Time Well Spent...

 Hi all,

With no shows for most of this year, I've been very lucky to have collectors calling me for projects. Some have had me working on their images for a print, others calling me for commissions, and yet others calling me with request for images to fit a special place in their home. So, for me I've been very lucky! I've had the ability to live with art during this period.

Which leads me to living with art is an undeniably enriching and emotional experience. I've been able to do it daily, if not with a camera, but then, on a computer creating. For example this commission. Cathy will be selling her car and wanted a shot of her and the car for remembrance. You ask, why the San Diego Stadium in the background and why the driving suite? Well, Cathy has been successfully racing her car for many years on tracks and got her start racing in the Stadium parking lot. That stadium will be torn down in the next two years. That's why this location.

You'll see how everything looked out of the camera with weeds, handicap parking signs, ugly paving, needing a new tree, and a better sky. As a fine art photographer I'm genuinely interested in the art of it all, especially in the finished piece.

PS. Don't forget to visit my website at: www.JohnStraubImageWorks.com

Who are these Masked People...

 Hi all,

It's the sign of the times, everyone walking around with masks on. I'm sure your doing it too, as well as me... But, do you do it with "Art" on your mask? That is the question. And if not, why not?

Both my wife's very cool art, as well as mine are on masks that we have in our store. And we know you'll find something you'll like to keep you safe. These are two of our cool customers sporting two of my images available doing a selfie. Therefore to answer that question, why not have some awesome art on your mask when you head out? So, without hesitation, make sure to check it out at this link: https://monique-straub-studio.myshopify.com/

Dog Days...

Hi all,

Hope you're staying safe as we enter the "Dog Days" of summer. The definition: The hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the rising of the star system Sirius, which Hellenistic astrology connected it with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, fever, and mad dogs.

Speaking about dogs, the image below is from Rick and Lois and their little, Putter. They're two of my awesome collectors!  Rick emailed me and asked if I could print an image of their beautiful car being built at the Porsche factory and produce it just like my "Limited Edition" prints on metal. I said sure. The trick is, the image was only a low res file. To print it the sizes they were looking for took some work in Photoshop to upside and then clean it up all the unwanted pixels. After it was shipped out to them, they sent me this cool image of the print.

PS. It doesn't look like Putter is too mad, but rather pretty content!

Thanks, guys!

John

The Aftermath....

 Hi all,

Hope all of you are staying safe, I think I've become a Netflix stock holder by now, as well as put on a few lbs. All of that gets me thinking about getting out and moving around at my next show. At this point, it's "ArtWalk Little Italy" in San Diego, November 7 - 8, 2020. Fingers crossed it won't get canceled. I'll keep you up to date on that. Now onto the "Aftermath."

The aftermath of "Christmas in August" was great! I just want to say "Thank you" to many of you that ordered. I never really know what's going to happen when I do a blog post...so I just wait and wonder when I hit the button to send it out. But, you came through.

If you missed the last post about "Christmas in August," here's the deal. Guess what I have for you using many of my original photographs printed on, "Framed art canvas, Tote Bags to carry your stuff, Cotton T-Shirts in multiple cool colors, Pillows for your special hang out place, Coffee Mugs for that cup of Joe, Face Masks for you and yours to keep you safe and show your pride, and Phone Cases!"

You'll also see some of my wife's awesome art on the site because we've teamed up together! Yep, something for everyone in the family, at killer prices. The image below is just a sneak peak of some of the items. Check this out: https://monique-straub-studio.myshopify.com/

Christmas in August...

Hi all,

That's right, are you ready? It's time for "Christmas in August"!!! Introducing the "Market Place at Straub Studio" with all kinds of good stuff!

Guess what I have for you using many of my original photographs printed on, "Framed art canvas, Tote Bags to carry your stuff, Cotton T-Shirts in multiple cool colors, Pillows for your special hang out place, Coffee Mugs for that cup of Joe, Face Masks for you and yours to keep you safe and show your pride, and Phone Cases!"

You'll also see some of my wife's awesome art on the site because we've teamed up together! Yep, something for everyone in the family, at killer prices. The image below is just a sneak peak of some of the items. Check this out: https://monique-straub-studio.myshopify.com/

A Moment of Distraction

I'm here to distract you briefly from all that is going on around us. Just a reminder, the 10% discount on paper prints of my website is still going on through March 30. Remember to use the code: "Thankyou2020" when you go to check out to receive the discount. This discount is for any order of $50 or more.

JohnStraubImageWorks.com

Here is one of my new prints, called "Daytona"...star driver Ken Miles was the driver of this awesome "Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe" which was first tested at Riverside Raceway. Only if this car could talk...

Sometimes Things Just Click...

I just love it when things are unplanned and go right.

