While most of the photo we take are shots we are assigned by the various entities we work for within the company, sometimes we are able to be creative and set up shots and other times we “stumble” into a scene that lends itself to shot that tells a story. AT the 2002 Indy Car event at Nashville Superspeedway, AJ Foyt Racing’s Billy Boat had just won the pole for the event and we completed the photo shoot in Victory Circle with Boat and the team. As we headed back to the Press Room with the Pole Winner, I was walking beside him and someone yelled his name. As he turned to the fan (and me), I snapped the photo of him and in the background was the scoring pylon with his car number and speed at the top in lights. An impromptu shot turned into a memorable shot in a long career.
Billy Boat smiling
Another incident at pre-race at Kentucky Motor Speedway and an Indy Car race sponsored by Belterra Casino, Tony Kanaan was waiting to be introduced to the crowd when he walked up in front of a Casino Grid Girl wearing a large blue headdress. The resulting photo is a favorite of mine as well as TK’s.
Tony Kanaan and head dress
Hi Ron,
We met in 98-99 when along with my wife Kelli, we ran the large Link-Belt crane that erected the new pagoda, and held you in a man- basket to shot several photos. Would love to come by a see you sometime and look at some of the photos you took of the crane and construction. I am now retired from the operating engineers and shooting photos myself. Kelli is running tower cranes all over the city for Wilhelm Const. Hope all is well with you and your staff and we sure miss those days. Hope to see you sometime soon.
Thank You.
with Honor and Respect,
Danny Seybold
TMH PHOTO WORX
317-361-0055
Ron – amazing as usual!! So glad that I stumbled on this post. Of course there are pretty girls in at least one of the images.
Oh my you used to yell at Steve for those shots! Miss you all…hi to everyone, especially Mary Ellen. Oh, I am still racing, shooting and producing. Check out my ducati piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujSlLit0Woo
I really enjoy looking at all of the photographs available at the IMS archives. Have you ever considered conducting a class for people who want to learn how to take effective pictures at race tracks and of racing cars? I know you are a busy man but a class of this nature would be educational and really fun.