Ford GT photo shoot at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO

[twobjshelbys]

So before the breakfast with the Colorado Shelby group I went down to Red Rocks at 6:30AM for a photo shoot. I posted this to the Ford GT forums but thought you guys might like it. There are two places that have great photo shoots in the early morning - Red Rocks and Garden of the Gods. The GOG shot is still the Shelby Breakfast Club banner photo and hanging on my office wall. I think #3 or 4 could be next.



Our local Shelby Club (mostly Mustangs) had a gathering this morning so I decided to use the opportunity to take the GT down to Red Rocks in Morrison. This is a world class concert location - many bands like The Grateful Dead, Stevie Nicks (when Joe Walsh and Stevie took a little trip to Boulder, check out the story about Joe's daughter), and tons of others. Really, this place is one of the most awesome music centers in the country. Even the Amazing Race show started and finished there in their Season 9 arc. The great thing about it is that is also a park - that opens at 5AM, and one of the most awesome places to take car pictures too. At sunup there is one place in the park that I've used for years to take car pictures. It's best in the fall or spring when the sun is in the south and you get a remarkable "glow" off the sandstone.

It's spooky, but this place is about 20 miles away, and I love it.

This morning I was there at 6:45. The sun was up but the weather was changing - I had about 1 hour before the clouds came in.

Here's the best.

So this is at about 7:00. The sun is just coming up so the colors are what you see at dawn.

First, I had some helpers. When I pulled up into "the bowl" I use there was a herd of about 20 deer muching on the grass. The herd split when I pulled up but these guys and gals hung around.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3273.jpg

Some people would want to photoshop these to adjust the color temperature, but I was there and this what at it was. I call it the "glow". The sun at this time of the year comes up and hits these rocks and it just feels "warm" even though the temps were only in the 50s. When I left home it was 51 and cloudy. The roads were wet and I couldn't see in this light that the car was actually filthy from road grime. As it got brighter I got out the Ice detailer and cleaned the rockers.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3275.jpg

Now I'm in the shade. It's still good light but there is no direct sun. The light is reflecting off the top of the rocks so there is still good light. I love how the Gulf Blue "glows" in this light. It is, I think, a perfect color.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3276.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3279.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3281.jpg



See the helpers in the background?


http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3282.jpg



By now the sun is coming up and starting to change the color. I think this is one of my favorites. By the way, camera is a Nikon D700. A few minor adjustments for exposure is all for these. No Photoshop magic, just what I would have done with exposure adjustments in the darkroom in 1972. Also note the incredible dynamic range - highlight to shadow - this is the perfect camera.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3288.jpg

More in the "glow".

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3299.jpg




http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3300.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3307.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3310.jpg


http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3311.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3313.jpg



I had some more helpers. A few years ago there was a huge bee hive in the cliffs. Now there are doves.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3318.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3322.jpg

I'm collecting signatures. Bob Bondurant is one of Carroll Shelby's drivers from the 60's and now runs his driving school in Arizona (and now, Pueblo, CO). Carroll's wive Cleo also signed. I'm going to pull one of the struts over the winter for Camilo to sign :)

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3329.jpg

These (and a few others that I didn't post) are with the clamshell up. I thought the reflection of the supercharger in the glass was cool, Sort of artsy craftsy.

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3334.jpg

http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/tpribors-a/2012-10-13%20Ford%20GT%20at%20Red%20Rocks/DSC_3335.jpg

[68fastback]

Sweet!! Beautiful location and great pics!!

Mule deer and pigeons too :grin:

Best part had to be the drive up and back :banana: :chirp:

Thanks for sharing!

[Joe G]

Totally awesome pics Tony.

Thank you for posting them. Hope you don't mind, but I saved a few favorites. That car is just beautiful.

:bow:

[mustang loco]

Some really cool pics and very nice ride Tony,thx for sharing!!...that GT looks awsome

[The Bone]

What a great place for a photo shot Tony. The car looks fantastic.

[Darkside]

Awesome pics of an amazing car.

[twobjshelbys]

Thanks all. I arrived just at sunup. The first ones with the orange are with the sun out. It's early so it would be orangy anyway but the red sandstone makes it even more so. When the normal color cast returned the sun had gone behind the clouds (and it stayed cloudy the rest of the day)

[Shlbylvr]

Great pics.

[Gr8snkbite]

Awesome shots Tony...:wtg:

[twobjshelbys]

One of them, not sure which one, is in the Ford GT calendar. Camilo used the picture with no edits. It wasn't even my favorite, and I'm not sure what I did right but I'd really really like to know.

[Tommy Gun]

:grin:




Need some new pics. :waiting:

[Tommy Gun]

We had 2 Ford GT's at the track this weekend, they are simply my favorite Ford car ever. :grin:

[twobjshelbys]

We had 2 Ford GT's at the track this weekend, they are simply my favorite Ford car ever. :grin:


Mine too :)

Except maybe for P1075. We're coming up on 50 years of the 3 GT40 win at Le Mans. Think about it. When Audi did it this last year there was no mention of the GT40 win almost 50 years ago.

P.S. I have to say I get goose bumps every time I drive it. Even after dissing the Cobra, my wife says the GT is "a nice car". She hasn't gotten over that the Cobra had more luggage space but likes that it has regular seat belts (on the passenger side), air conditioning and a place to plug her ipod into. Not so happy with the 1.5 ft**3 trunk that melts everything except plutonium :)

[Tommy Gun]

I don't travel, so perfect for me. :grin:

[Carnut]

Yup.

[twobjshelbys]

Yup.

Here's a little perspective on the history. Apparently some euro-twit dissed the GT40. I'm an American!!!!

http://jalopnik.com/why-exactly-was-the-ford-gt40-one-of-the-greatest-cars-886009275

[Joe G]

:drool:


http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18uscea5spxssjpg/k-bigpic.jpg

[twobjshelbys]

:drool:


http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18uscea5spxssjpg/k-bigpic.jpg


Isn't that about the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? Except maybe the Porsche 917 in Gulf Blue.

[68fastback]

:yes:

[Joe G]

:iagree: