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chill-that-ur-inmyhead · 7 months

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Are you between the ages of 30 & 40?

Not yet :)

What was your favourite Saturday morning cartoon growing up?

As to whether it was Saturday morning I am unsure, but Scooby Doo immediately pops into my head

What was your favourite toy as a child?

All my barbies

In High School, did you wear acid washed jeans?

I had a uniform in secondary school and I think I missed the acid wash jeans trend

How much was a gallon of gasoline when you first started driving?

Mmmm whatever the prices were in 2021 UK.

What was your first car?

I drove my mum's ford fiesta but have yet to buy and own my first car and already planning a mini countryman green or black preferably but probs will just take whatever I can afford at the time haha

Who taught you how to drive?

My mum sat alongside me but just practice and I had three different instructors (due to moving around)

What was your high school mascot?

We did not have one , or I suppose you could say it was Jesus as a catholic school. Haha

Did you go to your Senior Prom?

I did go to prom

What did you do after graduation?

Tried to find a job but it was the pandemic so took me some time

What was your first job?

Worked in Gap part time during uni

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Working for Vogue

Any posters on your bedroom walls growing up?

YES! In fact, for a time I had wall to wall posters of the classic pop mainstream celebs, Taylor, 1D, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Beyonce etc

Do you remember the first time you drank a beer?

Probs tried some whenever my mum had some maybe 18 but didn't like it

Did you ever try cigarettes?

Nope

How did you spend your summers growing up?

Usually we would go on holiday mainly in the UK and to see extended family.

If you could change anything from your teenage years, would you?

I would start learning to drive earlier!

Do you remember your first time?

Yes

Ever look back and wish some things were still the same?

Yes, I miss socialising with friends and meeting new people. I am currently unemployed and so my days are mostly spent looking for jobs alone. I didn't realise how surrounded by people I was and how much I would miss it until it was gone. Life is taking a slower pace right now.

After high school - straight to college or straight to work?

Uni

How much did you make per hour at your first job?

Pretty sure it was £8 something an hour

Favourite home-cooked meal growing up?

Fish fingers classic!

Favourite place to eat out growing up?

Pizza Hut - the ice cream machine was unlimited refills

Did your parents live in a different country before you were born?

Nope

Do you have a preferred coffee brand?

Nope

Have you ever dated someone who was terrible with money?

Nope

If so, how did it affect the relationship?

How often do you paint your nails?

I go to the salon just over once a month

Do you know anyone who’s related to a current or former world leader?

Not that I know of off the top of my head

What is something you don’t have any natural talent for?

Balance sport - skateboarding, surfing etc which sucks

Did you watch this year’s Eurovision?

Nope

Have there been any periods in your life that could be described as being chaotic?

Yes, pretty sure I have consistently had chaotic moments throughout

What is something you frequently forget?

I would say I am pretty good at remembering most things, I write things down in my calendar. Maybe when my life picks up the pace a little, I will start forgetting things.

If I looked in your fridge right now, what would I find?

Cheese, yoghurt, peppers, cucumber, celery, hummus, milk and much more. Very much an ingredient household.

How do you feel about your body?

Yikes. It is a work in progress. I'm trying to get into an active routine but I know it will change when I get a job.

Who is someone you would like to get to know better?

I don't think I have met them yet!

What is something that turned out for the best recently?

My friend invited me last minute to see Renee Rapp in London. I technically was busy but could have rearranged things if I really wanted. I said that 2024 was the year where I wanted to see more artists live but I am glad I didn't go because:

The tickets were standing and I'm not about that rock n roll life, much prefer seated tickets, that way I'm not packed into a crowd like a sardine. I watched a live stream of the concert and I joined at a moment where there was a break, for the concert employees to give out water to the crowd because it was so hot in the venue. Just from the concert stream I was feeling claustrophobic! (Maybe 2024 will be about learning about myself better and being okay with it!)

It is an hours journey into London and the venue was North London so essentially it adds an extra 30 mins to the journey time. Living at home means my sociable hours are limited to during daylight but as soon as it is night, I am indoors. Ofc when I move out I will go to any event at any time mostly because I won't have the stress of getting back at a certain time and feel guilty if I am keeping anyone up. And ofc there will be plenty of opportunities later in the year to see artists live, this won't be the last time :)

If you had to move to a new city, where would you move?

