Thames Oil Port
Power and Precision at Thames Oil Port – Capturing the DiSab Centurion for Totus Environmental
For commercial photographer Tim Wallace, shoots involving large-scale transport and industrial machinery are nothing new – in fact, they’re something of a speciality. As a photographer renowned for his ability to capture the sheer presence and character of heavy vehicles, Tim’s latest project with Totus Environmental at the Thames Oil Port in London offered the perfect combination of engineering scale and visual drama.
At the heart of this assignment was the DiSab Centurion, a massive industrial vacuum tanker that dominates any site it arrives on. “The Centurion is one of those machines that has real personality,” says Tim. “It’s an immense piece of equipment, beautifully engineered, unapologetically functional, and visually powerful. For me, the challenge was to communicate that strength and purpose through the photography.”
Tim and his team have collaborated with Totus Environmental for a number of years, creating striking imagery that showcases the company’s operations and its people at work. Totus is one of the UK’s leading providers of international waste management and industrial services, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to clients across commercial, municipal, and hazardous waste sectors. Their reach and expertise span globally, providing fully compliant and cost-effective recovery and recycling options where traditional UK markets can often fall short.
This particular shoot focused on the Totus engineers and the DiSab Centurion in live operation at Thames Oil Port, a location filled with atmosphere, texture, and industrial intensity. The aim was to tell a story of capability and professionalism: the precision of the team, the engineering excellence of the vehicle, and the sense of scale that defines the Totus brand.
Tim is known for his ability to create bold, cinematic compositions with large vehicles, whether that’s a fleet of trucks, a single tanker, or a high-end performance car. “Photographing something the size of the Centurion is always about finding balance,” he explains. “You want to convey scale – to show that this is a serious machine and the environment it operates in. It’s about making the industrial feel heroic.”
The day’s weather played its part, too. Overcast skies and diffuse light gave the images a moody edge, the kind of understated atmosphere that enhances reflections and adds depth to metallic surfaces. Combined with careful lighting control and considered perspective, the result was a visual series that feels both authentic and cinematic.
All imagery from the project will be used by Totus Environmental for their marketing and advertising across the UK and international markets, reinforcing their reputation as an industry leader. For Tim, it was another opportunity to celebrate the beauty and engineering precision of large transport vehicles – something that has become a defining feature of his career.
“There’s an artistry in machinery like this,” Tim reflects. “When you stand in front of a vehicle like the Centurion, you realise it’s more than just industrial equipment, it’s a statement of what human engineering can achieve. It is my job is to translate that feeling into an image, as I often say, don’t just shoot what it looks like, shoot how it feels.”
