Knew of his Moon equipment story but came across this article that he was also a photographer. From Hot Rod: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrxp-1207-dean-moon-vintage-photos/ Dean Moon demonstrated what photographers call "a good eye" long before the first pair of Moon eyes appeared on Creighton Hunter's T roadster. Now that we've seen the Greg Williams collection and examined the few rolls of Dean's medium- and large-format film that wound up in the Petersen archive, we're even more impressed. An unusually high percentage of those frames are impressive, if not extraordinary, for both composition and technical quality. The earliest rolls are big 4x5s, four frames per roll. More than once, it's been challenging to pick a favorite among the four negatives. The military must've felt the same way about the film they saw, because Dean spent his Korean War years teaching photography to recruits and flying over this country with a camera, instead of crawling across that one with an M-14. Soon after separation, the Moon byline and photo credits started showing up regularly in HOT ROD and other publications. Dean's black-and-white product shots in Moon Automotive and, later, Moon Equipment Co. catalogs set an industry standard. The catalogs themselves set another. And here there is only one caption given. I have seen most of these and even posted some of the shots right here on the HAMB and never knew Moon took them For a guy with a booming business back home, Dean sure got around as a photographer and enjoyed excellent access to various motorsports. He wisely climbed something to obtain this killer close-up of Bill Vukovich (facing camera, center left) examining the Borg-Warner Trophy after he won his first of two consecutive Indy 500s in 1953 Spirit of America That's it hope you enjoyed some more History.
Dean was an excellent photographer as was George Barris. And, both of them were masters at self promotion. Like Roth, Dean had his logo inked on his bicep log before tats were mainstream.
I knew that Dean Moon was a talented photographer and I've seen at least some of his credited work over the years. But most of the photos you've posted above are shots that I believe I'm seeing for the first time. It's obvious that he had a great eye for this type of work, or more accurately, a great "pair" of eyes. If I remember correctly, Funny Car racer Whit Bazemore also worked (and maybe still does) as a professional photographer Thanks for posting these Loudbang! I just need to keep trying to develop my own pair of "Moon-eyes" when I'm working behind the camera.
He sure liked taking pictures of the ladies at Bonneville. He got my buddy's 17 year old daughter to pose on his car once. She was wearing a tight bathing suit and was pretty cute, But not good at posing. Dean told her to arch her back. She went the wrong way. He told her n "no. Lean back" She said "I don.t know what you want." Dean said "Stick your tits out" Karen got it right that time. Have a better Karen and Don Ferguson story for some other time.
I didn't know any of this either. Had seen several of those pics over the years and never conected them to Dean Moon. Thanks @loudbang
ordered some disk covers back around 1979 and they came with photos of his cars and women. Much cooler than the stickers you get from other suppliers. Wish I could find them.
The Jalopy Journal
