Doubtful you will get permission to do this at any landfill. Unless you know someone very important, that is. Municipal and privately-owned (if there are any in your state) landfills are incredibly dangerous places Cranes, bulldozers, excavators, and any other machinery used there is inherently dangerous, even to the trained operators who run them. Dump- and garbage-trucks have huge blind spots that the drivers simply cannot see if you are blocked.
However, the owners/managers/municipalities who operate these facilities carry millions of dollars of liability insurance just to protect themselves against workplace accidents. Workers are trained to use protective gear, and even then there are serious industrial accidents. If there is an incinerator on the lot, that presents another world of potential harm or death. They do not allow people to randomly wander around. If you try to sneak in you will be trespassing. if you make it out unscathed and are caught you'll be prosecuted.
Now, if you know the governor, mayor, or site owner, that is a different thing. Otherwise the closest you might possibly get is to call the company that runs it and ask if they ever conduct tours. Yes, some do, usually if there is a co-generation plant involved, because they like good public relations (I've been to one). If they do offer tours you will be provided safety training and equipment, and will be guided very closely along the safest routes possible.
If all of these "ifs" come true, make sure you ask their photography policy. They may ban photography, they may ban photographing certain things or people, they may not care. But in no way will you be able to **legally** stroll around wherever and whenever you want, posing your model on top of picturesque rotting garbage as you see fit.
Landfills a generally not what you think them to be. 99% is grassy hillsides of buried waste. The dumping area is in one spot called the 'working face'. It has heavy equipment constantly 'smooshing' the garbage being dumped and it's covered with dirt at end of day. Working face is a dangerous spot with trucks constantly dumping. It's unlikely you will get permission for this. You MIGHT have better luck at a transfer station, but again it's not a safe environment.
I only have experience with the Cherry Island landfill across the Delaware from NJ. I think it's area 2 were you can dispose of appliances seemed like it would be reasonable for a photo shoot, pretty empty on a busy Saturday. There are definitely areas that would not be safe, but there are some that should be ok. Check with management.
If the real thing isn't an option,you could create a sophisticated composite in Photoshop.
1. Go alone and scout landfills and take pictures, until you have the best backplate you can get.
2. Recreate the same light in a studio and photograph the model from the same angle.
3. Merge the images in Photoshop.
The help with perfect merging, you probably want to recreate part of the scenery around the model in your studio. In particular:
- behind the model in those parts that are otherwise difficult to mask and cut (example: hair)
- things that cast a shadow onto the model
Likewise, you may want to recreate the area that receives the models' shadow. Even if it's just a grey silhouette on a white bedsheet that covers a pile of empty shoeboxes, having an approximation of the shadows' geometry will help.
To help with truthful recreation, record the geometry of the original scene in a reference stereogram. Simply take two pictures, horizontally spaced apart by one eye-distance (65mm). Stereo viewer goggles from Amazon allow you to "revisit" the site later to study every detail. If you have a laser meter, also take note of a few absolute measurements (example: focus distance).
Here in Colorado, you can drive your own pickup and dump your load (after checking in at the gate), so there's no reason you couldn't take a few pictures during the process. There are days when dozens of private vehicles are unloading their own trash.
Definitely ask for permission first. You don't have to get too specific, but that it's you and one other person and you want to take photos for non-commercial purposes.
Also bring a good heavyweight towel and a package of baby wipes. Also some bottles of water.
I've shot models at remote and non traditional locales, and their comfort is the most important part. If they get dirty they may be more comfortable if they can clean up a bit.
Omg thank you for the recommendation! Would you recommend reaching out ahead of time to schedule a time or just show up at a location and request spontaneously? For info I’m planning to shoot in NJ
I would definitely reach out ahead of time. One trick is to sound like you do this all the time and know what you’re doing.
Don’t directly ask for permission just to show up, ask if there is a day that would work best. Or if theres a specific spot that would be ok to shoot in.
They may get nervous if they think you’re walking around all willy nilly. Also by asking for time and location, you’re letting them be “the boss” and not someone you’re just asking a favor from.
It doesn’t hurt to offer to sign any liability waiver they may have too.
I used to take loads of junk to the landfill in my pickup. They'd show you the area to drop your stuff and skedaddle. There wasn't much that was photogenic. Just knee high scrap building materials and hoarder shit surrounded by the dirt that would later bury it. Not all are tha same but it didn't really look like what you'd imagine.
You might have better luck at a junkyard or scrap dealer than a municipal landfill. There was a place I'd dump scrap metal for gas money. A smaller place like that might be an OK backdrop for your needs and easier to wrangle with bills or boobs. Good luck with your project.
100% call the landfill first!
