The 2nd part on our best photographs of 2015 will kick of with Glen’s pics, to be followed by Ali Cusick’s, Roland Harrison’s and Pim van der Veer’s best photographs of 2015. Each photographer has got a different skill set and different passions, but all of the images plus the stories that go with it are well worth a read. So, without further ado…
Glen Smale
(Photo above) “The pit lane at Le Mans is always a busy place, and frankly you need eyes in the back of your head, as cars come in or leave quickly after a brief stop. Sometimes you just don’t hear a car, so it is important for photographers to look out for each other. This is the #66 Ferrari 458 Italia, driven by Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Jakub Giermaziak, and Michael Avenatti in the GTE AM class, as it makes a pit stop for fuel, tyres and a driver change. I liked this shot because it captured the ‘hurry up’ atmosphere in the pits which means that the photographers and camera man must work skilfully around the pit crew.”
“Le Mans is always a very special race, and in 2015 the Porsches began to show their superiority early on in the season. Here the eventual winner, the #19 driven by Nico Hülkenberg, Earl Bamber, and Nick Tandy, awaits the start of the race. It was a hot day, the grid was buzzing with people, and with all three Porsches occupying the top three places on the grid, speculation about the possible outcome was rampant…as it happened, Porsche finished first, second and fifth.”
“The first race of the WEC season is always eagerly awaited by the racing fraternity, the media and motor racing enthusiasts alike. Anticipation was running high at the opening WEC race in April 2015 at Silverstone, because the battle between Audi and Porsche was expected to be red hot, but this time round it was the ever-reliable Audi #7 driven by Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer that took the chequered flag. Here the #7 Audi is seen just leaving its pit garage during practice.”
“Sometimes the weather can work in your favour. On this shoot up in the Yorkshire Dales, anything was possible as we were into autumn and it had been raining the previous few days. This day though, despite being threatened by some big grey storm clouds, we were fortunate enough in that the storm skirted our location, and circled around us. The brilliant red Porsche 911 SSE Coupe contrasts well with the dark clouds.”
“I set off at the beginning of the year on a Grand Cobra Tour. The reason for this adventure, was to shoot three different Cobras for my (then) latest book for Haynes Publishing, covering these great cars. This one, the first on my itinerary, was shot on the go-kart track just behind the Haynes Motor Museum, and is actually the personal property of J. Haynes, Chairman of the Haynes Publishing Group. It is a genuine 1965 model and is in great condition.”
“When Audi do a new model launch, they really push the boat out. On this occasion, it was the launch of the new R8 V10 plus, a mighty 610 PS supercar capable of doing 205 mph! So why not present this beauty at the equally awesome Hotel du Castellet (which can be seen in the background), southern France, just a stone’s throw from the Paul Ricard circuit. Audi works driver Ollie Jarvis was on hand to give tips. The R8 in Vegas yellow is offset well against the hotel background.”
Ali Cusick
“2015 saw the end of Defender production, and this was from a shoot at Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey, where Maurice and Spencer Wilks tested their first Land-Rover prototype. Here we see a 1950 Land-Rover 80″ Series One with one of the Defender 110 Heritage Final Edition vehicles. Everyone who was anyone went there over 2015, but I was pleased with what I got, and enjoyed visiting a location steeped in historical significance.”
“Another from Red Wharf Bay. I wanted to do a shot that summed up the motoring icon and the era, so came up with this: Sunset on the very last model of Defender, at the place where it started. I like to think the aero trail represents the replacement model ‘taking off’. Will it? We’ll have to see…”
“Two heavyweights battle it out on track: The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and a GT3 RS. The ‘regular’ GT3 RS is retained by Porsche UK, and is now on 24,000 miles. Possibly the hardest miles of any similar model GT3 RS? Unless you know different!”
“It was a year of the seniors for me. I also shot the super-rare Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Lightweight (one of only 22, and the only one in Speed Yellow), comparing it to its two wheel drive colleague, the 964 RS. A Rear tracking shot at speed shows off their spoilers, with plenty of background blur. Shot in Finland on a track, just ten minutes later, the heavens opened and heavy spirited driving ended for the day.”
“Finally, my best photograph of 2015. Three Porsche GTS models, weaving through the Llanberis Pass, tiny in the frame – who says the subject should fill the frame? This is a real ‘me’ shot; landscape, cars and scenery. What you can’t tell is that it is hammering with rain here: water was literally dripping from my camera bag, as I shot from half way up the walking track to the top of Snowdon. Neither can you hear the sound of three 911s with Sports Exhausts echoing off Wales’ best landscape.”
