The Client: Chalk Pit Forge
Alex Smith is a traditional blacksmith working from his rural forge in the South Downs. Operating from Chalk Pit Forge, Alex produces hand-forged architectural ironwork and bespoke pieces using time-honoured techniques. His practice is rooted in heritage craft — shaping raw steel through heat, precision and repetition, with a focus on durability and material integrity.
I approached Alex to produce a series of lifestyle and environmental portraits that would document both him and his working process, creating a body of imagery that could support his website and wider brand communications.
The Work
The project is an on-location photography series capturing Alex at the forge, working with fire, steel and stone. It observes both the quiet focus of preparation and the physical intensity of forging.
Wider shots place the forge in its environment, while close-ups highlight texture — sparks against shadow, smoke in the air, worn tools and hands marked by soot.
The aim was to document blacksmithing honestly: skilled, demanding, and rooted in tradition, without romanticising it.
The Deliverables
A cohesive collection of environmental portraits, process-led imagery and detail shots suitable for web, editorial and brand storytelling. The final image set provides versatile visual assets that communicate both the personality behind the forge and the integrity of the craft itself.
Project Credits
Client:Chalk Pit Forge
Production: Lifestyle Photography.
Deliverables: Photography for web and social media.
Technical: Canon Systems.