Marine Innovation
When you’re tasked with photographing a marine outboard engine in the studio, at first it all sounds fairly straightforward. Lights, camera, engine – job done, right? But then you’re reminded that this particular piece of engineering brilliance weighs in at a hefty 393 kilograms and stands close to two metres tall. Suddenly, you realise that this isn’t going to be your average tabletop product shoot. Every move, every lighting decision, and every camera angle has to be planned with precision and respect for the sheer scale of the subject. That’s when having a capable, experienced team around you makes all the difference. Good planning and teamwork aren’t just helpful – they’re absolutely essential to achieving the results that our client, Cox Marine, deserves.
I’ve been working with Cox Marine for several years now, documenting not just their engines, but the story of innovation and passion that drives the company forward. From the early stages of design and engineering through to rigorous testing and final production, our work has captured the evolution of a truly groundbreaking marine powerplant. Every session with Cox is more than a photoshoot – it’s a collaboration rooted in shared values of craftsmanship, detail, and excellence.
Cox Marine is a British company built on innovation and driven by purpose. They’ve spent over a decade challenging the status quo of marine propulsion, redefining what an outboard engine can be. Their focus has always been on developing cleaner, safer, and more efficient alternatives for operators who depend on their equipment in the harshest environments. By designing their diesel outboard engines from the ground up, Cox has created power units that deliver performance and reliability in equal measure – engines that don’t just meet expectations but set new benchmarks across the industry.
Their headquarters in Shoreham-by-Sea is a hub of engineering brilliance, where dedicated teams of specialists collaborate to bring the Cox Marine V8 to life – the world’s most powerful diesel outboard. It’s a remarkable piece of machinery that combines twin-turbo performance with precision engineering, high-pressure fuel systems, and advanced cooling technology. Every element has been crafted to deliver class-leading torque and fuel efficiency while keeping emissions low and reliability high.
The Art and Precision of Studio Photography
Photographing a subject like the Cox V8 isn’t simply about recording what’s in front of the camera – it’s about revealing its character. The surfaces, the contours, the materials… each has a language of its own. Capturing that requires a careful blend of technical mastery and artistic sensitivity.
For this type of work, I rely on high-end medium format systems such as the Hasselblad. The level of tonal range and detail that these cameras deliver is vital when shooting industrial design at this level. Every line, curve and texture needs to be rendered faithfully – not exaggerated, but celebrated. The files coming out of a Hasselblad allow me to capture the finest surface variations in the engine’s metallic finish, from the deep gloss of the cowling to the subtle machined textures.
Lighting, of course, is where the image truly comes alive. We use continuous lighting to sculpt the form, much in the way a painter might work with light and shade. Continuous sources allow me to see, in real time, how the light wraps around the engine’s surfaces. With something this large and complex, strobe lighting alone can make it difficult to visualise how the reflections will fall or how the gradients will shape the form. Continuous light lets me “paint” with precision, adjusting every panel and highlight until the engine reveals its true design language.
Working on a product like this, every reflection matters. Each light is carefully flagged, diffused, or bounced to control specular highlights and ensure that the engine’s finish looks perfect from every angle. It’s a process of refinement – small adjustments that, together, create a sense of presence and realism. The result isn’t just a photograph of an engine; it’s an image that embodies the craftsmanship and engineering integrity behind it.
Engineering Meets Imagery
Photographing the Cox V8 is a reminder of just how much thought and innovation goes into its design. The lines, the surfaces, the materials – they all tell a story of engineering intelligence and purpose. As a photographer, my goal is to translate that into light and form, creating imagery that reflects not just what the engine is, but what it represents: a bold step forward in marine technology.
Today, Cox Marine engines power vessels across commercial, governmental, and recreational sectors around the globe. Backed by a robust network of regional distributors and technical partners, their support and service match the same high standards as their engineering. It’s been a privilege to help tell their story visually – a story of strength, innovation, and relentless pursuit of better.