I would love to live and work in Paris for a while.

Have you ever travelled on a double-decker train?

I think the train from Paris to Versailles was a double decker.

What’s your opinion on assisted suicide?

Pro

At what point do you consider a relationship to be ‘long-term?’

After the first year mark.

What jobs did your parents have when you were growing up?

IT jobs

Do they still have these jobs? Or different jobs? Or have they retired?

Both retired.

Do you own any winter sports equipment?

Not yet but love to get into skiing.

Do you have a cell contract plan, or are you on a pre-paid plan?

Umm I own my phone and just pay monthly.

#surveys #spicynightlife #03/03/2024

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fuzzysparrow · 2 years

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After 12 years as Britain's top-selling car, Ford Fiesta lost its crown in 2021 to which Vauxhall car?

Britain's most-bought car in 2021 was the Vauxhall Corsa, which put an end to the Ford Fiesta's 12-year record. The result also ended Ford's 50-year run at the top of the most-sold list.

In 2021, the number of new cars sold in Britain was the lowest it has been in almost 20-years. Manufacturers say the shortage of semiconductor chips, which are vital components of modern car engines, meant only 1.65 million new passenger cars entered the market. Of these, 40,914 were Vauxhall Corsas and the Ford Fiesta did not even make it into the top ten.

In second place, the Tesla Model 3 sold 34,783 cars and the Mini Mini came third with 31,710. The only Ford in the top ten passenger car list was the Ford Puma in 8th place with 28,697 sales.

It was not all bad news for Ford. If all vehicles purchased in 2021 were taken into account, including vans, trucks and commercial vehicles, the Ford Transit Custom van came top of the list.

The Vauxhall Corsa, priced from £17,380, was introduced to Britain in 1993 and has since achieved over two million sales.

#Trivia #Vauxhall #Corsa

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motorbuzz · 3 years

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Britain’s most and least reliable cars revealed

- Six models achieve a perfect 100% reliability rating in the annual What Car? Reliability Survey of more than 16,000 drivers - Lexus rated most reliable brand, followed by Dacia and Suzuki - Fiat named least reliable brand by What Car? readers, with Land Rover also struggling - Hybrids and Small SUVs rated most reliable types of car, while Luxury SUVs suffer highest number of faults - Of the 16,328 drivers surveyed, 20% experienced a fault with their car in the past 12 months - To see all of the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey results, visit: www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397

The UK’s most and least reliable new and used cars have been revealed in the 2021 What Car?

