A couple of weeks ago, top rally shooter Andrew Harvey (who happens to be Canadian) posted a gallery of his work from the 2007 running of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. While AH’s work is always killer, there was something different. Was he playing with lenses? Was he standing a bit closer to the road? Was the shutter speed different? I’m no photo pro, so I couldn’t place my finger on it, but something had changed from his previous work. It got me thinking. I’m constantly awed by the talents of all of the photographers I’ve met while working on The Garage. What intrigues me is watching how these guys change and grow in their work.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve become increasingly aware of the style and imagery that have formed my vision of modern automotive culture. Sixties road racing played a big part in my childhood and that culture deeply affected my outlook on automotive art. My adult involvement in rallying has made rally photography and video unbelievably important to me. Then, while working on The Garage, I began to be exposed to the Old Skool Hot Rod Culture and the style that goes along with it.

Along the way, I’ve been watching a group of photographers. A couple are pros. A couple are ams that have a great eye. One common thread though is that all of their style have changed and grown along the way.

I first discovered Warwick Patterson’s work long before work began on The Garage, when I caught a glimpse of his work with mountain bike racing. The guy has definitely become one of the world’s top rally photographers.

Aaron Von Minden has showed me a whole different side of automotive style. Sports cars and Hot Rods. Their scenes are like oil and water. One of the first images I saw from Aaron was a 30 something Ford coupe at full opposite lock. How cool is that? This dude’s eye for style is incredible. Just watch, when one of his latest projects combines Old Skool rodding with some Sixties German sports car style.

Closer to home than all of these other guys is our very own Jaimie MacPherson. IT wizard and self proclaimed fabricator, Jaimie is the brains that make The Garage look and work as well as it does. He’s also an avid photographer who has a great eye. It has been great fun to watch the lessons he’s learned shooting urban and rural scenes to the automotive world. The results speak for themselves, and it’s incredible to have a pro in house.

Whether it’s a unique view of a static display, a smoking action shot or a modern take on a classic style, automotive photography captures the essence of the car hobby and that’s what The Garage is all about. Watching individual shooters’ skills evolve is an inspiration to stay involved with this great hobby.