Category: RF / Leica Blog

WILLIAM KLEIN PASSES AT AGE 96

William Klein was an American-born photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach and use of unusual photographic techniques in the context of photojournalism and fashion photography. He was ranked 25th on Professional Photographer’s list of 100 most influential photographers. Along with Robert Frank, Klein is considered among the fathers of street photography.

JUST BACK FROM A LONG ROAD TRIP

It’s good to be back home, but it’s also exciting to have had such a productive journey last month. I photographed 15 cars, 11 of them in 4 days, and made some new friends in the Porsche 356 and 911 communities along the way. Here’s a photo I made with my Leica Q on a windy day along Rte 66, one of my favorite roads.

&SONS Pioneer Stories – Frank Cassidy

MEGAPHONICS 2022

If you are in England, be sure and check out Megaphonics 22 on Sunday, 29 May, when Boxengasse’s annual air-cooled Porsche event returns for it’s 4th installment.

Here are some quotes from its founder, Frank Cassidy, a man after my own heart – Classic Porsche, Leica and 60’s music. Continue reading “”

SELLING YOUR CAR

There’s a preconception that it’s too expensive to hire someone like ourselves to create professional photos and video for your on-line car auction. The reality is there are several layers of pricing and content available from Wells Imagery.

Your car has always had the best chance of selling for top dollar if it is photographed in a certain way. To meet this goal, we have perfected that approach and provided clients with complete feature photo shoots for over 250 cars.

Continue reading “”

MY HOME WEBSITE

What you are looking at is not my main website. This is my blog.

Fun, sometimes serious, it’s a weekly journal that I do more for my sanity than anything else, but I’m happy if you find joy in it.

Some visitors to this blog are unaware of my main site where you can find thousands of images. Every so often I change the home page image there. I’m especially pleased with the current photo I made of reflections in a window at a So Cal air-cooled Porsche gathering. It changes regularly. Enjoy.

WELLS IMAGERY

Randy Wells

LUCKY STILL

I wrote this to a talented professional automotive photographer struggling in today’s world:

“Don’t be bothered by some of the stuff you see happening from those trying to make a living as a car photographer today. For the most part, they either have financial backing or cannot see the effects of the low fees they accept for their work.”

“Understand that most will never achieve what we were lucky enough to experience in the past. What we did then (and still manage to do today when the client has a budget) is considered a glamour profession. And it can actually feel that way when you are shooting, being treated fairly, and see your work published. Continue reading “”

WE REACHED 3,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM

“What?” you ask. “Only 3,000 followers? Don’t you think you should have more than that after posting regularly on Instagram for three years? Especially after you won a national award for your efforts?”

Well, Andrea and I don’t believe in buying followers. If we bought them we could easily have 10X this amount. However, they would not be real followers. The number of likes we’d receive per post on IG wouldn’t change all that much after all the money spent.

@cars.randywells

What we do have is a great appreciation for the authenticity and loyalty of those who do follow us. You are the ones who view our curated site on a consistent basis. We are proud to say that over 1/3 of our followers regularly like our stuff. That’s huge! We have even received over 60,000 views and 5,000 likes on a few of our single posts, because others have graciously hubbed that image on their IG sites. Thank you to everyone for your support! Continue reading “”

LAST CHANCE TEXACO

Rte. 66 is one of my favorite roads to travel on. I grab my personal photo kit and some clothes in a carry on, fly to Las Vegas, rent a Mustang GT convertible, and drive down to the original route.

This photograph was made somewhere along the way where an old Texaco gas station sits next to a modern Chevron one. You just hang around listening to the birds and waiting for the right light. Then presto, you are transported back in time to a simpler world.

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS, IT’S ALL ONE STORY

Everything worth doing takes time. Commitment and intention are everything. Otherwise, projects end up half-baked, or worse yet, contain inaccurate information when they were thought to be “finished”.

Our title says it all. Remember the big picture. “You’re only as good as your last job” is something else to keep in mind, no matter how far up the tree you climb. Another is, “The higher you climb, the harder the wind blows.”

Stay calm and focused on your goals, and try to ignore the noise that passes for excellence. It just ends up competing with your attention for what really matters.

Transform your thinking

THERE ARE NO RULES #3

This one’s pretty easy, right: “Never shoot a car in a parking lot.”

You actually can break this rule and get away with it – sometimes.

Until then, keep fake’n it ’till you make it, right? Not really.

To really make it, from my perspective, you need to think outside the box and create something new (without Photoshop). Don’t copy. Find your own voice.

(Photo: Shot with a Leica M and 90mm lens)

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

In case you hadn’t noticed, Xmas now starts November 1st with sales being announced for early gift buying, due in part to shipping delays (from Santa Claus no less).

Just in time for the holidays is the new Leica Q2 “Reporter” model, which could be sold out to collectors before it becomes available Dec. 9. This limited edition camera with 28 f1.7 Leica lens is fantastic and is cloaked in green paint and kevlar (in case buyers actually want to use it).

Seriously… What I want and what I need are often two different things. For this, I could make an exception!

Enjoy some time off during the holidays!

PRINTS + PRODUCTS

Over 5,000 of our images are immediately searchable at: WELLS IMAGERY

After clicking on a particular image on our secure site, here’s how to buy licensing, downloads, prints, cell phone covers and greeting cards. Additional products include puzzles, mousepads, and screen-savers.

Make sure you are in “more info” mode on your phone or computer. This will let you see “Add to Cart”. From there you can see all options and prices. Everything you purchase is made in the USA.

For assignments, commissioned automotive fine art, filmmaking and copywriting, please contact our studio.

FERRARI MAGAZINE TIFOSI

Congrats to PNW Ferrari club member William Howard for his feature in the latest Forza Magazine.

100,000 miles in a Ferrari 458 that’s only eight years old means you drive it every day! Check out my photos and text of him and his car in Forza on the newsstand today.

If I wasn’t previously booked, I’d attend the annual Ferrari Club USA meet in Oregon next month here.