, should be a great time!

Management Matters Magazine is a post from: Lethbridge Photographer

Related posts:

1. Lethbridge Management Student Society
2. Flying Doctors of Canada