Author: Randy Wells

RETURN OF THE PORSCHE 928

Look for a story of mine on the Porsche 928 cars from 1978-1995. Enthusiasts have long recognized the model’s rarity and special place as the last evolutionary stage of the V8 model GT cruiser. A core group has kept the torch burning over the years by meeting annually since 1999, and new converts have rekindled the flame more recently. Climb on in!

THANK YOU PAT LONG AND PORSCHE 356 REGISTRY MAGAZINE

Porsche 356 Registry magazine editor Peter Bodensteiner was kind enough to approve an assignment I proposed to photograph and write about someone I’ve come to know over many years. Pat Long is a Porsche factory race car driver and co-founder of the Luftgekühlt brand. It was a blast riding along with him in his 356 and creating portraits at his favorite hang out, the Rock Store on Mulholland Hwy near Los Angeles. Good times!

Porsche 356 Registry Magazine

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE INCREDIBLE JAZZ GUITAR OF WES MONTGOMERY

Some of you may remember my reviewing original and reissue LPs for Tracking Angle and Analog Planet (Stereophile and The Absolute Sound music review sites).

I decided to do this review since I have a rare copy of the original stereo LP of this famous Wes Montgomery LP from 1960. In this review I compare it to Craft Recordings new reissue on vinyl. Looks like I might be doing more of these. Enjoy!

Tracking Angle Wes Montgomery LP Review

THANK YOU TO ALL THE AUCTION HOUSES

I’ve been keeping very busy this season photographing some beautiful cars going to auction. It’s not a big part of my work, which is commercial ads and editorial magazine jobs, but it’s fun and it keeps me flexible!

GEOFF NEWMAN R.I.P.

I’m not often affected deeply by the passing of a friend, but this one came unexpectedly and out of the blue. My dear friend Geoff Newman was one of the most competitive people I’ve known, but in a good way. He was always trying to improve himself. A nature cultivated by his father and his surroundings, much like myself.

While attending his memorial service tonight, I was reunited with many friends who shared time with Geoff in mutual respect. There was an article that I wrote and photographed with Geoff and his Porsche race car that was published in 2012. I was honored to see those spreads across a wall at his memorial. Continue reading “”

THE GALAPAGOS

As has been reported, overcrowding at selfie spots in Italy and Greece has led to pushback from locals. Consequently, aware travelers are veering away from the perceived artifice of major hotspots in favor of more authentic experiences. Here’s one for the adventurer who wants to get off the beaten path. Quito, Ecuador is a well-preserved city that is the oldest capitol in South America. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is a gateway to the Galapagos Islands. The islands are very protected with just a few groups allowed to visit each week. There you will see but not disturb primeval wildlife that exist no where else in the world. Not a bad way to go.

(Photo: Ernst Haas)

WHO SAYS YOU’RE TOO OLD TO ROCK AND ROLL?

The Rolling Stones and their latest album Hackney Diamonds just won Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards. I get that, because it is a great album (their best in decades), but what’s with the award for “Now and Then” by The Beatles? Hey, I’m a huge fan, but that’s just an old song put together with AI. It does sound good though. 😉

(Photo: Mark Seliger)

1-27-25

L.A. FIRES

My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the fires in and around L.A. Several people I know lost their homes or recording studios, including Howie Idelson and Bernie Grundman. Others lost family heirlooms. I was just in Topanga Canyon and Malibu last month to photograph some Porsches. It’s a devastating loss and not always preventable. Mother Nature is not happy.

(Photo of burnt out mostly plastic car on PCH: Michael Christopher Brown)

AMERICAN TUNE

Paul Simon performed this song at the pre-inaugural concert for Jimmy Carter, held at the Kennedy Center, the evening before Carter’s swearing-in as president. That was a long time ago, and the signs were already there. By 2014, the die was cast. Today is just the last chapter in the book on America.

BBC News

ANALOG MAN IN A DIGITAL WORLD

Here’s my airport security tray shot… Apparently this is the coolest thing to post on the web since your meal: Stuff in a gray bin that you think people might like.

I’ve always been different. My motto is to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing. You can probably tell I don’t follow fads, since I’ve been using one of these Leicas since 1984, and my cellphone is not made by Apple.

My tray is filled with stuff I’ve owned for years that I actually use. These cameras cover the film days to digital to the good enough cell phone camera. To be honest, I’ve never sent all this stuff through airport security on the same flight, but they’ve all been around the world.

R.I.P. CONTANTINE MANOS

Constantine “Costa” Manos passed away peacefully at age 90 last week. He was a brilliant pioneer of color photography and a member of Magnum Photos. Along with Ernst Haas and Alex Webb, his color work influenced me deeply.