This image of yellow pipes and valves was captured in the steam engine room of the SS Jeremiah O’Brien during Open Sauce 2023. The ship’s steam engine was active throughout the event, with the boilers periodically releasing loud bursts of steam, a powerful reminder of early mechanical engineering in action.

While visitors explored Open Sauce exhibits and some had lunch aboard, the engine’s sound created a constant industrial backdrop. I was given a full tour of the ship and  descended into the depths of the engine room, where I captured images of the maze of pipes, valves, and controls up close. It was an incredible experience; a rare look at legacy technology that still runs as it did decades ago.