The Comparison Test Cover Shot

When my mom, brother, and I assembled our sports cars for a track day at Lime Rock Park, I knew it was a rare opportunity to create an array of vehicles like those that graced the covers of Car and Driver or Popular Mechanics when a major comparison test was the focus of the issue.

The Comparison Test Cover Shot

Living the #GRIDLIFE

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

Murdered Out

Continuing my week-long digression into automotive photography, I brought back this older shot from the damp streets of Berkeley. The glow of the apartment buildings, the light trails, and the older cars on the street all form the backdrop to this murdered-out Subaru Impreza WRX. (Murdered out, meaning black rims and a dark black window tint—though I always thought this look worked better on Cadillacs than Subarus…)

Murdered Out