PORTFOLIO
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
A three-second time exposure of a 1991 Honda CRX and a 1997 Nissan 200SX at "The Runs," somewhere in Silicon Valley, Calif., 2001.
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Car stories
When I was asked to share a collection of images for this page, there were many subjects I wanted to showcase from my nearly eight years as a photographer. But nothing is as precious as going back to the roots of your passion. For me it was about photographing the then-rapidly growing import scene -- the cars, the women and the lifestyle -- with the ultimate goal of working for an automotive magazine. This goal led me to study journalism, and to where I am today. But it all started with the love of cars.
Spending a few years in California for school, I was immersed in the trend of "souped-up" rides, street racing and car shows. Aside from spending exorbitant amounts of money on camera equipment, I was also into "souping up" my own car and finding exotic locations in and around the Bay area to photograph cars in action. All the location shots featured here are the result of hours -- and miles -- of searching, in much the same way surfers search for new breaks.
One of my favorite spots to shoot was Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose. At the base of the mountain is the start of 25 miles of snaking turns leading up to one of the highest elevations in the Bay area. Here, I photographed members of the Subaru I-Club, braving 30-degree temperatures, heavy fog, rain and condensation on my lenses. It was also here where I lost a complete camera setup when the mounting that attached the camera to the side of a car just slipped off, sending the camera toppling onto the pavement in pieces, with a long trailing snake of ruined film behind it.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
A 1997 Nissan 200SX SE-R I photographed at the Golden Gate Headlands on a full-moon night.
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One night in San Mateo, my friends and I headed out to "the runs," late-night drag racing in the industrial areas of Silicon Valley. With the trust I gained from those whose cars I photographed, I was able to snap shots that many hadn't seen of street races.
Eventually, I grew out of the import scene. Last September, while photographing Drift Session at Hawaii Raceway Park for the first time, I was amazed at how the scene has evolved in the past six years or so.
The park will be closing its doors soon, leaving the fate of many driving enthusiasts in question. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia not only because of my interest in the subject, but because I knew I was also recording a piece of history. To be there that day gave me a sense of completeness.
The frozen moments on these pages when I decided to press the shutter button, sometimes for one-sixtieth of a second, sometimes for 12 minutes, are little windows into my progression as a photographer; each photo has its own little story. Enjoy the ride ...
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
A remote shot from a handmade rig mounted on a 1997 Volkswagen Golf GT-I, taken at Mount Hamilton near San Jose, Calif., 2001. Several minutes and a roll of film later, the camera, lens and filter used to take this photograph were in pieces on the pavement after the mounting rig came loose.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
A great part of the car scene: ladies! This dynamic duo struck a pose at the Import Showoff at Blaisdell Center.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Victor Cheng, a close friend of mine, runs through a chicane section of Mount Hamilton on a cold October morning, 2003.
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