Author: adohertyh

Living the #GRIDLIFE

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Last weekend brought me to the #GRIDLIFE Circuit Legends event at Lime Rock Park. I finally finished processing pictures from the event. Today’s post features some of my favorites from the event, but there’s definitely more to come.

Let’s start with this BMW M3. This was my first time trying longer exposures with moving cars to get serious motion blur. I’m honestly thrilled with how it came out and can’t wait to try more.

Green BMW

#GRIDLIFE was also remarkable for the access available to the pits. Enthusiasts were just roaming around as mechanics got to work on their cars.

Supra in the Pits

That provided opportunities for even kids to get to see the cars up close.

To the Next Generation

The bucolic nature of Lime Rock added some chill vibes to what would otherwise be a pretty high-adrenaline setting.

Modified Subaru in Its Natural Environment

Nocones Garage built this race car from a Subaru 360.

Nocones Garage Subaru 360 Race Car

The red Honda S2000 in the background wasn’t even part of the team with the two red Subaru BRZs, but they were all kind enough to keep their cars in a line.

Triple Red

I like the array of tools and materials in front of this BMW M4.

Up on Blocks

While the Acura RSX’s team worked aggressively on their car, the BMW M2 team in the next stall looked on.

Getting Down to Business

I spotted this Toyota Supra by the gates coming into the show.

Red Supra

The owners of that BMW M2 earlier got their beast out onto the track.

M2 on the Track

Shots like this, with huge amounts of motion blur, are the kinds of dramatic moments that really got me excited to go through with the wasted shots necessary to capture the perfect ones.

AMG on the Track

This show wasn’t just a chance for me to expand my shooting abilities; I also practiced some new photo-processing techniques. I don’t normally do a ton of color grading, but shots like this one really feel richer with some amped up forest green.

Z in Forest Environment

Speaking of forests, this trio was stopped by the gate, too.

Ariel, Porsche, Porsche

From a forest of trees to a forest of people surrounding an FD Mazda RX-7 making its way back to the pits.

They Love an FD

I had a chance to look into some pretty nuts engine bays.

Green Engine Bay

A Honda S2000 looks the part out on the track.

S2000 in Its Natural Environment

Beneath the Boss S14 body kit, this drift monster is still a Nissan 240SX.

BOSS S14

As is this less-disguised example. Just look at those sparks!

Drifting, Now with Sparks

Watching four cars drift in parallel was really something…

Four in Line

But this shot of bonkers tire smoke from an 86 really got me attention.

Toyobaru Drift

Tree Outlier

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A cliff face may not seem the optimal spot for a tree, but there will always be specimens that go against the grain. (I couldn’t help myself.) The lights of the granary barbecue across the lake almost makes me think that this particular tree is pining (again, I’m sorry) to pick up its roots and go join the party.
Tree Outlier

Best Wishes for a Fast Recovery, Coachella Valley

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“Coachella Valley was just battered by Hurricane Hilary.” — What an odd sentence to write. Today, we’re looking back to times when the idea of this dry lake bed being hit by a hurricane sounded like science fiction.

Development Christmas

Zenda and the Empire Polo Club

Blinding Lights of the Tennis Courts]

Forest Fortress

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Rather than a fortress in a forest, this is a fortress composed of forest—or at least, it feels that way. While the far-off mountains and the lights of Palm Springs may be visible from the air, the ground-level setting is far more constrained and cozy.

Forest Fortress

P.S. Can you spot your humble photographer in this shot?

From the Beaches of Florianopolis, Brazil

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The beach pictures from La Jolla Shores inspired me to revisit some of my other past beach shots—but these are from a bit farther away: Florianopolis, Brazil.

Braving the Wind

Applying the same low-contrast processing really revealed a lot more of the details on the clifftop figures. I’m amazed when I compare these shots with similar ones I processed years ago. It’s amazing what a decade of practice can do!

Two Men on a Clifftop in Brazil

A Double Look Back at La Jolla

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Building from my “How Did I Miss These?” post from a few weeks ago, these images from La Jolla, California likewise escaped me years ago.

Lost in the Spray

In this case, though, these images are a return to a return.

Concrete, Stone, and Sand

While I lived in La Jolla in 2007, these images of its beaches weren’t captured until I returned there in 2012.

Waiting for the Next Wave

This bright beach-going moment was also a chance to experiment with a new manifold of photoprocessing options.

Running to Surf I

Though I typically prefer high-contrast images, the soft sky and ocean hues just weren’t a natural fit for deep, dark shadows.

Joining the Surf Flock

This is, to my memory, the first batch of photographs in which I’ve ever lowered the contrast significantly.

Contemplating Waves

Lowering contrast while increasing the exposure led to these dreamlike images.

Truck on the Pier

(Though a truck atop a narrow pier is perhaps a different kind of dreamlike.)

Lastly, we finish with a dramatic panorama of downtown San Diego. This one’s definitely worth clicking through to see at full size.

Beyond Is San Diego

Torrent Below the Dam

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Movies are filled with imagery of high castle walls holding off hordes of attackers. I suppose this picture of Colton, New York’s dam is a bit of the opposite: the chaos is caused by the wall, rather than the wall being constructed to protect from the chaos.

Torrent Below the Dam