There is a slight chill in the air, but the afternoon sun lazily reaches out, taunting me with promises of great adventure and hidden treasure. A maze of sleeping iron beasts stretches in every direction, and my heart races with excitement. The smell of warm rubber and rust guides me around stacks of old tires. Here and there is a glimmer, where the chrome still proudly clings to fenders long ago wrenched from their rightful place and thrown callously into the grass. I stop and start many times, unsure where to begin as my excitement pulls me here and there.
The cars greet me like old friends. I cannot help but wonder what they have seen, or where they have been. Each one seems to look at me with a face as plain as yours or mine, longing for the days when every innovation was exciting and full of potential. They long to race for glory and pride, long to cruise down main-street showing off, long to be a chariot of young love. I long to see it happen again.
I have a love affair with every car in my series. It is love at first sight, though I confess to knowing little more than a name for many. I photograph them as I would a lover or friend, concentrating on their “faces” and the “expressions” I most enjoy. When I am with them this world fades, leaving me with my daydreams and iron portraits.
Here are 6 of 8 Photos that will be part of the Ocho Foto Advanced Photography Student Show at CityArt Gallery in Columbia, SC. The show will open Thursday, March 27 from 6-8pm and will be up through April 12.
these cars are awesome where did you find them?
some of them came from this little junk yard out in Kershaw County, SC called “Cuz Branhams”, others came from a place on 385, you can see it from the interstate and it’s like 5 acres of classic cars!!!