Category: Travel Blog

RETRO VINTAGE STILL LIFE

Now’s a great time to photograph still lifes indoors.

For this photo I chose a camera I purchased in 1979. It’s a 1958 Leica M3 and my first rangefinder. Before that I bought my first SLR, a Canon AE-1. Those cameras started me down the photographic path.

Yes, they were the days, not for workflow, but for the tactile experience of a manual camera and the smell of film.

THE FUJI G617 FILM CAMERA

This is one of only two medium format cameras that I’ve kept from the film days. The other is a Hasselblad 500C. They both remain relevant for making large prints. Wth the roll film tha’s still available today.

The Fuji G617 is a large yet lightweight photographic machine that produces amazing panoramic images captured at 6cm x 17cm in size. That’s plenty big to print huge murals if you want. All manual, no light meter. Make sure you get the special ND filter.

I used this camera quite a bit back in the ’90s shooting Fujichrome 120 and 220 slide film worldwide for stock. 220 is now discontinued, but you can still get a whopping 4 images out of a single roll of 120 film today.

Good review here.

(Camera photo: James Tocchio)

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LONELY PLANET

It seems that every day there is big news breaking. On a smaller scale, Lonely Planet Publications is shutting down its production offices and eliminating its travel magazine and non-guidebook titles.

I was fortunate to have many travel photographs published in their books over the years. Here’s a Seattle cover of mine made on slide film before Photoshop.

P.S. At this time, please don’t drink Lysol, please don’t stare at the sun, and don’t eat the yellow snow…

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Long-time travelers will recognize this photo as a late ’80s Alaska Airlines commercial coach seat.

During all my miles as a travel photographer, I only saw this view once. Red sunset and red hair.

The last thing I ever wanted to see is what we are all going through now.

I’m glad I was able to see the world in the 80s and 90s, but I would love to revisit Italy again.

Be well and safe journeys.

NIKON F APOLLO

Here’s a sweetheart from the past. It’s the last version of the classic Nikon F film camera, commonly known as an “Apollo” type, a 35mm SLR produced from 1971 to 1973. This one’s from my collection shown with the ultra-fast 55mm F/1.2 Nikkor lens.

I still use the lens, along with some old Leica R lenses, for a dreamy look on my digital EOS cameras.

THANKS 000!

It’s great to have my images included again in 000 Magazine. Issue 012 features my coverage of Cameron Healy at the wheel of his 1951 Le Mans class-winning 356 SL #46 on Mulholland Drive. These photos accompany Jeff Zwart’s cover and beauty shots, along with Chris Greenwood’s build photos, to help tell an amazing story. Special thanks go to Pete Stout, Rod Emory, Cameron and the whole crew for making it happen!

CRIS HUERGAS

Intention is everything. When fully met, it involves your whole purpose and being. It requires passion, reasonable thinking, and a commitment to follow through.

When times get tough, I try to remember that no matter what happens, intention will see you through every time. Be confident, look outside the box, leave the herd behind, move forward, and ride. Godspeed.

R.I.P. Cris Huergas, R Gruppe Co-Founder

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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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PERSONAL WORK – 2019

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

In 2019, I took on more commercial photography along with some larger automotive editorial projects. That meant my personal work was even more important to provide some balance.

So, I made a solo sojourn to Nevada last winter. That road trip resulted in a series of aerial abstracts. Here are three of them.

I hope your holidays are blessed!

MEET OTIS: REMAINS A ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOT

Sometimes you get lucky.

An article gets magically downloaded to your left brain and everybody loves it. A photograph appears that is mesmerizing to your right brain, and you capture it with one of your cameras.

Humbleness is necessary when this happens. It’s a gift. Pure and simple. All you can do is give thanks and hope that it’s not the only one.

Happy Thanksgiving!
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