UK Industrial Photographer Doug Jackson, North East, Teesside,Yorkshire, North, UK, Railway

New Vanguard Rucksack reviewed....

2012-02-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

http://dougjacksonphotography.blogspot.com/2012/02/vanguard-skyborne-51-rucksack-backpack.html

Blog Updates on the way......

Photography of Slip Form Silo

2010-09-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

I was commissioned recently to photograph a new silo in Gateshead that was being manufactured using a technique known as 'Slip Form' . This is basically where the concrete is and slowly continually poured and the mould for the structure actually moves. This technique is used in building and roads to great effect not only saving time and money but also it is often safer than other methods of construction.

In the case of this silo the mould is continually raised up and the concrete poured from the top. Meaning the silo is constructed as fast as 3meters a day.

I was actually lifted up in a man basket to get some shots from above.....a little scary but exciting.

Doug Jackson Photography

Product Photography - Quick and Easy

2010-06-01T03:27:00.000-07:00

Photographing Products

I recently had a small PR job to do for a company photographing a new portable gas analysing machine.
http://www.geotech.co.uk/product_list.php?top=CO2 Monitoring&sub=Incubator Analysers&category=47
They did not require any studio based product shots as these had already been done but need some shot for a press release of the product in situ and in use.
I only had a hour to take these shots and decided to use my off-camera Canon flashes with my lightweight light stands (Manfrotto 001B Nano Stand), Elinchrom Skyport triggers, a few test shots to get the lighting just right. No wires, no messing, quick and easy.

Most of these shots are lit according to the lighting diagram with care taken to avoid flash reflecting in the product screen.

Photographing product can be quite complicated and sometimes even involve the use of composite work and lots of post processing. This is more an example of the pictures that can be done with the bare minimum of time and investment.

New Tyne Crossing Tunnel - An Exclusive View of Newsastle and Gatehead's Newest Link

2010-01-30T06:25:00.000-08:00

I had a unique opportunity earlier on in the week to be sunk into the cold green waters of the Tyne, entombed in a large concrete coffin. Volker Stevin asked me to document the immersion of 'Element Two', one of four sections which will make up the new Tyne tunnel. As far as I know this process has never been captured by a photographer before, and it certainly is a unique perspective on a tunnel though which we will all inevitably be driving in years to come.

In an earlier post, you can see photos of the concrete section being brought down the river from Wallsend, where it was built in a dry dock. This 90 metre long section which is a huge 15 metres wide and 8 metres tall is capped at both ends to enable it to float. The ‘caisson’ (as it is called in the business) is moved out into the middle of the river so it can be lowered using both the barge crane and the floating catamaran crane.

All this sounds straightforward although, as I later learnt, there is an added complication. To control the buoyancy of the caisson, there are divided compartments within the tube that are pumped with water to make the section less buoyant. Whilst being supported by the cranes the ballast tanks are filled until the section is fully immersed up to 4 metres and then the staff who are in the section have to hastily retreat back to the surface. When the client said they wanted pictures in the tunnel and they wanted a photographer who was prepared to climb down into the section, I jumped at the chance. Although like all these sort of challenges, when you actually get there and look at the abseil/parachute jump/cliff face in question, you suddenly gulp and say to noone in particular - ‘Tall…isn’t it’.

So essentially I had to be on the floating element and then climb up the 24 metre access tower and then descend 25 metres in to the concrete caisson. The guys on the jobs were very helpful and reassuring although to be honest, I was bit scared (just a tiny bit you understand). The climb wasn’t too bad although suffering from a little claustrophobia I found the descent into the bowels of the beast somewhat unnerving. The pitch-black ladder ran down for what seemed like an incredibly long time until the orange glow of the tunnel lights appeared. I reached the bottom to find the platform deserted. The guys were off doing important things like opening valves and studying level gauges. I felt a bit downhearted at this. I think I almost expected to be given some kind of certificate or at least a pat on the back. What seemed to me to be an exercise in nerve and stamina is clearly just another day of work for these hardy types.

