These People Are Heroes

Watching the heat rise from a sea of cones laid out in a seemingly random pattern at the local high school, I still remember waiting to catch a glimpse of my dad as he put our family econobox to the test. He'd added some X-11 goodies to our Chevrolet Citation because he thought it would be more fun to drive. Of course, if you're going to add a little extra oomph to your family hatchback, the best place to see how it performs is clearly at your local track.. but we didn't have one of those. The next best thing? Local SCCA chapter events.

Did he win his class? Honestly, that's not what I remember from that day. My best memory was watching the cars move around the track, and the excitement of the people involved. Were the numbers important? Sure they were- but they weren't the only thing that mattered. As far as I can tell, that still holds true at today's SCCA events. It's all about the driving. (And hey.. maybe I'm naive and don't have a clue. It wouldn't be the first time.)

I remember my return to SCCA events, sometime back in 2011. Again, it was to watch my dad race his car. At this time, he was driving my old '98 Cavalier RS. It was a relatively stock 2200 with a 5 speed. Nothing special, really. At the time, I remember feeling a little embarrassed. Most of the other cars at the course that day were Corvettes, Miatas and a few other miscellaneous sports cars. No one was racing the official car of sorority girls everywhere. Well, no one except my dad.

Fast forward to today and I finally understand what I was missing. These people are here to drive. They don't care what you're driving, so long as it's safe and it fits within a class. Some of the most fun I've seen at the local SCCA events are in cars you wouldn't normally expect to see on a track. An automatic Chevrolet Lumina with a 3100? I HAD one of these and would've never thought to have this kind of fun in it. A non-SRT Neon, on 3 wheels as it rounds a cone? Is this real life?

I took way more shots than these. Wanna see ‘em? Check out my Facebook page!

The Commander

The fun thing about networking with shops is that they already have a lot of connections. When we arrived in Salina a couple weeks back to work with Calvin Customs, we were greeted by a beautiful Studebaker Commander restomod. As Doug, the owner, pulled up and positioned his car nicely along the edge of the park, we were enamored with the old bullet-nose coupe. After all, it’s not every day you see one of these classics out and about - and especially not looking like this.

I’ve found that one of the best ways to really find out why certain vehicles resonate with their owners is to let them walk you around the car. What starts as your typical, “I got the car back in...” usually turns into, “did you know...” After chatting with Doug for a few minutes, he began pointing out some of his favorite things about the car. The tail lights are original and were actually in the packaging, inside the old car when it was found and purchased, and they each weigh more than a Coke bottle. The iconic bullet-nose design was modeled after airplanes from World War 2 and the designers at Studebaker were convinced it was “the next big thing.” The custom intake has the Calvin Customs logo printed on it, in reverse, so that spectators can see who did the work when the car is on display at shows.

Overall, even though we were actually there to work with the Tubester, this beautiful restomod nearly stole the show. Two completely different builds, each with their own styles and strengths, coming from the same talented shop. I seriously can’t say enough good things about the team at Calvin Customs.

Gear: Sony A7RIII, Sigma MC-11, Canon 85mm f1.8, Canon 135mm f2, Tiffen CPL

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Adobe Photoshop

The Tubester

One of my favorite things about being part of a photography group is that I'm constantly looking for group outings and activities to keep us busy. Sometimes we meet up for something simple, like a quick shoot on a local friends car. Other times we look for events to shoot, knowing it gives us an opportunity to grow our skills when working in distracting and difficult environments. In this particular situation, I reached out to a fairly local shop to see if they'd give us a couple hours with one of their newly revamped builds. They said yes and the rest is history.

Calvin Customs & Hot Rod Repair is a hidden gem in small town Kansas. If you're in the hot rod or custom scene, you've likely heard of them. If not, you will. This small town team is knocking out the kind of work few would expect from our neck of the woods.. and if they can't do it, they collaborate with those who can. Like Mickey Harris, the man who brought this incredible vision to life.

The Seven Deadly Sins is the kind of artistic creation that's more than meets the eye. Each piece is so frighteningly detailed and impressively drawn that it'll stick with you long after the Tubester is gone. (My personal favorite of the pieces is, without a doubt, gluttony. What's your's?)

