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Glamour & Grime – BTS on the L200 Shoot

I do enjoy a location shoot like this, not because of the conditions but more because of the results they create. Let me start from the beginning.

I’d just returned from the heat & dust of a GMC location shoot in 100 degree temperatures in the US when this project came in. The brief – show the increased pulling power of the Mitsubishi L200. Now, we could have draped the Mitsu with a bevy of bikini clad women but this isn’t the pulling power it boasts. (Although, I do reckon driving one could be a decider if you’re in your early twenties and need a little extra help).

Mitsubishi L200 BTS of the location shoot

Nope, the Mitsu can now pull heavier loads which means you can annoy more people like me on the motorway with an even bigger caravan trailing behind. In all seriousness, the pulling power is quite immense, as it can now pull 3 ton machinery without a single groan.

This is going to make it very popular in a lot of areas, from engineering to farming to breakdowns but let’s get back to the shoot.

Mitsubishi L200 BTS of the location shoot

Dusty Men and Their Machines, I’m Sensing a Theme!

You know that photographically I love a real subject to shoot. I love it when it’s natural, when the grime gets into the laughter lines and really show how hard they have been working. Those that work hard in difficult conditions all day can’t ever shift that layer of dirt that seems to seep into the pores.

Personally I think it enhances a character and as a photographer it makes my job a bit easier as it really does show the hard graft in every fine line and wrinkle. Sometimes, we dress up a shoot, we have to, and part of this means covering our models in whatever substance relates to the ads. It could be confetti, it could be foam, it could be beads of perspiration.

Mitsubishi L200 BTS of the location shoot

Mitsubishi L200 BTS of the location shoot

With ten minutes of arriving on location , where the dust clouds mingled with the wobbly lines of a heatwave it was obvious there was not much set dressing to do. Just a slight shift sent this grime spiralling in the air, with it landing on everything within a 20m radius. It wasn’t just the shoot cars that looked like they’d been down a mine, we did too. The quarry was to present some challenges to the car prep guys in keeping the hero car cleaned for the duration of the shoot.

Mitsubishi L200 BTS of the location shoot

The River Runs Black

If you think photography is glamourous, you should have joined us on this shoot. Without sharing too much information – sweating from the blazing sun we were all prime targets for the airborne dust and every single one of us looked like a chimney sweep by the time the day was through.

The showers ran black for hours and drains were blocked as we spent rather longer than usual trying to free our skin of this un-relentless stuff!

That being said, it was a great setting and we are all pretty pleased with the results. You can make your own mind up as the press ads are released this week!

Mitsubishi L200 Towing press ad

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