Randy Wells : Photography, Classic Porsche, Automotive, Travel & Music Reviews

CONGRATS TO JOHN WILLHOIT

The current issue of Excellence Magazine (#199) features my article and photos on John Willhoit’s ‘71 911T hot rod in beautiful pastel blue. John brought this Porsche back from the dead with his skill and craftsmanship. It has a 3.2L short stroke EFI motor, Boxster brakes, ST seats and Heuer timers - plus more. Although the car had been left outside by the original owner for decades, he was able to preserve almost all of the original paint. Amazing trick build…

Check out Willhoit’s shop website for more:

Willhoit Auto Restoration

INSPIRED : ANTARCTICA

This last installment in the “inspired” triptych is water/air. Nowhere is the balance between these two elements more delicate than in the ice-bound ecosystem called Antarctica.

Antarctica was the last continent I visited in the 1990’s. After four days of travel, I finally arrived at this serene environment. The eeire silence was punctuated by the sounds and sights of humorous penguins. “Otherworldly” is the best way I can describe my experience there.

Thanks to Pink Floyd and their Division Bell for providing me with a soundtrack for my trip. And thanks to Bob Tilton and DA for inspiring this post: “Inspired. Inspire. Inspired.”

NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE

Word is that Neil’s “back on the horse” and currently completing a new “concept” abum with Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina, and Frank “Poncho” Sampedro. Check out this “Horse Back” video on Neil’s site, which should be up for awhile.

Here it is - a jam session with “Cortez the Killer” as an ending - recorded by John Hanlon a couple of weeks ago, all 36 minutes of it. That’s longer than Neil’s entire first solo album! The accompanying behind-the-scenes video of the equipment that goes into making a “Crazy Horse” record was shot by Ben Johnson.

neilyoung.com

(Photographer: Unknown)

Neil Young Says Steve Jobs Listened to Vinyl: More

INSPIRED : HAWAII

For the second part of the “inspired” elements triptych (earth, fire, water/air), I’m going for an aerial photograph I made from a helicopter at sunrise over Maui. Another homage to Ernst Haas.

Haas was a genius and the pioneer of color photography when it comes to fine art. Edggleston? Sorry, not the first to have a color exhibit at MOMA in 1962. Porter? Sorry, kinda boring and a bit pedestrian. Shore, Meyerowitz? Ditto.

If you want the real stuff, track down a copy of Haas’ book, Color Correction. I’d say get ready to be inspired, but if you’re a photographer you probably will be so humbled you won’t want to get out of bed for a week.

Just got power restored after 100 hours without heat, lights or internet.

Will get back to you once my life’s back.

Best,
Randy

# # #

That’s my sanitized message.

Do you have some gold, canned food, bottled water, a whole house generator, several filled gas cans, and some other stuff ready to go? In other words, are you prepared for the apcoalypse? I think I am..

Here’s some comic relief: Do you sometimes see bears in your back yard? Great. Get ready to be the last person in your area to have power restored.

P.S. I filed this under travel because I’m now ready to move to California…

INSPIRED : JAPAN

Inspired by a blog site linked to Bob Tilton’s werkcrew.com, I’ve decided to slow down and post one of my minimalist nature “elements” images every week this month.

First up - a bamboo forest in Japan shot in 1984.
(Homage to the late Ernst Haas)

drop anchors

PHOTO EXHIBIT AT GLAZER’S CAMERA

Hey All & Happy New Year!

I just finished hanging a 13 print exhibit at Glazer’s Camera Rental Studio in Seattle. On view are images from my book project, Steinbeck’s America: In Search of Travels with Charley Fifty Years Later.

Accompanying the color photographs are quotes by John Steinbeck from his book, Travels with Charley. My short film on the project and a blurb book sample will be on view at a closing reception:

When: Monday, February 6th from 7-9pm

Where: 517 Dexter Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109

Please see my Outdoor Photographer Magazine article:
50 Years After Travels with Charley

More

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

Just released is this Atlantic/Audio Fidelity Gold CD of Crosby, Stills and Nash’s self-titled debut album. I was fortunate to have been invited to sit in on the mastering session with Steve Hoffman behind the controls at Marsh Mastering in Los Angeles CA a couple of months ago. My article describing that session, the music on this landmark 1969 release and the sound of this latest CD is now on-line at Michael Fremer’s MusicAngle.com. Photos from that day accompany my review. Thanks to all involved. Have a great New Year!

My CS&N review on MusicAngle.com

(Photographer: Henry Diltz)

YEAR END REMINISCING

It’s an induldgent pastime I suppose. To tear yourself away from the TV and iphone/smartphone and contemplate your life as it actually is. Maybe it’s more appropriate to do as you get older - or maybe not. It don’t come easy as they say…

I try returning phone calls and text messages daily and love having GPS while traveling, but my 4G Droid is not much of an actual phone, more like a mini-computer - a radiating slow one at that. Most of the time I can’t find it (or something to watch on TV). Maybe that’s why I’m thinking about other things today. More

I LOVE CHRISTMAS

Why? Because it’s like having a vacation - for me anyway…

At this time of year the phone stops ringing and I can finally catch up on stuff.

Like thanking everybody for visiting my site. Hope this year has been fun for you!

My blog buddies Bob Tilton and John Straub have also been outdoing themselves lately. Check out their latest postings.

werkcrew

johnstraub

(Photographer: Unknown)