In a world where you can be anything, be hot. I mean, that's pretty much the "OnlyFans" motto these days isn't it? If you have looks good enough, you can use an iPhone 7 and make 8 figures a year. Why wouldn't you do that? You bet your sweet ass if I was anything but average looking I probably would. But alas; I am one of the millions of people who fall in the classic 6/10 range. (7 on a good day, I'm not looking for sympathy here). For those of us in the middle, thankfully enough; there are things like "hard work" and "talent”. Plus I much prefer to be on the other side of the camera anyways. I find it fun to tweak little numbers on a screen that drastically change the way something (or someone) looks! (Or at least how the light hits them). I should also take a second to say I am by no means bashing anyone who is fortunate enough to be able to sell themselves on a platform like that. You do you boo boo, just remember that if you really want the best photos, hiring a photographer is a good investment!! ANYWAYS. If you've been following me for a while, or even a little, you've probably noticed that I have a habit of sticking my feet into the frame and snapping a photo. Social media loves that stuff. The algorithm anyways. Half the people say it's the least safe thing possible (I'm typically hanging out of a car, or sitting on the edge of a cliff) and the other half say it's the coolest thing they've ever seen! I've even seen a few other photographer friends use a similar angle, and adapt it to their style of shooting! (Which I love by the way. The photo's are really exciting to capture). But why? Where did that all come from, and why don't I want to stop doing it.
The short answer is because it's fun and I want too. But there's a little more to it. It all started as a unique way to remember the vehicles I've shot. It started with a very tidy and very low Mk7 Sportwagon by the name of @sofresh.wagon on the gram! We were out shooting and I was waiting for vehicle to pass and was sitting in the back of my pathfinder going down the road. I leaned back, stuck my feet up and framed the car in the middle, and snapped the shutter a few times. What I was left with was a horribly blurry and out of focus shot of a friends car and some old ZooYork sneakers. Somewhere in my stupid competitive brain that became the benchmark that I had to beat from then on out. Do I want the car in focus? Do I want my feet in focus? How do I make the ground move more? Being that the photos are basically just a rolling shot, all the fancy settings stuff can be found in my blog down the page regarding "how too" on the rolling shots! Super simple once that's all part of your memory bank.
After a few more tries I had pretty well nailed down the process of getting these shots; and honestly it has become common practice in my workflow while shooting to make sure I grab that shot! Step 1: Dial in settings for the roller. Step 2: Get my feet in it! My favourite of the photos has to be the one I've used as the title image; as it shows the Green Wagon and a Widebody GTI, driven by two close friends, holding their shoes out of the drivers windows to get a few more shoes in the frame! It is a little comical but it is always fun looking at the images afterwards and seeing the faces of the drivers. Typically with a giant smile across their face! You try and tell me that's not what this is all about. (Oh yea, you cant). I've been compiling these shots for the better part of a year now, and once I have enough of them I think a coffee table book of high resolution foot photos would be a hilarious way to earn some extra "new photography equipment" money. Imagine that, Me, selling foot pictures, just like all the pretty people on OnlyFans.
If anyone has any idea's as to how to get a footwear company involved with this project it would be much appreciated! (Anyone reading this work at Blundstone? I tend to wear those a lot in the shot.) I'd love to find a way to turn it into something that gives back. I'm aware there are a few companies out there who do wonderful things for people in far less fortunate environments; and once the coffee table book is ready I'd love to sort out a way to donate portions of that towards a similar program! Specifically when it comes to footwear, I know there are some companies who donate shoes, or for every pair sold a pair is donated sort of deal! Is this a good idea? Who knows. I'm just throwing shit at a computer to see what sticks. Lately, mostly due to recent events, I've felt a little more need to do something that isn't just "make cool content and work myself to death." Not being able to shoot the large scale charity event's I had committed to in 2020 actually made me a lot more depressed than I had anticipated. It wasn't just another day off, and I remember clearly wishing I was in the madness that is the Okanagan Dream Rally (Where foot photos take the backseat) on the weekend it was originally planned.
At the end of the day, we are all out here trying our best to live a life with more smiles than frowns. What started out as a silly way to remember the interesting vehicles I've been fortunate enough to photograph is slowly turning into an interesting way to contribute to far more than just my own personal memory bank. You best believe once I have enough of these captures in one place, I'll print them. We've all had to come up with new ways to fill our bank accounts, bathrooms (because people went mad for toilet paper), fridges, and hearts with the challenges that have come with such a large scale Pandemic; and while I'm sure it hasn't been easy for everyone, I see no point in halting our goals entirely. Gear down, point the wheels where you want to go, and put your right foot back on the accelerator. Or I suppose in some cases, back in front of a camera.