I had taken my camera down to Palm Springs to take some shots at a Porsche RGruppe weekend, and one of the other events going on at the same time was a Cruisin' Association cruise night. One thing led to another, I met some friends, Robert and JoAnne Trinkle with their new gorgeous '32 rod at the cruise and grabbed my camera and snapped this image. The Eight Ball...

The cool thing is, I posted it on Facebook, they emailed me and said they just had to have a print. A 16" x 24" printed on archival metallic paper is on its way to hang in their great room! Sweet!

That Time of Year...

It's that time of year and I can hear you ask, "What are you thankful for this year, John?" Well, I'm thankful for, number one, my wife's and my health. It also goes without saying, with the volume of emails that all of us receive, I'm thankful for you taking the blog into your lives, I understand, that's a big get. As you probably have noticed, I have changed it over to more of a photography blog showcasing and selling my art. Oh yeah, there will still be some car stories and images, but you can also follow along on my adventures out shooting all types of images that will be used at shows including the Mission Federal Art Walk in April 2016.

So, to all of you, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and I hope you have a safe and very prosperous New Year!
             John

A Very Delightful Night...

You never know when something is gonna' hit you in the face. As a follow up to the small show I did last weekend at the gallery called "Art On 30th"...I had a wonderful surprise, that made the night. No, I didn't sell out, something better. A longtime friend I hadn't seen in years came to visit me to check out my images and say hi.

Bob Lampert on the left.

I would call him the best photographer that I know, bar none. He's also a long time Porsche owner, and I still remember his beautiful longhood. Anyway, here's a little background on Bob Lampert along with some of his very cool images.

Art On 30th

Well it's the Holidays and guess what, I'll be participating in the "Art On 30th" year end sale. Some of my "Vintage" framed prints will be on sale for a very small sum of $99. They're 8" x 12" printed on archival metallic paper, matted. signed, and framed at a size of 18" x 22" with barnwood frames.

So bring your Big Bens (the president on a $100 bill) and take home a piece of original signed artwork. I'll be upstairs in the 30th street gallery in my wife's art studio and while you're there you can check out her awesome paintings.

Saturday night, December 12th, 5:00-8:00 pm.
Art On 30th, 4434 30th Street, San Diego, CA.
Here's a link for more info.   arton30th.com

A Short "Thank You"...

Just a short "Thank You" to those of you that have come out to see my B/W images at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park. Thank you!

If you have not seen it yet, here is one on display. How about this for a car port? The show will come down this Monday the 7th. after December Nights.

Click on it to get a hi-res. look. Image, © John Straub

San Diego Art Institute Value Scale

As I have headed out for road trips over the past several years, one of the place that I have become intrigued with is the area around the Salton Sea in SoCal. During that time I have been recording, via photography, the drastic conditions related to what has become a very bleak area. It was once called the Rivera of California...no more.

Six of my B/W images from the "Decaying Dreams" series will be on display at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park during "December Nights," with the opening reception November 21st, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The show runs until December 6th. There were 19 other artists juried into the "Value Scale:SDAI Affordable Art Fair" show, with no work priced over $500.

I'll be at the reception, so I'm inviting you to come by and check out some very cool contemporary art and say hi. If you can't make it that night, be sure to make it sometime between those dates.

If you would like to see the images in my "Decaying Dreams" series, click here: http://alongfortherideimageworks.zenfolio.com/p496188985

Please pass it on guys!

Point Loma's 1915 Race Re-lived...

What is old is new again, so they say. Earlier this year I got word that for Balboa Parks Centennial they were going to re-drive the same course that was raced in 1915. Naturally the best place to start the reenactment was at the San Diego Automotive Museum in San Diego's Balboa Park. The back story on this, was the race was being held in 1915 to bring attention to the Panama-California Exposition, in the new City Park. More on this later...

I researched a good location a few days earlier, to what I hoped would make a great shot. Here's a capture just before one of the cars crossed the Cabrillo Bridge.

1912 Packard 7080 CC heading to the Cabrillo Bridge. Image, © John Straub

Other Places to Keep in Touch...

Out on the road making my way to the Carmel-by-the-Sea Concour, I was able to do a photo shoot with my patina covered 1967 911, and grab some cool images. Here's one I'll share, and in a world of connectivity, some others have been posted on other social media sites. I guess the point of this is to say, if you're on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you can find me there too...

1967 Porsche 911. This was shot in Ventura, CA.

You can click these to find me: Facebook       "Along For the Ride" Facebook Page        Instagram            Twitter

Could James Dean's Spyder be Found...

With the 60th anniversary of James Deans infamous death, "The long-lost – and some say cursed -- car that James Dean died in may soon be found, if a half-century old memory can be believed. The 24-year-old Hollywood star was killed when the Porsche 550 Spyder he was driving to an automobile race near Monterey, and scheduled to compete in, collided with a Ford Tudor coupe at an intersection in Cholame, Calif., on Sept. 30, 1955.