Gear: Sony A7RIII, Sony 24-105 G, Tiffen CPL, Manfrotto Tripod

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Adobe Photoshop

Color Grading

Way back when I started this journey into photography, I was under the impression that the goal was to take good pictures. Then I started finding all these inspirational sayings online about how a real photographer doesn't "take a picture," they "make a picture." But what does that mean? To be honest, even to this day, I haven't a clue.

What I have learned over the years is that some people shoot to nail everything in camera so that the image is complete and ready once the button has been pressed. Others, seeking to achieve more without big budgets and a crew, turned to programs like Photoshop to get the finished product they desired. Not being in the habit of socializing with complete strangers, having experienced the earlier, more elitist personalities of Wichita's photography scene, and having very little disposable income, it looked like the post production route was a good fit for me.

Having spent years watching tutorials, reading books, and even talking with others who shared my passion online, I felt like I was finally beginning to master my look and ability behind the lens. Then, about a year ago, I found out that color grading and toning was a thing. I mean, I wasn't a total stranger to this practice, as I did some in post when handling video for Cinemauto.. but never had I done anything like this to my photographs. If I wanted to change colors in an image, I typically adjusted my white balance, applied split toning, or used photo filters and masks in post. In short, I didn't have a clue.

So, these days, I take the time to play around with gradient maps and color lookup tables when I'm editing. While I don't love a lot of the vintage, faded, retro effects that feel like filters and presets (because I know those date your images), there's just something about coloring a project to achieve a feel or look. In the case of these images, taken during a recent AutoICT meetup, I wanted a look that felt like a long summer evening. Warm, dry, dirty and endless, like a desert. (I'm a pretty big fan of Vince Gilligan's work with Breaking Bad - specifically the coloring and photography.)

Gear: Sony A7RIII, A6500, Sony 24-105 G, Sony 18-105 G, Tiffen CPL, Manfrotto Tripod

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Adobe Photoshop

RADwood Austin 2019

Most of us can't even remember what we had for breakfast last week but, if you ask someone to describe a day during the most influential decade of their youth, they still remember Saturday mornings as a kid. Closing my eyes right now, I see the morning sun, dancing through the trees as it passed through the front screen door and onto the worn, brown, living room carpet. I remember how mushy my Captain Crunch had already become just three bites in, which only made it easier to hear all about "the world's most fearsome, fighting teens."

While many might disagree, especially those who experienced adolescence in the 80's and 90's, there was no secret sauce that made these two particular decades any better than those that surround them. Or is there..? To be honest, nothing compares to a trip down memory lane. After all, nostalgia is the go-to Instagram filter of our memories.. and who doesn't want to see those beautiful days again?

This past weekend I had the opportunity to check out RADwood in Austin, Texas. If you haven't heard of it, you will. RADwood is the celebration of 80's and 90's culture, focused mostly around the cars and fashion of the era. In that spirit, several RADwood shows exist across the globe, all featuring cars that were built during this time period. Some of them are the cars you remember, like the Volkswagen GTI, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ferrari F40. Other cars present at the show seem to exist as cult classics, lesser known to the average Joe but equally impressive in their respective circles.

As a child of the 80's myself, it's easy to understand how a show like this probably made me feel. It was like hopping into a time machine and traveling back to a place where magic still existed and the future was unclear- and, of course, Doc, Marty and the Delorean(s) were there. Spectators are, after all, encouraged to participate in rad culture however they possibly can. Whether that's neon windbreakers, dressing as an 80's/90's pop culture icon, or bringing out a rad ride, the choice is entirely up to you.

And that's really what cultural movements like this are all about, right? It's not about a political stance. (It's actually not about stance at all- did you even look at the photos?). This subculture, dressed like a box of highlighters and rocking out to synthesizers and hair bands, is focused on celebrating two of the greatest decades the world will ever know. Then again, I might be biased.

View the full gallery from RADwood Austin 2019.

Gear: Sony A7RIII, Sigma MC-11, Canon 24-70 2.8L, Tiffen CPL, Manfrotto Tripod

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw, Adobe Lightroom & Adobe Photoshop

Cars & Colors 2018 - The Shows

In late September, I returned to Telluride for the 4th Annual Festival of Cars & Colors. Much like last year, I was immediately swept away by the colorful trees, the incredible mountains, and all the beautiful cars. Even two days before the show, we happened to spot some really special stuff that was just out and about. That confirms just how special and unreal this place truly is.

