Cars, Cameras, and Friends

I’ve been shooting cars professionally for about five years now, and I’ve been fortunate to take on some pretty amazing opportunities. Some of the vehicles I’ve photographed have really stuck with me, along with the experiences they brought. Whether it’s hanging out the window in 50 degree weather or enjoying the still, warm air of a summer’s night shoot, each photo session has its own memory. I’ve shot slow, old cars, wickedly fast modern cars, and the lot that exists in between. There are still many more cars on my list, but one of the biggest constants that I’ve found in this area of photography is that the people are the best part. 

The people are what make it all special. Between the countless hours of hard work in the garage, the car shows, the world of online car communities, and the shops that work late and on weekends, it’s the people that make it possible. Don’t get me wrong–I love the cars more than I can put into words. They’re amazing. However, some of the individuals who I’ve met through cars are my best friends; and they’re people I otherwise would have never known existed if it weren’t for a common interest. 

This was as evident as ever when Dustin and I met up with Sannie and his girlfriend Tricia last weekend. Sannie (otherwise known as @prservere88 on Instagram) had suggested meeting up a long time ago, but with both of our busy schedules, it took a while to facilitate. However, upon finally meeting in person, we felt as if we’d known each other all along.

The plan was to meet up and have a casual shoot of the 510. Sannie spoke feverishly of how much he looked forward to seeing the Datsun, and even about how inspiring my work was to his own photography. At the end of the day, the funny part is that he inspires me just as much! It’s a fantastic feeling to meet someone so likeminded and so down to earth. It’s hard to come by those who you can just pick up a friendship with, as if you’d been friends before. 

While Sannie photographed the 510, I stood back and shot some BTS photos, and had a look at his E30. I personally think it’s a beautifully set up car. It’s simple, clean, and there’s plenty to look at. One of my absolute favorite aspects of the car is the interior. Houndstooth never looked so good! He’s also got an assortment of ACS accents, plus a rad center console cup holder. Seeing as I don’t have cup holders in any of my vehicles (and the E38’s cupholders notoriously don’t work), I saw the luxury in that part.

As I listened to Sannie talk throughout the shoot, it became clearer that he and I have similar goals when we photograph. He explained that he was very interested in the relationship between man and machine. As I’ve always felt the same way, it was easy to converse about the importance of conveying emotion in our work. To create content that is both human- and auto-centric is a skill in itself, one that both Sannie and I strive to achieve. 

This sort of laid back hangout/photoshoot date was something I haven’t done in a long time. Usually when I shoot, I have a timeline, a place to be, and work to get done. Sometimes it’s nice to have experiences like this where I’m able to slow down and just enjoy the company. It was so much fun to watch another photographer shoot the 510 (as I’m usually the only one doing it), and it was even more fun to connect with fellow enthusiasts. I genuinely hope that I continue to meet people like Sannie, because there needs to be more of them!

If you’re an automotive enthusiast, I want to ask a question: What do you think is the best part about the community? Perhaps you disagree with me and think the cars are number one. I want to hear your opinions!

Review: Turtle Wax ICE Combo!

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve actually managed to keep up with blogging. I’m going to attempt to get back into it in the coming months, so bear with me. 

The focus of this blog is simple: combine multiple products from the Turtle Wax ICE line and tell you what I think! In this example, I’ve combined the ICE Spray Wax, Interior Cleaner and Protectant, and their newest product for 2016: M.A.X. Power Car Wash!

Seeing as California is still struggling with its terrible draught, I only get to thoroughly clean my cars one every few months. It’s not really fun to see your neighbors frown at you when they see you running the hose water on your car… That said, my daily commuter, this BMW 740iL, was filthy, to put it lightly. Covered with a thick coat of dust and bugs, a good wash was definitely needed. 

Before I go further into detail about the results of this combo, let me explain the science behind the M.A.X. Car Wash. The idea is to have a wash soap that, quite simply, has layers. These layers operate on a variable pH scale. A good way to think about it is to compare it to cooking. When cooking from scratch, there are sometimes specific ratios of ingredients you must combine. This car wash is no different! For example, adding 3 oz. of wash to one gallon of water provides a more Moderate level of clean. This is more for light dirt and other remnants from commuting. This is the most pH-neutral layer. The middle layer, which is about 6 oz. per gallon of water, is a more potent one (Aggressive). This increases the pH levels so that you’re able to clean more inset grime, like stubborn bugs. The final and most powerful layer, Xtreme, is a whole 9 oz. per gallon of water. This is the amount you want to use when you’re trying to remove problematic stains, like sap or even hard set dirt or brake dust on your wheels. Pretty cool concept, right?

Well, as cool as it sounds, it produces the results to match! I have to admit that I was surprised by the amount of suds the soap produced. I’m used to extreme bouts of bubbles, but this was a bit more mild on that front (which I didn’t mind). The M.A.X. wash feels thin and slick, not slimy and syrup-like. It made contact with the paint easier in my opinion. As far as removal goes, I didn’t have to drown my car to get the soap off—which, again, is great for conserving water. I have used thicker soaps in the past that just didn’t seem to come off unless sprayed with an obscure amount of water.

Once I had finished drying the car, I applied a coat of the ICE Spray Wax. This wax is meant for more casual use, and doesn’t take nearly as much time to apply as the other waxes that the ICE line offers. It’s great for quick cleaning, or even for those who might be a little intimidated by pastes or other compounds. After I had waxed the car panel by panel (which took quite a while—do you see how huge this car is?), I was extremely happy with the result. Not only did my paint shine brilliantly, but it was such a clear clean. There were no swirls nor residue to be found; that’s what you want from a good wax, after all! 

On to my interior… This is one of the most stress inducing interior colors— next to pure white— that I can imagine. Dirt shows up immediately and I need to be aware of clothing (like dark wash jeans) rubbing off on the seats. The ICE Interior Cleaner and Protectant worked wonderfully to scrub out dirt that somehow stained the side of my passenger headrest. It also worked well for wiping down the leather dash (which I’m paranoid about keeping in good condition). 

 

One of the parts of this process that made me happiest was how nice my wheels looked after! I had scrubbed them thoroughly with the M.A.X. Car Wash and coated them with ICE Spray Detailer to finish. The wash really did a great job of breaking down the immense layer of brake dust I had accumulated. 

Ultimately, I’m very excited with the combined result of using these products together. My car is 15 years old, but you wouldn’t think it! It certainly isn’t perfect; but it just goes to show that if you take that extra measure and maintain your vehicle, it can look great even decades down the line. By no means am I a professional when it comes to detailing and car care, but the products that Turtle Wax offers give me the confidence to take charge of my car’s cosmetic health!