Night Shift
In the dark of night, while most of us are sleeping, night shift workers toil away. The work they do is vital to the community but often unseen. An outdoor installation of illuminated photographs, Night Shift offered a rare glimpse into the working world at night. The images featured in Night Shift were captured over many nights of watching people at work.
Inspiration
Night Shift was inspired by my curiosity about other people’s working lives. I watched my sister, a nurse, endure many gruelling night shifts. I often wondered how she managed to stay awake through a 12-hour shift and then safely make the journey home over the Westgate Bridge.
I also had the desire to shoot in the dark — to explore light, or the absence of it — and to capture the atmosphere of night. My preference was to use only ambient light, throwing myself into unfamiliar environments and situations to capture authentic, unguarded images of my subjects.
Creating the work
I met most of the participants for the first time on the shoot, and often had just an hour or two to photograph them and collect their stories. Rapport and trust were quickly built — I’m interested in developing a relationship, however brief, to learn about others’ experiences. I was able to capture moments where the workers are seemingly oblivious to my presence. Their openness and generosity was incredible.
The workers and their stories
Night Shift features workers from a range of industries, sharing what it’s like to work at ‘the opposite end of the day’. It reveals the surprising and skilful things that happen while most of us are asleep: shoes are handcrafted, bread is baked, bridges are built, and songs are sung.
For some, it’s ‘relaxing’ and ‘romantic’. For others, it’s ‘disconnecting’, ‘testing’ and ‘tough’. Night Shift explores the disconnection workers feel from family and friends, as well as the tight bonds they form with co-workers. They also describe the beauty of being under the stars, and missing the warmth of the sun.
An Operations Technician for Mobil Altona Refinery, Ricardo drives to work as the sun sets. He describes night shift as “mesmerising” and believes his senses are more alert when it’s dark. When he arrives home, he waits for his little boy to wake and shares breakfast with his family.
Siale, a gaming attendant at Seagulls Nest in Newport, often works from 8pm–6am, dropping her kids at school before heading to bed. “The hours are hard. It can really wear you down. You have to be able to cop stuff on the chin and just keep going.”
Matt, a sergeant in the water police squad, says that, while less happens at night, it’s usually more interesting. “If people are out on the water after hours, they’re up to no good.”
Betty, an artisan shoemaker, loves working under the stars. “I can lose myself. Everyone else is asleep. I’m hammering and tacking and stitching away in a little backyard shed in the middle of the night. There’s clarity. There’s space and quiet.”
Night Shift aglow
Night Shift reveals the human side of industry. Workers shared how they stay connected with their loved ones, what it takes to push through a 12-hour night shift, how they stay awake when their bodies are desperate for sleep, and what it’s like to watch the sunrise as they drive home.
Night Shift was part of ‘A Night in Newport’ at Paine Reserve, and ‘A Night in Altona’ at Logan Reserve as part of the Art & Industry Festival in November 2018.
Community feedback for Night Shift
“Another highlight of the 2018 Art and Industry Festival was being included in this incredible photographic exhibition called 'Night Shift' by Zoya Martin. A series of photographs and words of people who work at night displayed on giant cylindrical screens lit from behind. The outdoor park settings looking like they were dotted with giant lamp shades. Great concept and display. I was nervous, but the concept was intriguing and the focus of the photo is also on the work. Zoya did an amazing job and it was SO much fun!” – Betty Ennis @bbossyboots
“Made me appreciate how lonely and isolating shift work can be. I also got a sense that night time can be a safe place for people — a beautiful cocooning of darkness. So it’s a real contrast for people. It helped me empathise with people who work at night.” – Catherine O’Donoghue
“I think it’s a great light show. And then when you stop and read the stories, there’s just such a wonderful feel for the people and their experiences.” – Vlad Bunyevich
“The setting underneath the trees…a stunning event. An eye-catching layout as we drove down the street — a real ‘wow’ factor! The artist has done an amazing job.” – Rosie Marshall
“You see people working at night, but you don’t know how they’re feeling about their work situation. Some of the comments I found really interesting because it just brings another look at their life that I wouldn’t have thought about until I saw this exhibition. You’ve shown their souls.” – Joy Bandy
“An atmospheric and educational exhibition.” – Pam Wakefield @beyondthesilence
“Such poignant work.” – Jessie Brooks-Dowsett @jessiebdart