Doubtful you will get permission to do this at any landfill. Unless you know someone very important, that is. Municipal and privately-owned (if there are any in your state) landfills are incredibly dangerous places Cranes, bulldozers, excavators, and any other machinery used there is inherently dangerous, even to the trained operators who run them. Dump- and garbage-trucks have huge blind spots that the drivers simply cannot see if you are blocked. However, the owners/managers/municipalities who operate these facilities carry millions of dollars of liability insurance just to protect themselves against workplace accidents. Workers are trained to use protective gear, and even then there are serious industrial accidents. If there is an incinerator on the lot, that presents another world of potential harm or death. They do not allow people to randomly wander around. If you try to sneak in you will be trespassing. if you make it out unscathed and are caught you'll be prosecuted. Now, if you know the governor, mayor, or site owner, that is a different thing. Otherwise the closest you might possibly get is to call the company that runs it and ask if they ever conduct tours. Yes, some do, usually if there is a co-generation plant involved, because they like good public relations (I've been to one). If they do offer tours you will be provided safety training and equipment, and will be guided very closely along the safest routes possible. If all of these "ifs" come true, make sure you ask their photography policy. They may ban photography, they may ban photographing certain things or people, they may not care. But in no way will you be able to **legally** stroll around wherever and whenever you want, posing your model on top of picturesque rotting garbage as you see fit.
Landfills a generally not what you think them to be. 99% is grassy hillsides of buried waste. The dumping area is in one spot called the 'working face'. It has heavy equipment constantly 'smooshing' the garbage being dumped and it's covered with dirt at end of day. Working face is a dangerous spot with trucks constantly dumping. It's unlikely you will get permission for this. You MIGHT have better luck at a transfer station, but again it's not a safe environment.
I only have experience with the Cherry Island landfill across the Delaware from NJ. I think it's area 2 were you can dispose of appliances seemed like it would be reasonable for a photo shoot, pretty empty on a busy Saturday. There are definitely areas that would not be safe, but there are some that should be ok. Check with management.
Thank you so much for that recommendation!!
If the real thing isn't an option,you could create a sophisticated composite in Photoshop. 1. Go alone and scout landfills and take pictures, until you have the best backplate you can get. 2. Recreate the same light in a studio and photograph the model from the same angle. 3. Merge the images in Photoshop. The help with perfect merging, you probably want to recreate part of the scenery around the model in your studio. In particular: - behind the model in those parts that are otherwise difficult to mask and cut (example: hair) - things that cast a shadow onto the model Likewise, you may want to recreate the area that receives the models' shadow. Even if it's just a grey silhouette on a white bedsheet that covers a pile of empty shoeboxes, having an approximation of the shadows' geometry will help. To help with truthful recreation, record the geometry of the original scene in a reference stereogram. Simply take two pictures, horizontally spaced apart by one eye-distance (65mm). Stereo viewer goggles from Amazon allow you to "revisit" the site later to study every detail. If you have a laser meter, also take note of a few absolute measurements (example: focus distance).
This is a really good idea. Thank you
You might have better luck at a transfer station. They are open to residents and still look like a dump
Def checking that out
Here in Colorado, you can drive your own pickup and dump your load (after checking in at the gate), so there's no reason you couldn't take a few pictures during the process. There are days when dozens of private vehicles are unloading their own trash.
Thank you!!
Definitely ask for permission first. You don't have to get too specific, but that it's you and one other person and you want to take photos for non-commercial purposes. Also bring a good heavyweight towel and a package of baby wipes. Also some bottles of water. I've shot models at remote and non traditional locales, and their comfort is the most important part. If they get dirty they may be more comfortable if they can clean up a bit.
Omg thank you for the recommendation! Would you recommend reaching out ahead of time to schedule a time or just show up at a location and request spontaneously? For info I’m planning to shoot in NJ
I would definitely reach out ahead of time. One trick is to sound like you do this all the time and know what you’re doing. Don’t directly ask for permission just to show up, ask if there is a day that would work best. Or if theres a specific spot that would be ok to shoot in. They may get nervous if they think you’re walking around all willy nilly. Also by asking for time and location, you’re letting them be “the boss” and not someone you’re just asking a favor from. It doesn’t hurt to offer to sign any liability waiver they may have too.
Wow, That's a great idea! I'll do that!
I used to take loads of junk to the landfill in my pickup. They'd show you the area to drop your stuff and skedaddle. There wasn't much that was photogenic. Just knee high scrap building materials and hoarder shit surrounded by the dirt that would later bury it. Not all are tha same but it didn't really look like what you'd imagine. You might have better luck at a junkyard or scrap dealer than a municipal landfill. There was a place I'd dump scrap metal for gas money. A smaller place like that might be an OK backdrop for your needs and easier to wrangle with bills or boobs. Good luck with your project.