I was also there to document the Type 2 Detectives TV Build. This time they slammed an early bay single cab. Tubbed at the front and ‘C’ notched at the rear.Pictures from the build will follow later this week when I get chance to go through the 300 images from the first 2 days of the build.

The Press Pass gave me access onto the strip itself, amazing to be so close to these phenomenal machines.

Below are a few of the 1000 images It took on the first 2 days.

I will post images from the T2D build later along with some unreal HD video action from the strip.

He could only afford 2 models and you can see Sophie and Tom expertly modelling the t-shirts in these first few images.

However, when the pros left alternative models had to be found, including one that needed to be a female (a rather butch one at that, can you guess which one?)

Images coming to Type 2 Detectives soon…

Cheers Paul, was a laugh, will be over soon to get some more of the Goof and Sav’s barndoor.

Quoted from T2D – “On Sunday 14 March 2010 the centre of town will be closed to all traffic except for drivers of Aircooled VWs. Witness hundreds of VWs of all age, style and colour on parade through the beautiful Belgian streets (500 – 1000 cars are expected). Soak up the unique atmosphere of this memorable occasion – a must for all VW enthusiasts.”

My split was still on the ramps at Type 2 Detectives at 3pm and we were due to leave in a little under 3 hours. The van still had to have the louvered windows refitted. Anyway, not a problem, all was finished and I met Steve and Tim on the A11 ready to drive down to Maidstone for the UK night stop before we got the train early hours on Saturday morning.

Saturday 13th March started at 5:15, quick shower and we were on our way to Folkstone to get the train to Calais.

We had several pit stops en-route to Ninove. Was great to see the convoy grow as the day progressed. A few pics from the days drive down.

Simons rat bug looked awesome and won the T2D trophy on Sunday, congrats.

Few pics below from the Witkap Brewer. Great location for photographing vans, parts of it looked derelict like some of the vans. Perfect for some HDR pics. Free beer too which was welcomed after a 4 hour drive

Some very nice early bays.

Cool deco house out the back of the brewery.

Loved the 17″ Radar on this bug.

One of my fav from the show, super slammed rat bug. Love the trike on the roof

Splity showing off his new interior. Big thanks to Simon from Interior Motive for sorting us our with a super cool pad inside.

Next show, VolksWorld 2010, 28th – 29th March – hope to see you there

Read all about how and why the guys at Type 2 Detectives did what they did. Check out the top end bespoke interior from Simon at Interior Motive as well. Excellent article and write up, pictures aren’t too bad either

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to get another publication in this top mag.

Get your copy now. In all good news agents 11th March 2010.

I was chuffed when I was asked to picture the TV Bus from the guys at Type 2 Detectives. An awesome slammed early bay with a serious stance.

Dunk is setting up his own customized Volkswagen interior company and wanted some imagery for his new website. He’s based in St Neots and suggested we take some pictures of his 1966 11-window split screen van. Its a very clean van that’s been through the usual T2D slamming and mechanical upgrades and is one seriously cool van.

The day went from bad to worse as the original location had had its access blocked. So we found another place just down the road and found some open gates, people walking there dogs and a nice open area to take some pictures, all seemed well and good.

Abandon ship, its going down…

Then it decided to rain (the weather forecast wasn’t great, but no signs of rain I must report at 11am this morning). Fighting through the drizzle we then found ourselves locked in the field with no way out. It was getting dark and we were both wet and cold. To eventiually found what we thought was an escape route only for Smurf (Dunks van) to drift off the field path and sunk into the mud. nicely embedded into the mud we finally had to be rescued by the farmer. To be honest he wasn’t too bad at giving us a bollocking, but if you’re going to leave fields open with no sign posts, whats a VW photographer going to do eh?!?

The promise is to return for more shots in better weather.

Previously owned by JGE Wheels Wayne acquired it last year and has had the T2D treatment.

Finally literally the day before I go to Ireland for Xmas the van was finally ready for me and Beaker to take it into the Fens and give a good going over.

I wanted to try and get some pictures with a sunset and the forecast was promising. Also gave me a chance to try my Elinchrom Quadra lights and try not to be too reliant on HDR’s which pretty much all my pics are of these days.

Its had the full treatment from Type 2 Detectives, slammed , narrowed and now sits low and menacing on the floor. From what I hear it drives straight and true. The interior is yet to be finished, I hope to be able to get some interior once its done.

The TV Bus got the full T2D treatment by the guys from Burwell turning an old faded bay window into one of the coolest rides around. To complement the full slam works the interior was custom fitted by Simon and his team at Interior Motive.

The Bus has made several award winning appearances at selected VW Events around the country and has also made a TV appearance.

Watch this space, should be a great shoot…

UPDATE

The shoot went very well and I’m pretty chuffed with the pictures. Weather was good, not too bright, overcast giving a nice soft light which is ideal for something that has glass and highly reflective like a bus (even a van with this much patina!).

Hopefully they’ll be published early next year in either Feb / Mar 2010 issue of Volksworld Camper & Bus. Keep you posted

When you get a bus this low you know its going to be a painful photo shoot. Not only will it involve a lot of lying on the floor getting those dramatic angles but I knackered my knee the day before so was cringing everytime I got down on the floor, ouch.

The brief from VW Camper & Bus was to show off the slammed patina bay in all its glory with some low grungy shots. This is the first time I’ve shot for a magazine and I had to think a little differently about how I frame the subject. Making sure there is plenty of space in the frame allowing for cropping and text.

The light was dull which is preferable to full on sun. But this was almost too dull. The location was only a few miles from T2D HQ on the other side of Reach. There are several large black grain stores there which made for a large blank canvas in which to place the bus in front of.

I ended up shoot mainly multiple bracketed exposures which would then allow me to either use a single frame exposure to produce high tonal HDR pics. Ideally I could have done with some high powered strobes but the final images came out pretty good after the HDR treatment.

These images will hopefully make it into a VW Camper & Bus issue soon. I’ll be sure to post some more news when I hear something.

Lastly I would like to talk Paul at T2D for getting me the photo gig. Hopefully they’ll be some more