It's not everyday that my studio's logo ends up on a racecar. But guess what? My studio's logo is on a car, and I am pretty sure it means I am in for a thrilling ride.
Fritz Wilke is a local racecar driver. I have been photographing his family since their son was a baby. When Fritz approached me about sponsoring his car, not only did it sound like a fun adventure, it felt like the perfect way to stand behind an outstanding community member, father, and friend.
So we were off. Except I knew nothing about cars. Really. Nothing.
Imagine the scene. I took my 12 year old son, Logan, out to Gingerman Raceway. We pulled up next to Mustangs, Jaguars, and Porsches. My son couldn't say a word (which is rare) out of love and overwhelm. He got to sit in a Mustang, start it up, and rev the engine.
Forever an artist, I first noticed the vibrant colors of the cars, the way the sun gleamed off of the hoods, and even the highlights and lowlights in the chrome (I was loving the contrast). My son, on the other hand, was all about what what under the hood, the speed, the stats. The color of car was the wrapping paper hand picked to enhance everything that was inside.
The day was amazing. A mom and her almost teenage 12 year old laughing and enjoying a beautiful afternoon. Over and over again, his eyes lit up and his smile was genuine. Though he was not smiling at me, he was smiling with me. In these early almost teen years, that is enough.
He was often left speechless, especially when the Shelby showed up at the end of the day. I will be honest. I had to google it. Sometimes I even googled things while we were there. Carbon fibers, straight pipes, turbo boosters... none of these sounded relatable to F-stops, off camera flash, or color harmony, the things that typically take up space in my head.
But my no means was I lost in strange world. I was surrounded by fun, easy-going, and pretty amazing people willing to answer my questions and lead the way. I felt completely at home, and so many people welcomed Logan to a day that dreams are made of.
This is life inspired. Time with the people you love. Light. Learning. Joy that is as vibrant as those orange and red racecars. It looks like we are headed to Indianapolis this fall. We will be cheering Fritz on and enjoying life's amazing journey.
Now it's our turn to bring the fun and adventure back to our hometown of Chelsea. Want to know more?