progress coverage for ELM Developments & Leader Lane Developments

First concrete in the ground - big day. I spent the morning on site in Etobicoke as crews started pouring the foundation for a new condominium by ELM Developments and Leader Lane Developments.

Boot confession: the site didn’t have safety shoes in my size. I’m a 13 - they had 10-11. My toes disagreed with this plan, but we made it work. We kept it fun, stayed comfortable, and - most important - didn’t disturb the work.

What I tried to show

The rhythm of the pour - pumps snaking over the pit, the hose working, concrete texture mid-air.
People at the center - candid moments, quick portraits, easy smiles between tasks.
Structure taking shape - rebar grids, forms, columns, the geometry that will soon disappear under concrete.
Real conditions - mud, dust, sun, cloud - the honest look of a busy site.

Why document the process

Memory - today’s pour is tomorrow’s stories. Photos keep the milestones visible after everything is covered.
Clarity - a few clean frames explain progress faster than a page of notes.
Culture - faces matter. Crews and partners see themselves in the build, not just the building.
Community - showing work builds trust with neighbours and future residents.
Modern visibility - short recaps for socials, quick updates for stakeholders, a living timeline for the project.

Easy content from one morning:

Carousel - wide - action - detail - leadership
“Meet the crew” portraits with one-line quotes
A monthly progress grid from the same angles

Working on an active pour without being in the way

Safety first - full PPE, site orientation, constant eye contact with operators and spotters.
Be visible, not intrusive - time shots around pump moves and finishing, never step into exclusion zones.
Small footprint - light kit, tethered accessories, fast repositioning.
Good energy - quick jokes, clear signals. Comfortable people make better photos.

Light and lines

Construction light changes every minute. I watch the sun, use short cloud windows for faces, and keep verticals straight so the structure reads correctly. Fast shutter speeds freeze the concrete texture and boom motion. Color is balanced for skin first, then tuned so high-vis stays strong - not radioactive.

Photo notes

Nikon Z7II with a simple trio:

35 mm for context
70-180 mm for safe, compressed angles
A wide when the whole pit needs to breathe
Redundant cards, dust covers, quick cull on site, then a tidy gallery organized by Establishing - Action - Details - People.