Nathan Jackson started his working life building boats. These days, his workplace can be the top of a wind turbine, high above the paddocks.
A photograph of Nathan preparing for a blade removal at Mumbida Wind Farm offers a glimpse of that working day. The view is extraordinary. For Nathan, it’s somewhere he’s become accustomed to getting on with the job.
It’s also the kind of moment SBL wanted to capture when it launched its staff photo competition on 24 August.
Running through to 30 September, the competition invited employees to share their view of life at SBL: the people, the places, the interesting jobs and the moments others might never get to see.
Weekly prizes and an overall prize provided an incentive. But the invitation went beyond finding a striking turbine photograph. Creativity counted, and staff were encouraged to look for the stories around them, whether that was a team moment or a different perspective on familiar work.
Nathan’s overall winning entry shows how much there can be behind a single frame.
Nathan Jackson preparing for a blade removal at Mumbida Wind Farm. Submitted by Nathan, the photograph won SBL Solutions Services’ staff photo competition. Photo: Mark “Frosty” Frost.
From boats to blades
A mate helped introduce Nathan to work with SBL after he began his career in boat building. He joined the business around 2018.
Getting comfortable with heights was part of the adjustment. He laughs when asked about his first experience working up a turbine, but says familiarity came with time.
“You get used to it after a while.”
In the photograph, Nathan is helping prepare for a major component exchange. His workmate Mark Frost took the shot, which Nathan later submitted to the competition.
The photograph captures one person, but the work involves several crews.
Nathan’s team works up the tower, coordinating with crane operators and crews on the ground to remove and replace components. He says the experience of those teams makes a difference, with people who understand their roles and how the job fits together.
Asked what makes someone good at the work, beyond qualifications and technical skills, he answers immediately.
“Attention to detail and good communication skills.”
And does he still stop to appreciate the view?
“Not as often as we should. You get to see it every day.”
Something coming from nothing
For Nathan, construction work brings particular satisfaction. He enjoys helping build something that will go on to supply electricity to homes.
“Just something coming from nothing, really.”
That’s a part of the story a photograph alone can’t tell. Behind the height, the equipment and the landscape is someone who has learnt the work, relies on his crew and takes satisfaction in what they help build.
The competition gave SBL a reason to ask for those photographs. Nathan’s entry gave us a reason to ask about the person in one.
Our final top 10 images
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