Archive for the ‘Cars’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the Cars category.
26
Jun
2011
Bentley Continental GT
Introducing one of the most decked out cars I have ever shot. A super wicked Bentley Continental GT customized by GMP Performance out of Charlotte, NC. GMP deals primarily with high end European cars, and this Bentley is definitely not an exception. Adding to that exception is a super rare Hamann Imperator body kit, mean ADV.1 05 wheels, and (get this) Lamborghini Reventón paint.
ADV.1 already has a very impressive lineup of outstanding photography, so I had to be on top of my game for this photoshoot. This was my first time trying the technique of light painting. Basically leaving the camera open for 10-30 seconds while I “paint” the car with light. Learned a lot, looking forward to my next car shoot. Feels like the good ‘ol days when I first picked up a camera.
27
Jul
2010
Volvo C30: Same tunnel, same old tricks
Photographing cars was the reason I got my first camera. I’ve always been a big car guy, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by my current ride; a Scion xB. Maturing sucks. My brief 10 year driving history includes having my name under an 87 300ZX, 96 300ZX, 94 RX-7, 99 Subaru 2.5 RS, and now…. the box. Unfortunately a fire-spitting RX-7 can’t haul all of my photography gear.
Back on point, after a 2-3 year hiatus of not shooting cars (focused on people and designing), I got an itch to shoot Lauren’s new Volvo C30… that, and I had a day left of renting the Canon 15mm 2.8 lens for the Ashley Knights Jr. photoshoot (hence the same location!). I wanted to focus on just 1 shot, a motion/rig shot. This technique used to be a super tight-lipped secret up until a few years ago. I like to think I was one of the first digital photographers to figure out how to take this kind of picture. Along with names like Easton Chang, Luke Munnell, Josh Mackey, and Jason Siu come to mind as well. Back then I was using a 2.5mp “state-of-the-art” Olympus camera lol. In fact it was a rig shot that gave me my big break in the automotive industry, and opened a lot of doors. Now with the spread of blogs, tutorials, and every photographer out there willing to share every shred of knowledge in a youtube video for any kind of fame, the secret isn’t so, secret.
Unedited image. Despite an occasional car at 3am, the famous tunnel had very little traffic.
My trusty rig, totals 12′ in length. Got the piping specialty cut at some NASCAR shop in North Carolina years ago.
The two 6′ poles are connected with a slightly smaller diameter metal sleeve, and held together by… yes, paper clips 
I may not have the fanciest rig on earth, but I dare say it’s the most practical!!
I almost felt like I was 16 again shooting my buddies cars long after midnight. In hindsight I would of done a few things differently for this Volvo image, but it’s a good starting point to my revamped interest in shooting things with 4 legs instead of 2.
11
May
2010
Formula Drift: Atlanta
With my new found freedom of working freelance, I spontaneously bought AirTran plane tickets at 2am to go to the Formula D: Atlanta event. No hotel necessary, my old friends at S3 Magazine and new friends at Keep Drifting Fun provided a couch (or floor) to sleep on.
BIG thanks to UrbanRacer.com for getting me media access. Shamefully I spent most of my time having a few Yuenglings in the paddock area, but hell I was mainly here to have fun. On to the pics:
I have this foot thing I’m working on… trust me it’ll be cool. But this shows where I was shooting for most of these pics.
One of my favorite shots; 2009 Champion Chris Forsberg leading 2004 and 2006 Champion Samuel Hübinette around the horseshoe.
Forsberg ripping around the horseshoe again.
Ryan Tuerck blowing smoke in my face. Thanks
Ross Petty smokin’ around the horseshoe. One of my favorite cars of the crowd.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. showboating for the crowd. The sound of this mustang’s V8 almost makes me want to buy one… almost.
Dai Yoshiahra against Chris Forsberg in the semi-finals.
Close-up of how beat-up these cars can get over 2 brutal days of drifting.
The big weiner; Dai Yoshihara. A crowd favorite.
Formula D has been around for nearly a decade, and the sport of drifting much longer. It’s one of the few motorsports where I see absolutely everyone associated with the sport having fun. Any attitudes that flare up over an unethical bump or crash is dissipated as quickly as the smoke just made. Drifting was founded on having fun, and when the sun goes down and cars are trailored away it will still be based on fun. Long live drifting.
2
May
2010
Urban Racer Formula D Official Fan Guide
Shortly after finishing up a shoot in the Malibu canyons I get a call from Jackie Ling, Director of UrbanRacer.com. He wanted me to throw together this year’s Official Formula Drift fan guide. Heck ya! I love drifting, and my previous experience working within the magazine industry made me an obvious fit. The deadline was super tight, but after a hurricane of emails, pdfs, and corrections, this spot-uv’d, sleek looking fan guide was approved and ready in less than 5 days.
MUCH credit goes out to Olly Howe for the cover illustration. We have collaborated before. I sent Olly the pics and art direction, and he returned one of the most incredible covers I have seen in my life. Chris Forsberg and Ryan Tuerck have never looked better! That added with a spot-uv for the black areas made this a fan guide that couldn’t be left behind. Literally. At the first Formula D event of 2010 in Long Beach, I made a mental note to count how many fan guides were left behind on the bleachers and ground. Flyers and litter were everywhere as usual, but said fain guide? Zero. None, NADA!!!! 
Thanks goes out to Olly Howe, Jacob Leveton, Bob Hernandez, and Jackie Ling.
