derBayerische July /August 2022 - 33

I
n addition to spending time with family and friends, two things that I really
enjoy are photography and automotive activities. Thankfully, there's a special
place where all three things come together in perfect harmony on a weekly
basis. What could it be? A Cars and Coffee (C&C) event, of course!
Cars and Coffee events started in Southern California in the early 2000s.
Over the years, as popularity grew and word spread, many new locations have
popped up across the globe. These
events are special because they bring
many different automotive communities
together to share their love of all
things motorized. If you're looking for
subjects to photograph, you couldn't
ask for a better opportunity to capture
such a wide variety of the automotive
spectrum in one place. Supercars,
classic cars, race cars, stock cars,
modified cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles,
boats, military equipment...
you'd be surprised what might show
up on a given weekend. I usually am.
Looking back at my digital photo
albums, I discovered that I attended
my first C&C event in 2010 - Katie's
C&C in Great Falls, VA. At the time, I
was blown away to find out that this
happened every weekend. Since then,
going to C&C events has become part
of my weekly routine. In addition to
enjoyable time behind the wheel
traveling to and from the venues, it's
great to catch up with friends, meet
new people, swap stories, and capture
the morning through the lens. Much
like the NCC community, I've found the
photography community is a welcoming
group that loves to share and help
each other. And it shouldn't be a shock
that there's overlap between the two
communities.
I've had the pleasure of meeting a
number of great photographers both at
local events and virtually over the past
few years. Their willingness to share
their time and knowledge has helped
me to grow my skills. So instead of
der Bayerische's readership having to
listen to me yammer on, let's hear
about automotive photography and
C&C events from Jason H, Abisai
Ortez, Josue Angulo, and Joshua
Patsos - photographers doing what they love, capturing the spirit of these
events, and sharing their work with other enthusiasts around the world!
Cars and Coffee
and Cameras
By Mike Bevels | Photos as credited
with my parents' Konica Minolta point-and-shoot film camera. After my mom
got the film processed, I'd get yelled at for wasting $15-20 on nothing but 30
photos of darkness. " He added, " Photography has never been serious for me,
It's a get-away; a release from stress. For a few years I did very little while my
son underwent treatment for cancer. I'd dabble here and there, but the pictures
would sit on a memory card for months before I'd touch them. The only time I'd
get excited and make it a point to go
out was for a thunderstorm. "
Jason says that C&C events are
what lured him to automotive photography,
but motorsports is what he
loves and yearns for. " The smell, the
sounds, the energy you get from a race
is second to none. " Jason's top three
events in the area are " Katie's C&C,
Katie's C&C, and Dulles Landing
C&C. " I see what you did there, Jason.
He continued, " Katie's brings out the
best and most unique vehicles. Where
in the area do you get to see a Stanley
Steamer? The atmosphere of Katie's is
that true C&C feeling. Talking with the
owners and hearing the story of some
unique car that looks like just another
classic Porsche, but it's actually a prototype
race car with a robust history. "
Jason's advice to those looking to
get into photography is that " in this
digital age it doesn't matter if you bring
a phone or a flagship camera body.
Nothing happens unless you take the
time to use it. Practice, YouTube tutorials,
your camera's manual, and other
photographers will help you improve
your skills. " Jason's shoots with
whatever Nikon body he has handy
(D40, D7000, or D500) and his favorite
lens is a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8. Check
out Jason's work on Instagram and
FaceBook at @partycarphotography!
■ Ferrari 599 GTB photographed after Katie's Cars & Coffee. Photo by
Abisai Ortez.
Abisai Ortez
Another photographer whose work I
enjoy following is Abisai Ortez.
Though Abisai is an experienced
photographer, he only started taking
photos of automotive subjects in early
2021. Based on his work I would've
guessed it was much longer than that.
He finds photography relaxing, and
Jason H
When I think of great panning shots, one person in particular comes to mind,
Jason H. (a.k.a. " The Panning Guy " ). I reached out to Jason to gain some
insight into why he enjoys photography. Jason said, " I've been taking pictures
for as long as I can remember. As a kid I would try to take photos of lightning
July I August
enjoys the stories behind the subjects - both the mechanical ones and the
people. He added, " every car has its own quirks and features. I love to explore
the lines of the car, from where it begins and to where it ends. And of course,
meeting awesome people. It is a great way to socialize and find new friends. "
Similar to Jason, Abisai has Katies C&C at the top of his local event's list.
He said, " it's mainly because there's always a show every Saturday, rain or shine.
And how can we ignore the coffee? " Next on his list is Dulles Landing C&C
because " similar to Katie's, [at] every event there's something to see. " Rounding
33
https://www.instagram.com/partycarphotography/
derBayerische July /August 2022

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