 Nicknamed “Little Bastard,” the tiny Porsche was totaled in the crash. The wreck was sold to one of Dean’s competitors, who removed the engine and other useable components, then passed what was left to famed car customizer George Barris. Dean’s car gained the reputation of being cursed in the wake of several incidents over the years, including the death of a racer whose car reportedly was built using some of its parts. After shelving plans to restore the Porsche, Barris began lending it to the National Safety Council to use to promote car safety, and showing it at automotive events. While being shipped back to Los Angeles from Miami in 1960, it mysteriously disappeared from the locked container it was in, either on a train or truck, depending on the report. Since then, the mysterious car’s whereabouts have been unknown.

The day of the fatal crash....

End of a Run... Porsche 918

After 21 months of building, the last Porsche 918 rolled off the production line in Zuffenhausen. The super-car was built with the idea that it would be a limited edition, with only 918 units being produced. To that end, it pioneered innovations that will help Porsche continue as a high performance builder. Porsche has stated that those innovations found in the 918 like adaptive aerodynamics and rear axle steering have already made their way down to the next generations of 911s. I say, good on them!

Back before the super sports car made its way into owners hands here in the states, I was able to get a photo shoot. The one you see, is my favorite. It's the "bling power" of the engine lid that drew me. I can't think of any other machine out there that has the exhaust venting out like this, truly looks like something from outer space.

I did a face mounted acrylic of this for a friend, that won an award at the annual Porsche Parade, and I gotta' say, I think it's awesome! If you have a 918 or know of others that do, please share this post with them. Prints are available at this link on my photo site: http://alongfortherideimageworks.zenfolio.com/p853571094/h8962c70#h8962c70

Changes in the Air...

If you've been signed up for this blog for some time, you know I haven't posted much in the last two years...sometimes life gets in the way, as I'm sure has happened to most of you at times. Also as a blog follower, you know it has been dedicated to all things automotive.

I'm excited to say I've been expanding my horizons with my photography. Well, that said horizon, was a major part of my life as a young person, and it's finally finding its way back to me. Now don't go jumping ship on me yet, I'll still be posting content jam packed with automotive, but it will also be seasoned with vintage artifacts from the past and, not to get stale, there will also be some off the wall images posted along the way.

You ask, "Why is he doing this?" Over the last few years I'm happy to say I've had more and more requests from people to purchase my images, as the example below. So, I figure this adjustment in format, with images available for purchase within each post, is the best way to keep track, rather than driving myself crazy with special requests.

So, please stay tuned. I think you'll enjoy it.

An image captured during the Coronado Speed Festival of Hans Lapine ripping through a corner in his Porsche 914/6 GT with a Corvette hot on his heels. This image is hanging in his office as a one off, printed on archival paper.

Getting the best View...

Ansel Adams, photographing in Yosemite National Park from atop his car about 1942. The car he was riding high on, a Pontiac Chieftain Woodie...

A very rare car by today's standards.

Photographer unknown...

Don't Call Me Late...

Call me whatever you want, but don't call me late for this event. What event? The annual gathering of Porsche 356 cars at Dana Point.

Once a year in July there is arguably one of the best Porsche 356 Shows/Concour in the world. A few years ago I was making my way around checking all the jewels and I came upon an '52 pre-A Cab shown by Cam Ingram from Road Scholars'. I noticed the impeccable interior with the Telefunken radio and it shouted, "Take my picture!" I asked Cam, he opened the door for me and I got this shot.

"Telefunken" is 16" x 24" printed and face mounted on acrylic to achieve a stunning presentation, and includes a wall mount. It's UV protected and absolutely glows under light. Perfect for the den or office. It's 1 of 1 as the artist proof. Ready to hang and enjoy. $395.00 + $45.00 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. SOLD

"Telefunken"

Amelia Island Concours Lands Two Rare Porsches...

I received this notice from one of my friends, Burt Propp. Thought I would share it with you guys.

With the automotive celebrations at Amelia Island looming (March 13-15, 2015), Porsche let us know that they'll be bringing two very significant racing cars from their museum to display on the concours field. While there are certainly some great Porsches for aution, the level of rarity is kicked up another notch out on the green show field. The first of Porsche's entrants being the venerable, one-of-two 909 Bergspyder, and the second is a one-of-one powerhouse in the form of the 917 PA Spyder 16-cylinder. Both were extraordinary engineering exercises that helped to develop Porsche into an international sportscar racing leader. The late 1960s and early 1970s were an exciting time at Porsche, and these two racers exemplify the type of out-of-the-box thinking that helped them to win multiple world championships.

909 Bergspyder, Factory Photo Archives