Ironic -

[KenE]

I'm sure we have all spent hours removing the big obnoxious power lines from all of our wonderful landscape photos. They seem to creep in to a lot of shots -

Well.... I have been asked by a huge international consulting firm out of the Mid West, to photograph these huge transmission lines and poles. They have agreed to my terms and have even bumped the compensation handsomely !

So, between now and the 1st of April, I will be bumming around the Southern Utah deserts, in 4 wheel drives and ATV's, shooting transmission lines and poles in the middle of no where ! AND to top it off - They want "artistic" shots !
I am thrilled !

These are a few examples, that i am playing with. These were shot just across town. Trying to get a feel....

Anyone have any thoughts ? Any creative angles ? The biggest challenge will be the middle of the day shots, because there are hundreds of miles of line, its not like I can go out for a few hours in the morning and a few hours at dusk. Its the kind of shoot where i will be in the elements all day, climbing up and down the side of rocks and hills to gain the best observation points, sunup to sundown...and once it gets dark, I am thinking of using a 100,000 candle watt spot to shoot in the dark !

Ideas ??? Thoughts ???

[Rick]

I don't have any ideas, but isn't it great to be able to get paid for doing something that you like!!!!

Someday.

[Underdog]

Ideas ??? Thoughts ???

The three you have are great. You have symmetry, abstract and landscape. The only idea I can come up with would be to juxtapose something in the foreground of beauty or interest.

[Underdog]

Maybe a close-up, macroesque.

[Kiasmum]

If there are different styles then you could try to build a set with them all in the same formation where possible-perhaps like shot 2.Sounds like you're going to have a lot of fun. Then resist the urge to use the clone tool!

[Marie]

What a great job! I'm insanely jealous.
I'd use the hydro fixtures as leading lines to highlight the landscape, like #2 but further out and maybe from a higher vantage point if possible. Love what you've got so far.

[Cygnus]

Try shooting up and at weird angles. Get up close to the poles and shoot almost straight up, then turn the camera 45 degrees and shoot again.

Don't forget to lay down on the ground also.

For those middle of the day shots, a ND filter and tripod will solve that problem.

[KenE]

Thanks everyone for chiming in -
I am thrilled to be shooting for this international consulting firm -
I will post some shots soon-

[Cygnus]

I will post some shots soon-

Are you allowed to use the shots before/during/after they are published by the company?

[KenE]

That's still being decided -
I should have a decision this week -

[Cygnus]

99.9% of my commercial clients do not allow it until well after the campaign is used. While it kind of sucks for forum and facebook showing off, the money makes up for it.

[KenE]

Yeah they came forward in the very beginning and said they wanted they shots exclusive and i could not use them. I am trying to negotiate to use them in my
portfolio. We will see this week, I was not going to allow that to kill the deal. But yes I agree, for the money they can have them all to themselves. they tell me they are going to be using them on their web sites and in trade shows the next few years. So maybe I just send people to look at the website !

[Charles Lupica]

get underneath the 4 legged jobs and shot straight up - keep it symmetrical. Also, don't forget B&W for making things look like "Fine Art".

[KenE]

Thanks Charles - Great thought on the B&W

[Valewing]

Wow, this is very cool.
How are they using these photos? Are they promoting a certain type of product other than just the electrical lines?

Also, if they hired you. You may want to think of asking the company to let you go up in a Cherry Picker and take shots from the air?

BW, Magnificent skies, great landscapes, all come to mind.
Congratulations!

[KenE]

thanks Val, They are using the shots on their website, and they are blowing them up for the back drop of their tradeshow booth ! they will be using them for brochures and sales materials. So the shots will be used for some length of time. They are a consulting firm that works with huge international contractors. They consult in the building of mostly transportation, they tell contractors how to build things like bridges, roads, transmission lines, tunnels and such around the world -
We initially talked about using a helicopter, they tell me that we could have used their helicopter, but its on the wrong continent at the time and would be too expencive to bring in for this shoot, but maybe next time

Pretty stoked to land this gig (if you can't tell)

Thanks again PTS

[Valewing]

Awesome. The only reason I thought 'Cherry Picker' is that I had to go up 60 ft in one the other day as part of my job. I was able to see things from a different perspective and wished I'd had been able to bring the camera!

Wonderful gig you landed!

[KenE]

So, just thought i would bring you all up to date -
The transmission tower shoot went fantastic ! And the most important part - The client LOVED the work !!!
BUT all propitiatory, cant show it for at least 2 years !
But its all good.....The same company had me shoot some freeway bridges, interchanges and a CFI.
If anyone is interested, i will post some of those in the transportation section for you to look at.

thanks again to everyone here at PTS, Such a great group of folks !

[Marie]

Congratulations Ken! Every time I drive past a row of transmission towers I think of your project, I'm glad to hear it went so well.
Please post whatever you can!

[Valewing]

I agree, it is great! Congrats on the job, whhhhooooo!

[bobt]

You're going to southern Utah? I'm totally jealous. Congrats on job, especially the happy client part.

[stan]

if your clients post them online send us the link

[Pine River]

Congrats, Ken. Fantastic news!!