Industrial
Capturing Heavy Machinery in Tema and Takoradi, Ghana
An eight-day industrial shoot documenting a fleet of heavy-lifting machinery across Ghana’s Port of Tema and the industrial yards of Takoradi.
Client
Patterson Simons - UK
Industry
Heavy Industry / Port Logistics
Services
Industrial photography, elevated / aerial-style imagery
The challenge
Eight days on the ground across two high-security economic hubs — the Port of Tema and the industrial landscape of Takoradi — capturing Manitou forklifts, Konecranes lift trucks and Grove mobile cranes in action, while moving between high-security port locations and private industrial yards.
The approach
I scheduled the most critical shots during the early morning and late afternoon, using the low sun and dramatic West African cloud formations to create high-contrast imagery. At the GPHA I used elevated perspectives to capture group shots of multiple machines, conveying a sense of scale that standard eye-level shots cannot.
When I received the brief from my client to document their fleet of heavy-lifting machinery across Ghana, I knew this wouldn’t be a standard commercial shoot. The project required a specialized approach to industrial photography, spanning two major economic hubs: the bustling Port of Tema and the industrial landscape of Takoradi. My goal was to deliver a library of high-end assets that showcased the sheer scale of the equipment while maintaining the aesthetic standards required for modern digital marketing.
The mission was clear: eight days on the ground to capture Manitou forklifts, Konecranes lift trucks and Grove mobile cranes in action. Key locations included the Cocobod site and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema, and the Mobicrane yard and specialized training facilities in Takoradi.
Industrial environments are unpredictable. In Takoradi, I had to remain agile, photographing whatever was available in the Mobicrane yard — including their 80t RT and 200t GMK cranes. I also documented the human element of the brand, capturing practical training sessions where engineers and operators were in their element. This adds a layer of authenticity and trust to the brand’s digital presence.
By focusing on high-quality visual storytelling, we didn’t just document machines; we built a visual portfolio that positions my client as a leader in the African heavy-lifting industry.
The result
The final delivery consisted of a comprehensive gallery of 75 “hero” shots, supported by hundreds of documentary-style images.
“Hendrik-Louis completed a 10-day photoshoot for us in Tema and Takoradi, Ghana. The results are outstanding — the quality, creativity and consistency across all the images are extremely high, and we are genuinely impressed. Thank you for your professionalism, talent, and for really listening to what we needed while also bringing your own creative ideas and expertise to the shoot.”
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