Ryan submitted a new blog post: A Day Of Ordinary Magic in 2003... Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Man those photos. Really cool to hear the story of how they came to be. They have been burnt into my, and many others, brains since the first time I’ve seen them. Saved on a desk top folder, printed and tapped to countless walls, referenced for school projects. Those steamy shots perfectly captured the early hamb and made me picture Kansas City as this grimy city crawling with hot rod hoodlums. Decades later I moved here and wasn’t disappointed. I’d buy a print of those shots for sure.
From the time I joined the Hamb I have been enamored with these photos and knowing nothing about their origin the story makes them even more interesting, a moment in time where 3 photos stood tall and their images still inspire to this day. HRP
I am sure that "O.Winston Link", would have smiled if he had been able to see those three shots. If you know your time period of steam, and if you know your innovative night time shots of steam trains, and if you appreciate true amazing large format black and white photography, that was way ahead of its time, then take the time to look up "O.Winston Link". You wont be disappointed I assure you.
Great photos, of course..... BUT the car. Where the hell is that car? Any updates @Ryan ? You knew some idiot would ask again eventually.
The '38 is sitting behind me right now, mocking me with its unfinished guts. Motor’s still in pieces, scattered across boxes at Keith’s shop like some sick automotive jigsaw puzzle. I get these fleeting bursts of motivation, like a shot of adrenaline, but they’re always derailed—by race cars, by work, by whatever shiny object crosses my line of sight. Hell, the Model-A’s the biggest culprit. Worst thing that ever happened to the '38 was me getting behind the wheel of that damn Model-A. Once you start driving that thing, the rest just fades into the background, like a neglected mistress. *** As for those photographs? Pure, dumb luck. If you ever catch yourself looking at one of my shots and think, “Damn, that’s pretty good,” just know that behind it was a lot of blind shooting and a prayer to the photo gods. I’ve got a little knowledge, no real talent to speak of, and every so often I stumble into something decent. That’s the honest truth. I’m no photographer. I just happen to love cameras - especially old ones. These particular photos? They were born out of obsession. I was thumbing through a photo book by Oskar Barnack—the godfather of 35mm photography, the man who put Leica on the map. Couldn’t afford a Leica, of course. I had my dad’s old Nikon F3, so I did what any broke, hungry bastard would do—I tried to imitate him. When my old man saw the results, he did what he always did: spoiled the hell out of me. Bought me a Leica M3 and a 35mm Summilux lens, sent it to me with a note that simply read, “You got this.” Classic dad. I don’t use the M3 anymore, but that Summilux? Hell, I’d bet 75% of the photos I’ve ever taken were through that glass. It’s still my go-to, more than any other. My old man was special.
Still pass that alleyway now and then. Sometimes in the truck. Sometimes on the bike. Sometimes its winter. I always look for the steam and you know what? I've never seen it again.
For some reason those alley shots took my mind directly to "The Third Man". Weird I know, but there it is.
Steam rising form an old Ford is fairly typical shot for a flathead powered car . Seriously though, cool shot @Ryan, fire escapes, brick buildings, manhole steam, you can feel the chill...and the smell of urine.
The angle, the light, the brick buildings and of course the steam enveloping an old Ford. Reminds me of some of the old mafia movies of the 40s and 50’s. The only thing missing is a violin case. Always admired those pictures. It’s about time to get that 38 on the road before I die and miss it.
@Ryan It would be cool to see the 38 hit the road again.. But I have no room to talk my projects just sit and rot in my shop....
I hear you, Ryan it's time to get that car in the shop and get it back on the road where it belongs. It would be cool to follow a thread where you bring the coupe back to it's former glory! HRP
Great pictures are usually from not pre-setting up trying to take a good picture.... The saying, better lucky than good with picture taking. Just a nudge to you, the 38 deserves to be rebuilt...it has a soul, to enjoy you, and when your mood strikes, you to enjoy it. You wrote the story. Now it's time. Think about it. Like to see it going again.
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