WA’s Christian Sprogoe takes out national award for Excellence in Engineering Photography

Local commercial photographer, Christian Sprogoe, took home the National Award for Excellence in Engineering Photography at the Australian Bulk Handling Review Awards in Sydney this month.

Sprogoe has specialised in the industrial, mining, oil & gas and resources sector for the past 19 years and achieved a Highly Commended in 2012 in the same award.

These awards, also known to as ‘the Bulkies’ are a highlight of the Australian engineering social calendar and are organised by The Australian Bulk Handling Review magazine, part of the global publisher Informa Group.

Sprogoe’s winning portfolio showcased a number of rail, ship loading and port facilities from WA’s Pilbara region with the majority of images being taken from helicopters and focusing in particular on the patterns and geometric shapes left by mining machines on the landscape.

Ronda McCallum, of Informa Group said they were “extraordinary photos”.

“I deal with a lot of the companies that build giant reclaimers and (machines that) weigh ore trains at 80 km/hr and (machinery that) load bulk ships off shore but seriously the scale in Christian’s photos is breathtaking.”

Sprogoe’s client list includes an enviable list of global and local miners and contractors and his work regularly sees him travelling to isolated and remote locations across the country and overseas.

“It is a rare and real pleasure to be given the opportunity to create art from circumstances and in places where art does not often rank as a priority,” said Sprogoe. “Working in remote areas undoubtedly has its challenges, however the privilege of access and the opportunity to collaborate with a client and their particular requirements to produce strong visual imagery is a big driving force for me and one that brings a lot of satisfaction”.