Shooting the Chevy SSR

Baldwin Park -- Back in 80s, I used to work as an editorial assistant for Hi-Torque Publications. Part of my job was to shoot motocross products and events, interview riders and write/shoot magazine articles on unique, Volkswagen. The magazine was called VW Action.

In 1984, I was fresh out of collage, and with a loan of $750, I purchased a Nikon FE2 and a lens. After reading through the entire user manual, I began cutting my teeth in the field. Fortunately, I had an office-full of world-class photographers to show me the ropes, as well as an unlimited supply of Kodak Kodachrome 64 and Tri-X 400 film to screw up on. Not all my shots were magazine-worthy--in fact, most were duds.

Eventually, I was able to wrap my mind around all the settings and what they did to make a good photo. I learned how to use light and when to "click" at the right time.

This last weekend, I had an opportunity to shoot a few images of a Chevy SSR. My client may be interested in selling his modern day hot rod, but moreover, simply wanted a few images of his customized ride.

Birdman of The Crown City

Pasadena -- He wears a crown of feathers, five of which he said he collected today.

I was stopped at a traffic light on my way home from work when I saw this gentleman walking his dog across the street. I put down the window, and yelled out to the smiling gent, "I love your hat--you've got quite a collection there!"

He stopped in his tracks and walked over to my car. The light was still red as I listened to his story. Then, the light turned green and I quickly asked if I could take his photo.

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "Oh, and my name is Duane; I work as a volunteer three days a week at City Hall and the Police department."

Commuters behind me knew what we were doing and displayed much-appreciated patience despite that the light had turned green some time earlier.

Olinda Oil Museum

Olinda -- "Where the heck is Olinda?" That's what I thought when I drove past a sign, pointing the way to the Olinda Oil Museum & Trail.

Olinda was once as booming oil town in the city of Brea, and was established in the1890s (which is old for us Southern Californians). At the time, the hillside was spotted with pumpjacks, drilling as far as 8,000 feet below the surface. The Olinda Oil Museum is part of a 12-acre preserve.

The Olinda Oil Well #1 (not pictured) was drilled in 1897 and is still in service. The Olinda Museum claims Old #1 is the longest continuously-running oil pump in Southern California. It was nothing to look at so I replaced it with another, more interesting rig on the left.

The car pictured above is a classic, Ford Model T, and is part of the museum. But that's a different subject for another time.