U.K.-based KGAL Consulting Engineers is a consulting firm that specializes in hydro-mechanical design. Simply put, they make dams and water control systems. They were part of three large river dam projects in Korea and needed photos for their portfolio and marketing materials. I was tasked to photograph their water control systems in three locations, as well as provide video footage.
The biggest challenges of this assignment were travel and weather. The three sites were each located in different parts of the Korean peninsula, which meant multiple shooting days and quite a bit of driving. And of course as with any outdoor shoot, the photographer would be at the mercy of the weather. So careful planning was necessary to get the job done in the most efficient and effective way possible. Online maps, weather forecasts, and the Photographer’s Ephemeris app were indispensable tools for predicting weather conditions and light. Luckily, the shoot went smoothly overall and the client was happy with the images and video.
The first stop was Nakdong Dam, just outside of Daegu. To get the best light on the dam, an early morning shoot was required. There was also some very picturesque mist to add a bit of drama to the shoot.
The second stop was Yeongsan Dam in Mokpo. The whole week leading up to this shoot was quite gloomy and overcast. But the clock was ticking, so I went ahead and shot. The good thing about overcast days is fairly even lighting on the location, and no harsh shadows to worry about.
The final leg of the shoot brought me north to Yeoju, on the famous Han River. I shot this location in the evening and early morning. The fog was quite thick early in the morning and there was a lot of waiting involved. It eventually cleared up though and I got some great shots of the dam.
My other task was to shoot some high-definition video footage of each location. I wasn’t tasked to edit it, but I put together a little demo video for this blog post:
At the end of the assignment, the client was very happy with the images and video. They were even kind enough to write me a letter of recommendation:
Overall, this was a challenging project but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also learned a lot from the experience. Thanks again to Nolan from KGAL for this assignment. I look forward to working with you again.
If you need an industrial/architectural photographer or videographer in Korea or worldwide, please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you!
