The Andy Southard Archive

We’re not back on the grind until Monday, but my brain refuses to take a holiday. So here I am, hammering away at this machine, trying to drain my thoughts before they spill over.

Over the break, I’ve been knee-deep in my personal photo archive, wrestling it into some kind of order. Since 2000, I’ve taken 38,055 photos. Of those, about 4,200 are on film, and roughly 2,800 of those focus on hot rods and customs. Seems like a staggering number, doesn’t it? And yet, I’ve only got six binders of negatives to show for it.

Meanwhile, Andy Southard had an entire room—floor to ceiling—stacked with negatives. I’ve seen a photo of that room before, but damned if I can find it now. Just how many shots did that man take? It’s mind-boggling to even consider.

And knowing that… it’s hard to imagine a single person more vital to our culture.

So, on one of my last days off, I just want to tip my hat to the man. Thank you, Andy, for everything you gave us.