This festival boasts a variety of activities for attendees over the course of 3 days - though it's worth it to show up a day early so you can register and join in on the free eats from local restaurants. Friday marks the launch of the festivities, with a morning meet up that shares everything you have to look forward to that day; information about the road rally, the poker run, the medallion hunt, and much more. Since the rally is my primary interest for the day, I can't speak to how awesome the rest of the events for that day are - but who wouldn't want to cruise through the San Juan Mountains with a variety of super cars, vintage race cars, and other fun luxury vehicles? The sights are worth the gas and the friends you meet along the way make the whole drive worthwhile.

We closed out Friday with a car show on Telluride's main drag, Colorado Avenue. It draws in spectators from all over the state, as well as the locals. Just when you think you've figured out what to expect at a show like this, you'll catch a curve ball here. While I'm not much of an event photographer, I did grab a shot my favorite three vehicles during the show.

Saturday kicks off with a free breakfast at the Telluride Airport. Have you ever had breakfast on the tarmac of an airport sitting over nine thousand feet above sea level? It's not a bad place to watch the sun rise over the mountains. And when you're finished, you're free to walk the ramp and check out the old warbirds display - including checking out the interiors and even signing up for a trip to the clouds inside one of the planes. Of course, if planes aren't your thing, you can swing into the hangar and get a preview of Saturday night's reception lineup. This year included a hyper car display and Danny Thompson's Challenger 2.

For those who are left wanting more, Saturday also offers an American Concours event located at the Telluride golf course. If you haven't been to a car show on the side of a mountain, I urge you to consider it. Between the cars and the views, you couldn't possibly be disappointed. If you think that's all, think again. The festival coordinators have also managed to pack in another car show back downtown on Colorado Avenue. Sure, you may catch some of the same vehicles spotted during last night's show - but there'll be plenty of other vehicles out on display, too.

Capping off the 3 day festival, Sunday's schedule puts attendees back out at the Telluride golf course for the International Concours event. All those fancy Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other European cars you've seen cruising around town the last few days? This is where you'll get a chance to see them up close and personal. And for the fans looking for things on two wheels, both days of the Colorado Ave show and Concours events include vintage and restored motorcycles.

I know this sounds like a great big, multi day car show and, to some, that may be all it is. However, for the folks who enjoy meeting new friends, sharing their passions, and traveling to incredibly beautiful places - this is it. The Telluride Festival of Cars & Colors is more than an automotive event. It's an experience. Something to share with friends, old and new. There is no place on earth like Telluride. Don't believe me? Come see for yourself at next year's show!

View the full gallery from the 4th Annual Telluride Festival of Cars & Colors.

Gear: Canon 6D, Canon 24-70 2.8L, Canon 70-200 2.8L IS I, Tiffen CPL, Sunpak Tripod

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Adobe Photoshop

Cars & Colors 2018 - The Rally

I was offered up the opportunity to head back out to Telluride again this fall to cover the Telluride Festival of Cars & Colors for the second year in a row. Though last year's trip pitted us against some rain and less than ideal outside conditions, this year promised nothing but sunshine and perfect temps. I hit up my buddy Jake, who recently picked up a Lexus SportCross, we talked out our plans, filled the sport wagon to the brim with gear, and didn't look back.

Day one of the festival kicked off with all the same activities as last year's event - a poker run, a car show on main street, and the Million Dollar Highway Road Rally. Of course, like most of these multi-day events, it's not possible to hit everything.. so I made the choice to focus on the rally this year. To be honest, the 240-mile rally was our key interest at this year's festival. Where else (in the U.S.) can you drive scenic mountain roads with some really amazing vehicles?

Since my main focus was videography this year, we spent about an hour building out a DIY camera car rig that would support my DJI Ronin. Since my primary objective was to get some great rolling footage during the rally, and to do it safely, this seemed like the best and most cost effective way to handle this. Though we encountered a few snags along the way, the overall set up worked as we'd hoped it would - and it looked pretty rad, too!

While the cars are the main draw for this event, I can't ever stop myself from taking a few landscape images along the way. This part of the country is truly one of the most incredible places you'll find. Getting to roam these roads with people you know and cars you love is kind of like a dream come true. The icing on the cake is having access to gear to help capture these moments so you can remember them and share them with others!

More photos from the event are coming soon!

Gear: Canon 6D, Canon 24-70 2.8L, Canon 70-200 2.8L IS, Tiffen CPL, Sunpak Tripod

Post Processing: Adobe Camera Raw & Adobe Photoshop