Low Riders Showcase
The Velocity International event at Sonoma Raceway hosted the United Lowrider Coalition who provided a showcase of beautiful and creatively modified vehicles. They lined up under the grandstand and drove in a procession around the paddock area to the delight of the spectators. Originally created to oppose a cruising ban, the councils with their traditionally Latino heritage are known for their community service as well as the intricate customization.
Painting Light in the Dark
Staring with a completely dark scene is best, long exposures are taken while the light wand is moved over the vehicle creating different highlights and shadows in each shot. Attention is paid to the chrome, the windows, the interior, the wheels and tires, fins and any other details.
To photograph these vehicles we arrived early in the morning while the sun was up but low. There was still a lot of ambient light around, but specific camera settings allowed us to capture two of these vehicles in their light painted glory, featuring the long lines, luminous paint and sparkling chrome accents.
The Build
After the light painting passes were completed and we packed up and left, it was time for the build. The individual layers are opened on the computer, examined, and selected for carefully layering together, blending into the finished product.
Sometimes the scene is light painted as well as the vehicle, allowing the environment to be part of the story. In this case the setting was unattractive, so it was replaced with a simple background, lightly glowing to create contrast with the vehicle, and putting full attention to the star of the show, the low rider.
There is skill and judgment combined with a lot of attention to detail, and an artful vision in creating the finished image, suitable to be printed and hung on the wall.