As I made my way around, the open ballast tanks were gradually filling with water. Wesley De Jong, the project engineer, informed me that the ballast tanks now contained 450,000 kilos of water. The caisson was immersed further and gave out the occasional groan and squeak. I started thinking about all those submarine war films where crews stand nervously dripping with sweat as the unseen menace depth-charges them from above. Standing below the access tunnel I suddenly realised that this steel tube is all that links us to the surface. I didn’t really want to think about that too much and felt reluctant to leave its ladder.

Once the caisson is levelled and at the correct buoyancy we headed back to the surface and back up the tube. This time the climb was far more exhausting. It may have been the fact that it was around 4am or possibly that I’m carrying a small surplus of winter blubber but it was hard work. I descended into the dinghy and went on to the shore for a much needed coffee.

After enjoying a fine sunrise and a mirror-like river, I spent most of the follwing day on site. I got plenty of shots that told the story of how work is progressing on this epic construction.

I really enjoy these sorts of jobs, where you feel that you're getting a unique insight into a project, not only as a photographer, but also a member of the public. I know that in years to come, every time I drive through the new Tyne tunnel and get to its lowest point I’m going to say to whoever’s in the car with me, “I was in this when it sunk!”..............

New Tyne Tunnel Progress

2010-01-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

Work continues on the amazing new Tyne Tunnel project. I was asked once more by Volker Stevin to get some shots of the second section of the Tyne Tunnel being floated off down the river from the dry dock at Wallsend to its new home on the river bed at Howdon.

The evening was fine and the work went ahead of schedule due to an over keen tide.

This amazing project continues and it is amazing to think that in a short while we will be driving down these sections.

Extract from TT2 website:

What is the New Tyne Crossing?

The New Tyne Crossing is the project to construct a second vehicle tunnel under the River Tyne and to refurbish the existing vehicle tunnel, which was opened in 1967.

The project is a Private Public Partnership. The Concessionaire (the consortium appointed to deliver the New Tyne Crossing) is responsible for the part-financing, design and construction of the new tunnel and for the operation and maintenance of all the tunnels under the river, including the Grade II-listed pedestrian and cycle tunnels.

The Concession will run for 30 years, after which all the tunnels will be handed back to the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority.

The second vehicle tunnel will link East Howdon in North Tyneside with Jarrow in South Tyneside, completing the dualling of the A19 between Northumberland and North Yorkshire.

It will be built just downstream (east) of the existing tunnel. Once both tunnels are fully operational the new tunnel will carry traffic north to south and the existing tunnel, currently carrying vehicles in both directions, will carry vehicles south to north.

The second vehicle tunnel will be built using immersed tube technology in the river section. This will involve dredging a deep trench in the bed of the Tyne and placing pre-fabricated concrete sections into it.

The total length of new carriageway will be approximately 2.6 km. The tunnel itself will make up 1.5km of the total length.

Also See: http://www.volkerstevin.co.uk/bin/ibp.jsp?ibpDispWhat=object&ibpPage=S6_FocusPage&ibpDispWho=STNI_ITEMS%5El4193&ibpVersion=0&ibpZone=S6_News&ibpDisplay=view

New Tyne Tunnel photography

2009-09-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

These photographs were commissioned by maritime construction wizards Volker Stevin to capture the construction of the concrete tunnel sections soon to be under the Tyne. The sections are cast in the specially requisitioned dry dock, and then floated out into position on the Tyne to be sunk onto the river bed. The water is then pumped out when the sections are joined, and covered in ballast to create a tunnel. I suspect it’s more complicated than that, although it gives you an overview! This is the first time this technique has been used in the UK, after development in other parts of Europe.

Industrial Photography, Nottingham, Bradford, Leeds.

2009-08-28T09:35:00.001-07:00

Trains and the Media City Manchester

2009-08-24T05:23:00.001-07:00

Recently Doug Jackson Photography has undertaken industrial commissions for Volker Rail, visiting various sites around the UK including the new Media City development in Salford Quays.

The BBC intend to re-locate 2,500 staff to Media City, which will house the largest High-Definition studio in Europe.

Babcock Rail have recently completed a series of signal gantries in the South Erewash area. They wanted the last of these captured in image form. The work happened overnight on Saturday, as is typical in the railway industry. The night was warm and dry - a fantastic night for photography - and the sunrise was lovely.

The client was delighted with the images of the gantry lift.

As a final aside here is a shot over Billingham on Teesside.