A Refined Industrial Aesthetic

On Day Four during the two weeks when Kent was loaned a Fujifilm X100VI for testing. ‘Here’s the location I’m interested in.’ said Kent when he showed me an image on his computer screen, a photo of somewhere I did not recognise. ‘Where is it?’ I asked. ‘It’s the White Bay Power Station, a heritage-listed former power station in Rozelle.’

So I did a quick image search. From what I saw, machinery and raw industrial structures inspired me to a fashion idea. ‘Go the opposite, choose the contrast!’ I told myself. So I selected a feminine gauzy dress and we were ready to go!

We arrived on a bus which was full of visitors who came to the same destination. The White Bay Power Station was constructed between 1912 and 1917 and operated until 1983. After a significant investment from the government to restore the former coal-fired power station, the plant reopened in 2024 for the Biennale of Sydney art exhibition. Contemporary artworks were showcased against industrial walls. Some art pieces were hung from the high ceilings.

Kent spotted a corner on the top level for our shoot. The background was almost pitch-black. Through a high window, a ray of light shone through and landed on me like a spotlight. The light also highlighted the rivets on the iron beams, the iron bars, and the silhouettes of machinery in the space behind. What seems to be a dim, featureless corner people wouldn’t look twice, through Kent’s eyes and lens, he saw an interesting dark canvas with textures.

What grabbed my attention was another spot. An old control room that allows visitors to look through a glass wall built on a concrete base. The reflection of the windows and the artwork mixed with metres of dials and switches made up a cool vision. Next, we took advantage of being in Turbine Hall, where sightseers could get very close to the original turbines and some equipment. I like the look when wearing my delicate dress and standing against a piece of cold, hard, iron machinery! Being in this unique space, both Kent and I had fun creating our images.

One thing worth mentioning is that White Bay Power Station is a popular venue. Guided tours, small groups of students, locals, tourists, art and architecture enthusiasts kept coming and going. We even bumped into one of Kent’s friends during our time there! These photos may look like we had the place for ourselves, but the secret is that Kent is good at dealing with situations like… crowd! ‘Don’t worry about the people!’ I heard him saying repeatedly while posing self-consciously.

This photoshoot was taken by two cameras, the Fujifilm X100VI and Kent’s own Fujifilm X-T1. To find out about Kent’s thoughts on shooting with the X100VI, simply head to his Street Fashion Sydney blog. If you like this fashion story and are inspired to do something similar, please click here to contact Kent for further inquiries.