Randy Wells | Director of Photography | Writer | Cars & Automotive | Seattle & Santa Barbara

PORTFOLIO IMAGES UPDATED

A full-time award-winning travel and automotive photographer since 1992, Randy Wells offers his best images, films, and photo essays here:

WELLS IMAGERY

Wells Imagery is Randy’s secure e-store archive. Thousands of his images, including worldwide travel destinations, Porsches and other automotive classics are available here. We are the premier automotive media production company in Seattle and Santa Barbara. Call today.

HAPPY NEW YEAR & 10th ANNIVERSARY!

Today, this blog celebrates its tenth year on the endless wire – pre-Instagram. Thanks to all for visiting this site and letting me share my life with you.

With an average of one new blog post every 5 days and an Instagram site now flourishing (@cars.randywells), it’s been an extremely satisfying last couple of years. It certainly helps me to keep writing!

Now, I just gotta keep up those New Year’s resolutions… Personally, I can’t wait for the 2020s.

(Photo: Motor Press Guild Best Film Award – March, 2019)
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LEICA SL2

This camera I find very interesting. I’ve been shooting with a Leica since 1979, but switched my SLRs to Canon in the ’90s when Leica discontinued their R line. I have continued to use the Leica M and Q models for my personal work. More

ALEX WEBB

When I mention the name of this pre-eminant street photographer today, I am often met with blank stares. In our disparate world, that reaction really shouldn’t surprise me. Yet, a part of me says, “How can that be?” More

PODCAST – RAIN CITY SUPERCARS

Thanks to Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron of Rain City Supercars for inviting me to join them on their podcast this week. And thank you to everyone at Drivers Club in Redmond, WA for hosting the event. It’s an amazing car storage facility!

Rain City Supercars Podcast

Drivers Club

(Photo: Karl Noakes)

ROBERT FRANK R.I.P.

Robert Frank, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century has died at the age of 94.

His photographic book The Americans is considered a landmark document of the USA in the 20th century. Originally printed in Paris in 1958, it is now revered for its expressively ambiguous photographs, which still provoke differing interpretations. More

THANK YOU – LEICA STORE OF BELLEVUE

It’s always nice when someone decides to place a print of yours in a commercial space. When that space is the Leica Store, in the prestigious Bellevue Square of Washington state, it’s doubly nice. Thank you Brandon, Nathan, Ilya, Steven, Ebi, Ray, Yvette and everyone at Leica for your support. More

LUFT 6 GOES HOLLYWOOD

Thanks to Patrick Long, Howie Idelson, and Jeff Zwart for accommodating me in covering the 2019 Porsche event of the year – Luftgekühlt at the back lot of Universal Studios. Look for my air-cooled extravaganza article and photos this week in the last issue of:

Road Scholars Magazine

Adios amigos, we had a good ride.

(Photo by Randy made on a Leica Q)

AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE LEICA S SYSTEM

The Leica S3 is the latest development of the famous company’s medium format camera system. It’s the result of 10 years of close collaboration with professional photographers to produce exceptional picture quality and outstanding flexibility. More

HERE’S THE CAMERA I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Leica just announced their new Q2. Seems like a simple enough upgrade.

A better Q but no bigger, just like the one I currently own. Better connectivity, higher shutter speeds, a larger and higher resolution preview monitor.

Then you get to the kicker: It’s weatherproof. No more taping over the mic for fear of rain or dust.

THEN, instead of 24 MP you get 47 MP files at 28mm. Over 30 MP at 35mm. A usable 50mm file. Plus 4K video and 1920 HD up to 120 fps. More

VINYL, LEICA, AND THE EARLY 911 – MY STORY

You’ve probably read enough analogies of sports cars, fine cameras, and luxury audio equipment in high-end lifestyle magazines to get the idea that journalists are passionate about these things in a big way. I’m not immune, and vinyl records, Leica rangefinders, and Porsche 911s have been a fascination of mine since 1964.

Thanks to fellow Porsche and Leica fan Randy Leffingwell for publishing this in RS Magazine:

Early 911, Film, and Vinyl Article

VINYL, LEICAS, AND THE EARLY 911

Coming soon…

I’ve been a record collector since I bought my first LP in 1964. Still have it. Leica film cameras and lenses followed in 1979. An early Porsche 911 was something I’ve wanted since I was 16. Had to wait until 1996 for that one. Now I have multiples of everything… Read about these passions in an upcoming on-line feature:

Early 911, Film, and Vinyl Article

FIFTY WINTER GETAWAYS

Travel escape lists are published all the time. This one looks different. It appears to be very useful with attractive fares and specials.

I just returned from a personal getaway to Nevada and Arizona via Las Vegas. A perfect week-long winter digital detox! My Leica images from this road trip are now loaded on my Personal Work page.

50 Ways to Escape

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Is my two front teeth.

That, and a Leica Q camera with a 50mm lens.

My current full-frame Leica Q with its 28mm focal length is perfect. However, a Q with a fixed 50mm lens (Q50) would be an awesome companion. Thanks in advance Santa (a.k.a. Leica)!

PERSONAL WORK – 2018

Followers of my blog know that at the end of each year I pick a series of three personal images from a non-assignment single location.

2018 was another amazing year. I split my time between Washington, Oregon, California, and Mexico. I made a film, wrote a short story, and contributed articles and photographs to multiple clients. I’m thrilled to say that 2019 looks to be more of the same.

These images were shot with a Leica Q and DJI Mavic 2 Pro in Los Cabos, Baja Mexico.

PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT

As a full-time pro for over 25 years, the gear I take on assignment depends on what is needed. Contrary to what it might look like, I prefer to work with the minimum amount of equipment. More