Processing’s photo of the month for April is this view of the Impact Sizer Dryer at the Specialty Minerals plant in Adams, Massachusetts. Specialty Minerals is a division of Minerals Technologies. The plant produces both ground calcium carbonate and precipitated calcium carbonate for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications in industries such as Paper & Packaging, Automotive, Construction, Foods, and Pharmaceuticals.
The photo is from an upcoming exhibition by photographer Thad Kubis titled “Up Close at the Limestone Plant: Industrial Photography in Adams, MA” that opens May 28 at The Adams Theater and runs until September 6. Kubis says that his photography has been greatly influenced by the work of Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand, directors of the 1921 film “Manhatta,” which is considered by some to be the first American avant-garde film. For the Specialty Minerals photos, Kubis was particularly inspired by Sheeler’s photos of Ford’s River Rouge plant from the 1920s.
“While I appreciate traditional landscapes and scenes,” Kubis says, “my primary photographic interest lies in documenting past, present, and emerging industrial processes. Furthermore, I am committed to capturing the human aspect — the workers who are integral to these operations.”
Kubis hopes the project, which includes a nearly 10-foot-long mural of the Specialty Minerals quarry, presents “an insightful perspective on a facility that many pass by each week without observing its operations” and that the photos help “both current and future employees find further appreciation of their workplace.”
Processing’s Photo of the Month is a regular feature where we invite professionals from across the process industries to share compelling images from their operations. Photos can be artistic, technical, historical, timely, or simply intriguing. Please include a couple paragraphs describing what the image shows, where it was taken, and why it matters. Tell us what is happening, what challenges were involved, or what makes this moment worth sharing with the broader industry.
All photos must be submitted by the original owner or with explicit permission from the owner and with minimal digital editing. Basic adjustments such as cropping or color correction are expected, but the image should be an accurate depiction of the subject.
Each month, our editorial team will select one image to feature. It’s an opportunity to highlight your work, your facility, and your perspective, while contributing to a richer visual record of the processing industries.
Great processes deserve to be seen. We look forward to seeing yours. Send submissions to [email protected].
