Maritime shipping simulator photography

Published on Tue Jan 17, 2017 by

I was at the launch of a new addition to the Maritime Knowledge Hub facilities at Liverpool John Moores University recently. I had previously worked at their main site on the Wirral, but this was their new simulators at their main campus at Byrom Street in the city centre. LJMU has an extensive maritime history and has helped train numerous maritime professionals, deck officers and marine engineers via undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the area of maritime and transport industries. The Maritime Bridge and Engine Simulator was officially opened by the shipping minister Rt. Hon John Hayes, MP.

Technically, creating these images are challenging - as it is important to correctly expose for the screens and displays, while retaining the detail of the people in the images. My method is to use a slow shutter speed on a tripod for the screens and then a second photo from exactly the same place for the people and combine in Photoshop. Obviously takes time, skill and patience but I was happy with the results and they secured good coverage of the event for the university.

The simulators themselves are amazing - any waterway or sea can be called up, alongside weather conditions - from bright and clear, to dark and stormy. So it can be an essential piece of kit for any maritime training - indeed the facility is used by many external companies, as well as students on LJMU courses. It enables marine pilots, shipmasters and senior navigating officers to develop and practice their skills in a realistic but risk free environment. Mariners can be placed in geographically accurate virtual marine environments aboard one of the Hub's three ship bridges, which respond and react just like one would expect at sea. 

Liverpool maritime shipping simulator facility

University event photographer - visit by shipping Minister

UK shipping minister photograph at Liverpool simulator


So, don't hesitate to get in touch, if you have a similar event coming up, something that might be tricky to photograph - I've probably done something similar. Give me a call !

Tags: education, LJMU, shipping, maritime

Author: David J Colbran

Commercial business portrait photography on location in Liverpool during the Labour Party Conference 2023

Portrait featured in Australian newspaper

In between meetings I met business man Will and got a few classic portraits on the waterfront and of course the iconic Pierhead. So if you doing business in Liverpool, need some quick but quality coverage of your time here, drop me a message.

Liverpool photographer details memories of shooting a band's album cover here on Merseyside.

Shooting The Wombats album cover for A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation

In 2006 I was contacted by a design agency here on Merseyside to help them photograph their forthcoming debut album cover. Exciting times !

Photography for autumn party political conferences, fringe events, main debates, speakers, protests, meetings. Liverpool based photographer

Photographer for Labour Party conference in Liverpool 2023

If you need last minute coverage of a speaker, a meeting, debate session, protest, fringe event or anything connected with the Labour Party conference Sunday 08 to Wednesday 11 October 2023 I might be able to help.

"The photos were great, they were exactly what we were after in terms of capturing the networking, the high profile speakers, the Awards winners and also the fun of the Awards dinner. It was great to have such an involved photographer at the event capturing as much as possible and we would be very happy to use you again"

Becky, Events Co-ordinator, Environment Media Group

Experienced conference photographer - image example

Let's start a new project together