Crusin Grand

[Chris Dodkin]

Friday night is hotrod and custom night in Escondido CA - a local tradition.

Pontiac Hood

Pontiac Hood

Pontiac

Jag Mirror

X-Pro1

 

[Brian Moore]

Lovely set Chris. With each one as I scrolled through I said, that's the one I like best. Finally I settled on the one I like best as the last one. Why? Mainly because it was the last one! (However, I do very much like the treatment with the grain and OOF.)

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, all excellent. Not sure which I like best.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I was just the same as Brian - each one was my favourite until I scrolled down. I didn't realise these events were still taking place

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Really good eye and great conversions.
For me it's #1 and #4. For some reason,
#1 brings to mind the creature in the movie
Alien and it seems it's about to jump out and
get me

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Ron - In the early-mid 50s Pontiac had moved from their original Indian chief hood ornament, to a stylized version of his face on jet plane.

If you'd never seen the original chief, you'd have no idea what it was supposed to be - other than it was their 'brand' from the late 20s onwards.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Lovely set Chris. With each one as I scrolled through I said, that's the one I like best. Finally I settled on the one I like best as the last one. Why? Mainly because it was the last one! (However, I do very much like the treatment with the grain and OOF.)

Thanks Brian - thought you might like the new roll of grainy B&W film I discovered for my fuji

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I was just the same as Brian - each one was my favourite until I scrolled down. I didn't realise these events were still taking place

Thanks Lesley - the hot rod and custom events are still ingrained in American culture - it's a huge deal, especially on Friday nights. They had 800 - 1000 cars on the opening night in Escondido this year!

Great for car and people watching - and just getting out in a downtown area and walking about.

Cruisin' Grand Cruisin' Grand Escondido Home

 

[Davie Hudson]

Loving them, appeals to my fascination with vintage americana and I take for granted now that your pictures will be of the highest quality

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Brian - thought you might like the new roll of grainy B&W film I discovered for my fuji

I'm guessing you processed it in Rodinal and gave it a good few robust agitations to bring out the grain. Nicely done indeed, Chris.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Lesley - the hot rod and custom events are still ingrained in American culture

Not attempting to highjack the thread here, but just to add onto Chris's observations about the car culture here in USA. I agree with Chris completely. All over this country you will find formal and informal gatherings of "car guys" and their iron. One of the classic informal gatherings here in Southern California is the weekly get-together of the "Donut Derelicts." The Derelicts gather every Saturday morning at Adams Avenue Donuts in Fountain Valley (next door community to Huntington Beach). They've been doing so since the '70s I think. I would guess there are maybe 50 or 60 cars every week. Some are restored to pristine condition. Others are rough. But they all get there under their own steam. Mostly it's American iron from the 1950's/60's, and mostly they are stock vehicles or somewhat customized, or outright hot rods. Occasionally you'll see some European iron,...not often though and not many. You have to get there early in the morning. The cars are mostly gone by 8:30 am.

I took this photo last year at Adams Avenue Donuts. Its digital I'm afraid, and I took it with the 7D, which I had recently acquired and barely knew anything about. (A condition that has not changed too much.)

 

[Peter McCullough]

Nice set Chris,

Love the last image of the car mirror, the grain is superb, works for me!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Agree. These car events are happening constantly in Southern California and probably everywhere else, too. I had to go into work today and had a hard time getting there because the street I usually take was shut down for an enormous event with the local Corvette Car Club. As a Porsche Club member, I did the obligatory sneer and gave them the appropriate hand gesture before moving along.

But anyway, yes, car events are huge and Cruisin' Grand (the event Chris photographed here) is a big deal. People come down from Los Angeles and elsewhere to participate. Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld have been spotted there before.

Nice shots, Chris! And you're certainly doing right by that Fuji of yours.

 

[Pete Askew]

A very Chris set that I think. I do like these details you go for. And I see you have found the border section in SilverFX!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

And I see you have found the border section in SilverFX!!

Border selection?

Thanks Pete - I finally worked my way down that side bar and found just what I needed for the Jag shot