Growing up obsessed with cars from the Japanese markets golden age’s meant speaking with more letters and numbers than words half the time. It was like a treasure hunt for the next cool submodel that you could learn everything about and then discus with your friends at school on Monday! Dreaming of building the cleanest and meanest 70’s or 80’s JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car was a goal, not a pipedream. That is the attitude you get when you are able to witness what I can only describe to you as “the best example of a 510 I have ever seen in person.” Have I seen countless 510’s between car shows and race days? Of course. Are they all cool in their own way? Absolutely. But none have rubbed in my face what I knew the ultimate classic build should be quite like this one did. It’s the kind of car you would drive to the racetrack; bag on all day, and then pickup groceries on the way home from the late night car show you stopped by afterwards. The car has been restored in a way that brings every element of the “Car life” together. Daily drive-ability, show car cleanliness, and track day performance.
Originally released in late 1967 as a 68 model year, the 510 was a humble and practical vehicle for your daily needs, with body styles from Wagon to 2 Door. We all know that I have a soft spot for wagons, but the choice of 2 door by Hayden (the cars owner) could not better embody the way the build has turned out. Pulling up to the property where the car is located you could immediately tell there was an unparalleled level of care of the build; a small one bay garage nestled into the property is where the 510 calls home. And being that it doesn’t need a lot of space, its quite the quaint space to park such an iconic piece. If I was a videographer, not a photographer, I would have taken that staple shot of the garage slowly opening to the darkness behind the car; with the headlights turning on. You know the one, and if I ever make the jump to video; I’ll be sure to bug Hayden about a shoot! It is abundantly clear when the garage door opens that this 510 means business. It looks like something you would expect in a video game, with every piece of the car modified in a way to bring high revving adrenaline, and artistic form together. When I say that everything on this car has been replaced I do mean everything. The body has been widened to give the car a more aggressive stance and menacing feel for when it pulls up behind you on the back straight of whichever track you’re about to lose at. (That is if you could get in front of it to begin with!) Each modification has been thoughtfully applied to create a work of art that will, and I do mean will; smoke you in any situation.
Before we set off on our little photo adventure, we did our typical “stand around and drool while the car warms up” car guy chats. Talking about the weird one off pieces on the car down to the nuts and bolts used to hold a very original engine setup together. Discussing the differences between the European CA-18DET vs the North American CA-18DET while the 4 port version (Euro) hum’s in the background is a simple pleasure I’m sure most people will not be able to identify with. But as a car person, it seems to be a small, and often over looked pleasure. Like a weird little reminder that our kind of nerd is a different breed. Gain Restoration, (which I will have to write a separate story on if I can get my foot through that door with a camera) is responsible for the absolutely flawless body work on the 510. And I do mean flawless. Gain’s hard work and dedication to perfection would be overlooked by most on this build, but the custom moulded fender flares, and the perfect application of the classic Safari Gold paint to those beautifully crafted body lines, is nothing short of art. Period. Can we go drive now please? K thanks.
The CA-18DET absolutely sings through a custom made 3 inch exhaust and is relatively quiet as it moves modestly; but putting your foot down will wake up the Tomei cams, and you will experience a sound no symphony could compete with. As far as the handling is concerned; there is some very impressive custom fitment going on. The front subframe is all custom, and retro fitted to hold 240 SX suspension to provide a handling experience that the stock Datsun parts could not compare to. BC racing coil-overs keep the ride stiff, but allow for enough comfort that there is no reason you couldn’t take the 510 for road trips and to work all the same! 300ZX brakes have been fitted all around with a rear disk conversion, instead of the outdated stock drum brakes. For those of you who have made it this far and aren’t as into cars as some of us are: 300ZX = bigger and heavier. Brakes that can stop a unit like that quickly are able to halt this lightweight vehicle in a hurry! A fully forged bottom end, and a GT28RS pair nicely with the overhaul to provide what I would call an obscene amount of power in a chassis this light. A Haltech Platinum sport 1000 Engine Control Unit (or ECU as the cool kids are saying) and a Custom fuel delivery system create a driving experience you would be hard pressed to find in any other restoration type build; and dare I say a supercar either.
