Photographer 3 - Scientific Photography

Photographer 3 - Scientific Photography
Location: Remote
Payrate: $50 - $55/hour

Description: Job Description:
About *** and the APEX Team:
Join ***’s innovative APEX team, where we specialize in reconstructing highly accurate as-built 360-degree imagery of *** products. Our work supports critical functions across engineering, maintenance, and other operational teams by delivering precise visual records — dirt, defects, and all. This role is essential in maintaining the integrity and fidelity of ***’s visual documentation.

Position Summary:
As an APEX Retoucher, you will be responsible for reconstructing and refining 360-degree imagery to create faithful, detailed visual records of *** products. This role requires meticulous attention to detail, a strong understanding of image compositing, and adherence to strict quality and process standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including engineering, stitching specialists, and QA to ensure every image accurately represents the product as delivered, without “cleaning up” or altering defects.

Key Responsibilities:
•Image Reconstruction: Perform detailed retouching of 360-degree imagery cubes and equirectangular panoramas, focusing on compositing source images to correct errors such as stitch shifts, lens flare, sensor dust, and other capture or stitching artifacts.
•Quality Assurance Collaboration: Work closely with QA teams to address markups and rework requests, ensuring all errors are corrected to meet ***’s high standards.
•Nadir Compositing: Skillfully composite out tripod shadows and other obstructions in downshot images using offset captures or, when necessary, creative painting and cloning.
•Cross-Cube Error Management: Identify and mark cross-cube errors for correction during rework phases, maintaining alignment and seamless stitching across cube edges.
•File and Records Management: Maintain organized local and server-based records of working PSDs, equirectangulars, and project notes until project delivery.
•Process Adherence: Follow detailed APEX retouching workflows, including software setup, project assignment, asset downloading, retouching, rework, and final delivery steps.
•Time Management: Manage workload efficiently to meet time targets, typically completing a standard FOM scene (6 cubes) within 4-8 hours, while maintaining quality.
•Continuous Learning: Engage with onboarding materials, training, and the retouching wiki to stay current with processes, tools, and terminology.

Required Skills and Qualifications:
•Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop with strong skills in compositing, layering, and non-destructive editing.
•Experience working with high-resolution panoramic imagery, preferably 360-degree or spherical panoramas.
•Strong understanding of color management, specifically North American Prepress 2 color settings.
•Ability to interpret and work with complex image file structures including PSD cubes, TIFs, DNGs, and equirectangular panoramas.
•Familiarity with 360 stitching software (e.g., PTGui) and HDR image stacking processes is a plus.
•Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify subtle image errors and stitching artifacts.
•Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple scenes and projects simultaneously.
•Effective communication skills to collaborate with team members, QA, and technical support.
•Ability to work independently and proactively seek assistance when needed.

...