Check out another article on Ali’s photography here: Story behind the pictures Ali Cusick on “Making trucks look sexy”
Roland Harrison
“There is nothing more sensual than the curves of a classic Porsche and this is a beautiful example displayed at the Silverstone Classic media day in April. It is a nostalgic image in black and white and I do like the reflection of the next generation Porsche in the rear wing reflecting the past and the future.”
“Round 3 of the British GT Championships at Rockingham – the start of the race with the Aston Martin ‘007’ leading the way down the home straight.”
“Of all the classic racing disciplines, I most enjoy seeing the Group ‘C’ cars of yesteryear and this image was taken on a late Saturday evening and highlights to me the enjoyment I had as a child playing with the toy models of these cars. They exude power and grace with curves and it was a real pleasure seeing them race around Silverstone.”
“#31, Bentley 4 1/2 Le Mans (1929), Stanley Mann (GB) and Philip Strickland (GB), Kidston Trophy for Pre-War Sports Cars. 24.07.2015. Silverstone, England, U.K. Silverstone Classic 2015. The old Bentley’s should never be forgotten. The shear size and presence of these cars along with their racing heritage made the Silverstone Classic for me. I love to see these historical cars continuing to hold their own on the racing circuits of today. Long may they continue.”
“Round 3 of the British GT Championships at Rockingham. This image really shows the heavy rainfall that the drivers and cars endured during the race and made it incredibly difficult for drivers to see where they were going and compete effectively. My admiration for these people is heightened in these conditions when I see them continuing to be professional and push the limits even in such adverse conditions. That’s why this pic is one of my best photographs of 2015.”
Pim van der Veer
“This is a picture of an imaginative exhibit of the Opel Mokka at the Brussels Motor Show. One of 205 photos. The Brussels Motor Show is organised every year as the first European Motor Show and enjoys popularity because the cars can be bought on the spot, with a lot of special show offers. During the year I visited the motor shows in Geneva, Amsterdam and the Commercial Motor Show in Amsterdam. Motor Shows are useful to judge new models in the flesh together with other trade and press visitors. With so much digital communication networking during press days is indispensable to keep up-to-date with the dynamic motor industry, trade and design trends.”
“Shows a Maybach SW38 which was an exhibit at the 1938 Geneva Motor Show. The body by Spohn featured a drophead coupé on the long wheelbase chassis on customer’s request. This picture is one of 1,248 taken during the 5th annual museum trip together with friends Jan Mol and Dik Boosman during 3-8 May. This year we covered mostly Eastern Germany to the roots of the German motor industry, visiting Auto & Technik Museum Speyer and Sinsheim, Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz, Zweirad (bicycle and motor cycle) & NSU Museum, Deutsches Automuseum, Automuseum Maybach, August Horch Museum, Museum Eisenach and Classic remise Düsseldorf, giving us enough material for a couple of books.”
“Shows George & Fouk Kaars Sijpesteijn standing near the MG TD (M.G. TD Midget), the actual car with which they co-founded the MG Car Club Holland in September 1955. The first one-make motor club in the Netherlands. The picture was taken on the celebration grounds where the 60th anniversary took place. George (85) is the only living founder member of a motor club in the Netherlands. The MG Car Club has been playing a major role in my life – too much to tell here – but highlights in 2015 were the AGM in February where I was appointed honorary member, the British Autojumble in June with virtually all car clubs devoted to British makes, in a large park with over 1,000 beautiful exclusively British cars. The last week of August I participated in the ‘Ardennen Meeting’ in Luxembourg, a biennial MG event organised since 1985 by the Maathuis family, with ‘mater familias’ Fredry Maathuis as my rally partner. Altogether I covered some 2,000 miles in my 12th MG, 6th MGB in MG events in 2015.”
“Gives a view on a leisurely Summer Meeting of the Lancia Club Netherlands on 1st August. In the foreground my Lancia K (Kappa) which is my 5th Lancia, starting with a Flaminia Berlina 1959, back in 1962, then a Fulvia Berlina 1971 in the Eighties, a Dedra 1992 in the Nineties and a Thema 2.0 i.e. 1990 from 1998 until 2013. A brand with strong Italian flavour which easily becomes an addiction.”
“This shows the reception given on 12 September by my friends Dik & Ieke Boosman on the occasion of reaching the roadworthiness of their Bugatti 49 after 20 years of hard and difficult restoration. Dik is a renowned technical motor journalist with many credits in both motoring press and Lancia Club, where they are honorary members.”
Leave us a comment and let us know if you have enjoyed our photographers selection of their best photographs of 2015. We would love to hear from you.
Written by: Glen Smale, Ali Cusick, Roland Harrison, Pim van der Veer and Elke Smale
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