While it may look like an oven from the 1970s, you're actually looking at a piece of cutting edge technology. This machine is called a 'shake and bake' and is situated in the top secret headquarters of the Williams Formula One team. The steering wheel in the middle of the machine may give a clue to its purpose. Basically, F1 parts have to be tested to make sure they are safe and the Shake and Bake heats and, well, shakes the component to make sure it can take the pressures that would be recreated during a race.

I photographed a whole bunch of these clever and secret machines for the January issue of GP International and the shoot was not with out its challenges. Lighting the thing was a problem with in itself. I created the illusion that the machine was turned on by hiding a flashgun in the back of the over and fitting it with a red gel to provide the 'heat'. My Lencarta Safari portable flash created the key light. The Safari kit is pretty special. Although it's not that well known as other brands like the Elinchrom Ranger, the battery seems to last forever and holds its charge very well when not in use. To transport my kit around, I opted for my roller bag, which was picked up from eBay for around £40 and can hold a huge amount of kit. Rollers are pretty cool as you could be walking and carrying a lot on a shoot, meaning you'll get tired. Pulling a roller is so much easier so if you have room in your budget then I'd definitely snap one up.

Make sure you pick up GP International to see the full five-page feature.