CASE STUDY
BESOM
A one-day process documentary shoot capturing the traditional, sustainable broom-making practice of Eve and Chris Harvey at their Prince Edward County studio.
Sector: Artisanal Craft & Sustainable Home Goods
Transformation: Process Documentary Photography
The Tech: Pure Available Light, Small-Space Photography, Fine Art Aesthetic
The Problem: Microscopic Floor Plan, Extreme Heat & No Exterior Lighting Access
The Solution: Embracing Confined Shadows & Natural Light Falloff
The Challenge
Confined Quarters & Restricted Lighting
Photographing the intricate process of crafting brooms from homegrown broom corn and windfallen branches required working in a tiny, extremely hot studio. The incredibly tight floor plan left literally no room to move or position traditional light stands. Furthermore, the physical layout of the space meant that supplementing the available light by firing strobes through the exterior windows was completely impossible.
The Solution
Working With Deep Shadow
With artificial lighting entirely off the table and mobility severely restricted, the shoot required fully embracing the studio's existing physical constraints. The approach relied exclusively on the single, available natural light source, carefully adjusting angles to catch the textural details of the raw wood and fibers as they were being worked by hand in the shadows.
The Result
Painterly Visuals
By leaning into the stark contrast of the confined studio lighting rather than fighting it, the final images took on a rich, painterly quality. The deep shadows and directed natural light falloff resulted in Rembrandt-like imagery that perfectly suited the grounded, handcrafted nature of BESOM's work.
LUMEN
Based on Wellington, Prince Edward County, working across North America & beyond.
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