Architectural and industrial photography is primarily about capturing a structure in a technical but aesthetically pleasing manner.

Months if not years have gone into the planning and design of a building that the architect hopes will not only serve a purpose, but will also be a pleasing and functional environment for its users and owners to enjoy being within.

Industrial sites, by their very nature, often are less than aesthetically appealing. They’re functional, and frequently grimy depending on their purpose.

So imagine my surprise, when one day I was driving through the Hope Valley, part of the Peak District in England, and across the dales, I spotted something that reminded me of a classical painting. It was only a fleeting glimpse, but I distinctly remember thinking that it reminded me of an oil painting scene depicting a woollen mill from the 1800’s.

Returning home, I set about discovering what this place I’d seen was. It turned out to be Breedon Hope Cement works in Castleton. Next, I needed to research if there was a shooting location I could reach which would allow me to capture on camera what my mind had envisaged. This is where Google Maps satellite view comes into its element. I found a promising lane, with a view over the valley that would sit the works in a nice dip.

A few days later, when I got to the turn for the lane that would take me to my chosen location, there was a big Highways Agency board stating ‘Unsuitable for motorised vehicles’… I drive a Jeep and let me tell you, I was glad I did.

The lane started not much wider than my car. It was paved, but there was a lot of vegetation hanging in the road. Going increasingly upwards, the tarmac soon gave way to gravel and earth. Large water-filled potholes that came over half the height of my wheels became a regular occurrence, so slow and steady was the name of the game. After a while and a couple of livestock gates later, I arrived, and my planning had paid handsomely.

The location was perfect, the morning light was perfect, and the hills and white clouds in the distance were perfect. And so I made my image. The location and scene were so idyllic that after I’d got my image, I just enjoyed the view leaning on a gate with a mug of coffee. A small herd of cows came to investigate what I was doing. Having a sniff at me and then seemingly giving me a lick of approval, they wandered off again to eat the grass. Sometimes this career can be ridiculously wonderful.

Now, as idyllic as this was, the shot was still only a single-point perspective. My mind therefore started thinking about capturing the works again, but from another angle and potentially, a completely different season.

Google Maps consulted again, I found my next shot location and began waiting for the conditions I wanted. November 2024 in the UK, like October before it, continued to be grey. Just grey. Not very conducive to creative images of a cement factory. And then the mystical powers that be must have heard my frustrations, because the UK suddenly had an arctic front approach. Snow was forecast, followed by clear, but bitterly cold days.

Keeping an eye on the weather forecast, (and I think we all know how reliable they can be… check this post out) I’d cleared two days in my diary to allow for a small weather change and still get the shot. It was going to be Thursday. No, the best conditions were now Wednesday. Thursday, Wednesday, Thursday… it went on changing for a week until it was certain that Wednesday was the day. Fresh snow had fallen on high ground, but the roads were mainly clear.

This time, I wanted a twilight shot, so my camera could pick up any lighting on the works, but I also wanted the winter skies to have some colour left in them. I arrived at my location just after 3 pm and the light was falling. I put on my layers, set up my tripod in the snow and waited. My flask of hot chocolate was very much appreciated at -4ºC before the windchill. Taking a series of images throughout the falling light, I’d achieved what I set out to do. Make a harsh cement factory look attractive in its setting.

If I can do that, imagine what else I can do…