Art & Inspiration Cool photos, for photographers

Just outside my room at the Dirt Drags.

 

LSRU 2017

 

Bill Mitchell's styling zenith?

 

Hello,

While growing up in Long Beach, I never wondered if our parents liked what they saw in the two sons doing their activities at an early age. As we grew up our dad gave us pointers in things. It was not a lesson per se, but just some ordinary conversations to talk about things we were interested in at the time.

We both had our own age group friends. Back then, the older kids separated from the younger siblings early and formed their own group(s). So, only when there was an army battle out in the huge grassy field behind our first house next to the Terminal Island Freeway and railroad tracks, did we actually play, if you want to call it that. (picture two sets of kids throwing flying tall grass bombs with dirt embedded in a weight at the bottom) It was a battle of little cowboys versus older army guys for the huge grass field usage.

The actual area was so huge, but since we had our own sections, boys will be boys and the battle to conquer each other’s places always crossed everyone’s minds.

Jnaki

So, as my brother and I did things together when our dad wanted it done, we did grow up together. But, as wise a father as he was, he knew we still went our separate ways and activities.

That is, until after our hot rod days and drag racing build of our 1940 Willys gas coupe. So, from 1956 to the time when both of us went away to separate colleges, we did travel together to almost every surf spot in So Cal and Baja, Mexico. But, our dad could not see us in those far reaching road trips. What he could do was to figure out when we were going surfing at Huntington Beach, Seal Beach or any area he could have access to watch us in action.

He got a kick out of watching us build our Willys 671 SBC motor coupe, watch us race the Willys and Impala prior to the coupe. While I took most of the films, when we went to the beaches of So Cal, nearby, our dad secretly followed us and took “his” trusty 16mm color movie camera to the different piers and beaches to film the brothers surfing together.

It was a difficult time actually surfing together as normally I liked the North side of the Huntington Beach pier for the waves. My brother, for some reason, liked the South side as it was his liking and he always thought the waves were better on that side. So, we were together in the water, but at least 100 feet apart separated by a huge concrete pier.

After seeing plenty of surf films our dad “secretly” took of us surfing, we had to live with the chatter out in the water by our friends. “Hey Nak, your dad is up on the pier, again… “ followed by a round of chuckles and the “flying finger of fate” saluting. At first, it was embarrassing, but after seeing the progression of our styles in the water, it was outstanding. A recording to allow us to see how we were doing and how we could get better, by watching the films and action on the waves. 60 years later in digital form, they are classic reminders of what went ahead in those teenage years.

Two brothers together in later times when I was getting better at surfing. Brotherly competition at its finest…

Note:

After the countless films of us at the beach surfing, I did some extra filming and started to like it. although, due to an injury, I could not go out surfing, so I filmed from the beach. But one day I saw a film that our dad took that must have made his day. I remember seeing it later on, but knew of that specific day.

I had seen the South side wave approaching and the peak was perfect for me going in the right direction off of the peak. I knew my brother was paddling to get over to the peak., too. I had preference as I was closer to peak part of the wave. He had been trying to get into a good one all morning. I saw him struggling and waved him into the same peak and wall.

My brother had taken a very late takeoff, did some quick balancing and had a good ride. I stalled a bit to allow him to get out in front. Then followed suit with some moves. He did some fancy stuff and eventually we had ridden a wave together. We did not know it then, but a when the film came back from the photo store, it was amazing that I did not get mad. There was too much to “quabble” over and it was not worth it. Plenty of waves to go around and we were having a fun day, trying to out surf the other. Ha! No contest!!!

Our dad filmed this and must have been proud of his two sons on the same wave. When we saw the developed film a week later after processing, it was amazing that my brother did that move. But, perhaps, it was his way of showing our dad that two brothers can be friends and enjoy a lifestyle together, while not bashing each other all of the time. Thanks, dad…


added sound track by a L.B. Poly H.S. band, “The Pyramids.” Thanks, S

Note 2:

After all of these years, it is fabulous to see what our dad was able to do for his family and allow the two brothers to grow up together, while later on in life, still living our own lives 300 miles apart. YRMV

 

Here is an attempt at an art shot- learn to do by doing.

