Capturing Science in Action: My Photography Assignment for SCIEX

I recently had the opportunity to photograph for SCIEX, a leading manufacturer of mass spectrometry instruments used in biomedical and environmental research, at their lab in Colorado Springs. This photography assignment was an exciting challenge, as it involved capturing the essence of cutting-edge science while working with some tricky environmental factors.

The goal was to create images that showcased SCIEX’s state-of-the-art equipment and lab workers in action. But anyone who’s spent time in a lab knows they’re often chaotic spaces—full of instruments, tools, and a lot of clutter. On top of that, labs like the one at SCIEX have harsh fluorescent lighting and no windows, which can make spaces feel dark, claustrophobic, and far from photogenic. So the photography task for me was clear: I needed to make the lab feel clean, spacious, and full of energy, all while working with the limitations of the space and timing.

One of the biggest hurdles in lab photography is lighting. Fluorescent lights are notorious for casting a flat, greenish, unflattering light on everything. In a lab packed with equipment, that’s not the look I wanted. My solution was to use a battery-powered continuous light—designed more for video than still photography—but it allowed me to be less intrusive than a strobe would have been in such a busy environment. The continuous light gave me control to shape the light around the equipment and the people, adding some dimension without being distracting. Matching the color temperature of my light to the fluorescents ensured everything felt cohesive and balanced, which helped the photography feel cleaner and less confined.

Beyond lighting, I knew I needed to find other ways to overcome the visual clutter and lack of windows. I relied on a very short depth of field to isolate the key elements—like the lab workers and specific pieces of equipment—while letting the background blur into softness. This photography technique helped eliminate the sense of claustrophobia and created a more spacious, deliberate look. In addition to the shallow depth of field, I used tight framing and incorporated a lot of foreground elements in the shots. This allowed me to frame my subjects more creatively and mask some of the clutter by making the equipment feel more integrated into the scene. The result was a series of images that felt clean, modern, and focused.

Since I had to photograph the lab workers while they were actually working, I had very limited time to give any direction or staging. This meant capturing people in their element, focused on their tasks, with me working quickly and subtly to get the best angles. It’s a style of photography I really enjoy because it allows for more natural, authentic moments.

There’s a lot of stock science or lab photography out there, and the look has become fairly common. So, to make my images stand out and feel more commercial and valuable than stock photography, I knew I had to add more. The short depth of field and tight framing were key to elevating the images, but the real transformation happened in post-production. Labs like SCIEX’s are places where groundbreaking science happens, and the images needed to reflect that sense of intrigue, mystery, and energy. I worked with color toning and light gradients to clean up the cluttered feel of the space and to add freshness and dynamism. The goal was to make the images feel clean and modern, while retaining the hands-on, real-world nature of the lab work.

This assignment was a great example of how, in commercial photography, it’s not just about capturing what’s in front of the camera but transforming it into something that tells a deeper story. In this case, that story was about innovation, precision, and the future of science, all while working within the constraints of a real-world lab setting.

I’m thrilled with how the photography turned out, and even more excited to have helped bring SCIEX’s work to life in a way that feels fresh, dynamic, and intriguing.