Back in May I was contacted by my friends Alan and Angie Johnson, of Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop, about coming down to shoot some cars they had built as well as various aspects of their business for the totally revamped website. As with any trip I have made to Gadsden, Alabama, I was totally psyched to work with the Johnson’s. On this trip I got to see their recently expanded shop, photograph a ton of Johnson built cars from the past and present, as well as being the first to photograph Doug Coopers Ridler award winning ’32 Ford B-400 dubbed “Deucenberg” since its completion.
Everything turned out really cool and the shoot of “Deucenberg” couldn’t have gone any better. We managed to find a very picturesque location at Nathan Johnson’s (Alan’s brother) farm and he even brought out one of his vintage airplanes to pose with Deucenberg too. You will have to make sure and check out www.JohnsonsHotRodShop.com for their revamped website to see all the pictures we nabbed for them as soon as the site construction is complete.
After the trip to Johnson’s, I didn’t manage to hit very many shows or gatherings. However I did make sure to get my camera and myself to Columbus, Ohio for the Goodguys Nationals, the absolute must attend show of the year.
This year was just as awesome as the years that preceded it and I was the man in the field for Street Rodder Magazine shooting event coverage and feature cars for them, as well as photographing feature cars for Camaro Performers Magazine too. As usual, there were a ton of great cars at the event and it was tough to pick just 3 feature cars for each magazine.
However, I managed to hook up with some really great cars that will soon be finding there way to the pages of both titles.
Another aspect of the automotive aftermarket I am involved with is working with companies shooting photos for their ads, calendars, and catalogues. Just recently I had a couple of big name companies get a few images from me. The first was Speedway Motors in Lincoln, Nebraska. Known for being one of the oldest and largest aftermarket hot rod parts suppliers, it is always a thrill to have one of my images selected for their catalogue cover. I feel totally honored and blown away when the catalogue shows up in my mailbox. This latest addition features a picture of the engine in Reno Rod and Custom’s Kookie car recreation:
After all, it is fittingly appropriate that a fully dressed small block would grace the cover.
In addition to Speedway Motors, I also was selected to shoot two cars for the DuPont Hot Hues calendar for 2010. Everything went great with both hot rods I shot for them and the pictures turned out really well. As soon as I get my copy of the calendar, I will have to post a scan of each car.
For now you will have to settle for a teaser shot...
The next big company to obtain some of my images is Snap-On tools. In a round about way they selected my images of Doug Hoppe’s ’67 Ford Mustang dubbed “Reactor” for a new series of toolboxes, which will feature an individual car built by a professional hot rod builder. The pictures of the “Reactor” will grace one of the two boxes dedicated to Street Machine of the Year winners. Nothing is cooler than having my images on one of Snap-On’s toolboxes that will be sold worldwide.
Plus the new toolbox looks killer!!!! Nevertheless, it hasn’t been a real pleasant situation. At no fault to Snap-On, the images were pretty much taken and used to benefit others. Snap-On is in the clear, as I have talked to their legal department, but it is important that every photographer out there keeps a tight grip on the images they create. Regardless of the flaws associated with the project, I couldn’t be happier to have my images on one of Snap-On’s toolboxes.
Well, that’s pretty much all for now. I have a lot of exciting events coming up over the next two months, so I should have no excuses for not posting more updates during the upcoming weeks. Please stay tuned and thanks for stopping by Juxtaposed Machines.
posted by Admin, 09.154.09 1:51:47 PM