We headed to downtown Victoria on the one way city streets to try some rolling shots (which we’ve talked about in a previous post) with the tight city streets as the backdrop. Driving through a city in a car like this breaks necks. The general public was either confused as to why a car could make sounds like this one, or absolutely floored due to having yet to see another 17970 Datsun this clean. In any case, it turns heads fast enough to cause some trips to your local chiropractor on your next available weekend! To contrast our city scape we headed to road that I would be lost trying to find again, all so I could take some of those low rollers you all seem to love so much! The Safari Gold exploded on the dark forested road and having a driver as capable as Hayden was a roller shoot experience I will never forget. I typically ask drivers to get close to my car to get a very “in your face” kind of shot while moving and I have yet to see a driver get as close, as quickly as Hayden. Years of on track experience, and countless hours in the garage building the 510 allow for a level of comfort and control that most people driving on the highway will never compare to. Once we managed to get out of the public eye and into the private property is where you could truly let the Bluebird fly. The tires on the 510 are a 245/40zr15 Hooiser setup, as opposed to the seemingly miniature looking stock setup on 13 inch rims. Now keep in mind, the wide fenders help to create the illusion of stock fitment for the wheels and tires, but trust me when I tell you this is not. The CA18 spins the massive slicks with ease and having the GT28 turbo spool only a few feet away from me as I shot out the back of the Golf was a wonderful adrenaline rush; and a great reminder that I try to get as up close and personal with my automotive subjects as I can. The r200 and Kaaz 1.5 way LSD help to make sure that when you really want the power at both wheels, it’s already there. The tight road was echoing with sounds of automotive excitement as we made our way back to the real world; and as much as I wouldn’t trade my seat a few feet away from the car shooting for anything, I bet it would’ve been cool to hear the noise move through the forest like an angry animal looking for prey.
As our time came to a close with the 510 I was reminded again and again why I enjoy shooting inside the automotive niche. It’s not just about the fastest car, the loudest car, or the coolest photo. It’s about showcasing the countless hours spent slaving in a garage to create a master piece like this Datsun. Many of you may not understand this article in a technical sense, but I bet the vast majority can appreciate the way the colour pops on the forested Vancouver Island backdrop. You might even be confused as to why you like photos of a (seemingly harmless) little 2 door car from the 1970’s. Subconsciously you are appreciating the unending hours in the shop needed to bring this Bluebird to life. If a stock 510 drove past you in public, would you notice? I’d be willing to bet it would pass like a summer breeze; unnoticed. But I promise if you were to witness this mini monster in public you too would be left with a sore neck, and a happy heart.
If the title didn’t make it clear, I am one of those strange people who found their passion amongst steel and rubber. The kind who speaks the letter and number language that has been confusing non-car folk since the early 1900’s. Growing up I was badgered with ads from automotive manufacturers selling the type of freedom that only a two seater can provide. Slogans like “zoom-zoom” and “soul of a sports car” were played on repeat like a jammed 8 track over and over again in my head. The walls of my room were plastered with blown up images of coupes and GT cars alike, weaving through backroads and racetracks.
It wasn’t until I was much older that I truly found out what it could feel like to own something of the sorts myself. I’ve never been a flashy person, but for some reason the LeMans Sunset orange that coated the body panels of a silly little sports car captured me more than anything I have ever seen before. From the moment I laid eyes on that car, I knew I had to own it. The second I signed the paperwork to put it into my name I was positive I had made the right choice. It was a humble beginning down a long road paved with blood, sweat and mild financial ruin.
Being in your early twenties with something you have always dreamed of owning is a strange feeling. It was being able to appreciate what was right in front of me, while simultaneously day dreaming of all the ways to make it a more perfect version of itself. It was finding your passion every morning on the way to work, and then again on the way home! (And maybe even lunch if there was time for a quick burn.) I have driven vehicles from all different manufacturers, of all different types. From mini vans to trucks, SUV’s to supercars. But there are no vehicles that have ever, and to be honest, probably will ever; captivate me in the way this one did. It was the exhaust note ringing in my ears in times of silence, and the shift indicator screaming at me in times of chaos.
I met my closest friends in that car. I moved my entire life twice in that car, packed full to the top of the hatch with sagged out suspension. I fell in love in that car. I had my heart broken in that car. It was there for every flat tire, blown radiator hose, popped power steering pump and seized brake calliper. It was there on the midnight road trips to the ocean for events, and the early morning detail sessions to prep for car shows. It provided me with an outlet for every emotion a person could experience, and it did so in a way that allowed true freedom at the exact same time.
To anyone who has ever said to a car person that “it’s just a car.” You are sorely mistaken. It’s not the car. It was never the car. It was the outlet, the connection, the early mornings and late nights. The exploration, adventure, and excitement that comes with first time road trips. It’s the smell of burning tires and the sounds of 9000 RPM screaming for more. It’s something that cannot be understood if it is something you have never experienced. It was looking at the milky way; framed by the sunroof, on an open mountain highway with the high-beams lit. I was fortunate enough to wake up every morning and live my childhood day dreams for over 7 years. And that is what it was always about.
Life has a funny way of getting in the way, and often times as we grow older our priorities have to change; and not always in the way we want them to. That was the car the nearly killed me so many times, while also allowing me to feel truly alive. Deep down I know passing it on to the next generation of gear head was the right thing to do. Bigger and better things are coming; and after all, it’s only a car, right?
