DISAPPOINTMENT = EXPECTATIONS ÷ REALITY
Who knew? All this time I’ve been trying to adjust my expectations, when I could have been altering my reality. Time to find a new room!
HOME AFTER MY OFF-SEASON SOUTHWEST ADVENTURE
I was fortunate to have wonderful weather in Arizona, Nevada and Utah this past week. I also made sure my route avoided popular destinations, with the exception of Forrest Gump Point at Monument Valley (it’s far less crowded at sunrise as seen above).
Ten locations in seven days, getting up at sunrise, driving 5 hours, then somewhere else at sunset for the whole week. There were many great opportunities for photos, and my trip went without a hitch, except when an eagle hit the windshield of my rental car – shattering it on the last evening of my trip – two days after a teenager fell to his death trying to make a photograph from a cliff four miles from my accident.
I’m fine and will be returning to the SW USA later this year for more photography, trying my best to avoid bird and deer strikes, and remaining safe on location.
Be Careful Out There. No photograph is worth your life:
1-22-24
WHERE TO GO NEXT?
This time of year my mind begins to wander to locales less wet than the Pacific Northwest. Mexico is always good in the winter, but for something closer to home, nothing beats the U.S. Southwest for a feeling of expansiveness and freedom.
Front row: Kathy Ungari, Laura Kolafa, Vicki Childs, Stephen Childs, Mary Borden, Kim Nelson, Rachel Nelson.
Back row: Randy Wells, Frank Kolafa, Bruce Ungari, David Borden.
THANK YOU PORSCHE 356 REGISTRY MAGAZINE
Editor Peter Bodensteiner was kind enough to approve an assignment for a feature published this month prior to my attending the 2023 Goodwood Revival in southern England. The group I traveled with were Sacramento area 356 Registry participants guided by original Goodwood member Stephen Childs.
You can imagine how much fun it was to dress in period costume while photographing and hanging out with these folks and all the illuminate attending this amazing historic racing event! This is one trip I would do again!
WILL IT BE A HAPPY NEW YEAR?
“In an increasingly polarized world, one of photography’s most profound strengths is its ability to cultivate empathy and compassion across cultures. At its best, photography can transport us into unfamiliar environments, activities, and viewpoints. It reveals the humanity in people whose lives and backgrounds differ vastly from our own. Photography has a transcendent way of building understanding and sympathy by showing us new perspectives.” – Alex Cooke of FStoppers
CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS BLOG SITE!
Happy New Year!
It seems unbelievable to me, but when I started this blog site at the beginning of 2010, I never thought I would publish over 1,000 posts.
As simple as it might sound, way back then, I made it my goal to post something about photos, films, music, cars or travel on a regular basis every week. Somehow I stuck to it. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have!
(Photo of Randy: Somewhere in England 2023 by Andrea Wells)
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM WELLS IMAGERY!
12-20-23
THIS SEASON
No matter our faith, the holidays remind of us of our higher power and the promise to start anew.
WHO’S GOING TO SEE FERRARI?
Opens in theaters December 25th. Michael Mann directing? Starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz? I’m in!
(Photo: Eros Hoagland/Lorenzo Sisti)
12-12-23
STEINBECK’S AMERICA BOOK NOW AVAILABLE
Inspired by John Steinbeck’s 1962 book Travels With Charley: In Search of America, I felt compelled to document my own journey across America at the end of the 20th Century.
Over an eight-year period, from 1992-1999, I traveled in a VW Eurovan along Steinbeck’s route while photographing the entire project on analog Fujichrome transparency slide film.
This book has been a labor of love of mine for our country and our people. Peppered with Steinbeck’s words mated to my images, I am humbled to offer this book for you to purchase.
156 pages, 121 Full Color Photographs, Soft or Hard Cover.
For information on how to order, contact us HERE.
THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFT FOR A BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
No, it’s not a new camera, a lens, a tripod, or the latest gadget. It’s learning how to see at a photo workshop taught by a master. My choice would be Alex Webb, Sam Abell or Arthur Meyerson. They will teach your budding photographer more in one week than five years in the field or ten years behind the computer.
(Photo: Alex Webb)
PERSONAL WORK 2023
Personal work is vital for feeding the artist’s soul. Followers of my blog know that at the end of each year I post a series of three personal photographs made at a non-assignment single location.
This year was full of assignments, so my personal work was made on the road between jobs. Part of that travel time was spent in Paris. Here are some pics I made on the run – just another tourist in the city of light.
R GRUPPE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION PCA SPIEL MAGAZINE
Thanks to writer Tina Chau and the Spiel Magazine team for publishing a wonderful feature on the oft-misunderstood early Porsche 911 sports purpose club R Gruppe!
(Cover photo: Randy Wells)
12-1-23 R.I.P. Elliott Erwitt
Continue reading “”
BE IN NATURE, TRY TO FORGET THE OTHER STUFF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
The nature cure: how time outdoors transforms our memory, imagination and logic:
11-23-23
THANKS PANO FOR SWEDE SUCCESS
A story about a 1974 Swedish press car, specifically a Magenta 911, is bound to be an interesting read. Thanks to PCA’s Panorama Magazine for the opportunity to feature this very rare colored Porsche with a great edit by Rob Sass & Jeff Majeske and design by Richard Baron. Congrats to Justin Roeser for being a part of the November “Color” issue, and thanks for the fun ride in your car.