 

And another one- not overly original, but caught myself and another hot rod in the reflection- a kind of 3 in one deal.

 

This thread has some real nuggets in it, worth your time, just for the diversity.

 

Wasn’t intentional, but the reflections in this shot are kinda cool…

 

Hey @Moriarity
Great angle to show off the pinstripes!
Zoomed in and noticed the vintage red land line phone on the wall with stretched out long cord, definitely old school communication device!

 

Posted on another thread but seems to fit here too.

 

In this case I like the reflections but remember you can reduce or eliminate them with a polarizer filter as shown below:
Charlie Stephens

 

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Hello,

Great comparison of photos, @Charlie Stephens Side by side was easier to showcase and see the clarity/composition after effects.

This is a fairly current photo of my 35mm Asahi Pentax camera from 1966-67 that I still have in the drawer for safe keeping. The custom strap is the style of a colorful guitar strap material for accessory trim on clothes add-ons. It was before they started to use the style for a guitar strap on guitars. Ha! My wife made this wide one and it was comfortable, soft and did not cut into your neck for long photo shoots. But, over the zillion years, it just tried to last and curled up as you see it now.

If you notice, the lens cap is sticking a little farther out than normal. That is due to two things, one a polarizing filter screwed onto the lens or it could be a skylight filter for the fast 85mm 1.8 lens. It was one or the other. Sometimes, a very reflective day called for polarizing filters. Other times, a skylight filter give off a more natural light exposure through the lens.

The idea of having an addition to the lens also had a protective aspect to it, too. The expensive, fast telephoto lens just stuck out there, longer than the stock 50 mm 1.4 lens. So, the filter was also a protective lens cap to go along with its telephoto and creative photo shots.

Jnaki

Modern 35mm size digital cameras still have nice lenses and the style of filters are still available. Not everyone uses a phone for quality color photos for every shot. Almost everyone has a telephone with a camera, but not everyone has a quality 35mm size digital camera... YRMV

 

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Note the station wagon rear bumper on the red 57 BelAir.

 

A custom Corvair enjoying the So Cal sunny days prior to the blast of rain coming our way...

Hello,

One day, a nice photo of a Corvair was taken by my wife. I was driving and she had her Iphone sitting in her lap, so she was the primary spotter and photographer. But, this time, we both spotted the Corvair between several parked cars and it was hard to get a single shot of the old car and not get the other cars in the photo.

As it worked out, the Corvair was near a local shopping area and among the newer cars, easy to spot. Classic designs versus the everyday common 4 door sedans of today that look as the Home Shows usually bring up, “a cookie cutter” design. The old memories of being a 1962 Corvair owner and driver simply pop up now and again. Those were interesting times…back then.

Jnaki

Sometimes, a simple point and shoot photo from an Iphone is there and the moment was able to showcase a nice looking old car enjoying the morning coastal sun.

Note:

We did not get a shot of the front, as we were moving into the traffic. But, it sure seems like it was the Corvair Coupe we saw last year on the main drag to the ocean.

Having a Corvair for her first car as a teenager was something. Turn the key, start the flat 6 and move that funky lever. My wife can see other cars easily as her "hot rod eye" is still sharp. but to see an old Corvair again was something. Too bad we could not afford chrome reversed wheels when we owned and drove the odd, old car... "America's Porsche..." YRMV

 

a few I took recently

 

I wonder how many of "them" got replaced?

 

did that car come from this side of the country?

 

Our Peacock Blue and Colonial White 56 Ford under an array of different street and store lights in Garden Grove Ca. From the avatar in daylight you can see what night lighting does to color. Automobilia Art to me.