Reliability Survey from Britain’s leading new car buying platform and consumer champion. Feedback from more than 16,000 car owners was analysed to find the country’s most dependable 178 models and 30 brands, from nearly new cars to those aged up to five years old. This year, a record six models achieved a score of 100%: the current versions of the Audi TT, Mazda CX-3, Mini Convertible and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and the previous-generation Dacia Sandero and Honda HR-V. At brand level, Lexus and Dacia models were hailed as the most dependable for new and used buyers, while Fiat and Land Rover achieved the lowest scores. Lexus gained an overall rating of 98.7% and none of its vehicles scored lower than 98.4%. Budget brand Dacia also impressed with a 97.3% overall rating, demonstrating that you don’t have to break the bank to buy a dependable model. In contrast, Fiat had the least reliable cars, gaining an 82.0% rating from owners, while Land Rover and Ford were second and third worst for reliability. Hybrids were rated as the most durable type of car, with an average class reliability score of 96.9%. The best performing hybrid was the Lexus NX (2014 – present), which managed a 99.8% score, while hybrid variants of the BMW X5 (2018 – present) were rated least reliable, with 89.7%. Luxury SUVs performed the worst in the study, achieving an average class rating of 88.8%, although the Porsche Macan (2014 – present) bucked the trend, managing a creditable 97.9%. The Land Rover Discovery (2017 – present) received the lowest score in this class with a 72.1% result. Owners were asked whether their car had gone wrong in the past 12 months, how long repairs took and how much they cost, with the overall score expressed as a percentage. Of the 16,328 drivers surveyed, 20% had experienced a fault with their car in the past year, with 85% of faults repaired free of charge. For 7% of drivers, the repairs cost between £101 and £500, while 2% had to pay more than £1500 to get their car back on the road. A third of cars remained driveable and were fixed within a day, while 25% could be driven but took more than a week to repair. What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “The UK’s used car market is currently booming, making it all the more important that people know which models will be reliable. With feedback from more than 16,000 owners, the latest What Car? Reliability Survey highlights the brands and models with the best and worst records. “Our latest study also shows that a high price tag isn’t always a guarantee of reliability, because some of Britain’s cheapest cars are among the most reliable.” Top 10 most reliable brands (cars up to five years old) Brand Reliability Rating Lexus98.7%Dacia97.3%Suzuki97.1%Hyundai97.1%Toyota97.0%Mini97.0%Mitsubishi96.9%Mazda95.9%Kia95.8%MG95.7% Bottom 10 most reliable brands (cars up to five years old) Brand Reliability Rating Fiat82.0%Land Rover82.5%Ford86.2%Nissan86.2%Alfa Romeo86.5%Porsche89.4%Mercedes-Benz89.6%Vauxhall89.6%Peugeot89.6%Jaguar90.1% Reliability results by vehicle classes (cars up to five years old) Hybrid cars – 96.9% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableLexus NX (2014 – present) – 99.8%BMW X5 (2018 – present) – 89.7% Small SUVs – 95.2% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableHonda HR-V (2015 – 2020) – 100% Mazda CX-3 (2016 – 2019) – 100% Peugeot 2008 (2013 – 2019) – 81.8% MPVs – 93.7% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableBMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014 – present) – 98.8% Volkswagen Touran (2015 – present) – 74.1% Family SUVs – 93.6% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableMitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2017 – present) – 100% Range Rover Evoque (2011 – 2019) – 77.1% Large SUVs – 93.6% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableBMW X3 petrol (2018 – present) – 97.7% Nissan X-Trail (2014 – present) – 59.7% Family cars – 93.0% class reliability ratingMost ReliableLeast ReliableBMW 1 Series petrol (2011 – 2019) – 98.7% Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018 – present) – 84.8% Electric cars – 92.9% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableNissan Leaf (2011 – 2018) – 98.6% Jaguar I-Pace (2018 – present) – 86.3% Coupes, convertibles and sports cars – 92.8% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableAudi TT (2014 – present) – 100% Mini Convertible (2016 – present) – 100% Porsche 718 Cayman (2015 – present) – 73.5% Executive cars – 92.8% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableSkoda Superb petrol (2015 – present) – 99.2% Mercedes-Benz C-Class diesel (2014 – present) – 80.9% Small cars – 91.9% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableDacia Sandero (2013 – 2020) – 100% Ford Fiesta (2017 – present) – 74.9% Luxury cars – 90.4% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliableBMW 5 Series petrol (2017 – present) – 96.9% Audi A6 (2011 – 2018) – 82.1% Luxury SUVs – 88.8% class reliability rating Most ReliableLeast ReliablePorsche Macan petrol (2014 – present) – 97.9% Land Rover Discovery (2017 – present) – 72.1% Read the full article

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fourwheelsweekly · 4 years

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Toyota GR Yaris: The Ultimate Pocket Rocket

Rally racing is one of the most intense and dangerous forms of motorsport out there. Breakneck speeds on cliff-side dirt roads, a co-driver yelling directions over the deafening roar of a straight pipe exhaust and unpredictable road and weather conditions are all potential walls to remaining focused and retaining control of the vehicle. Everything needs to be executed immaculately. All in what is essentially a modified street car. It is a true test of pure driver skill and driver/co-driver teamwork.

Official rally events have a strict set of rules and regulations to ensure a fair competition. One of the universal requirements is that the competing vehicle is based on a production street car in the real world with at least 25,000 built units. Frequently rally-converted cars include the Ford Focus/Fiesta, Subaru WRX and Volkswagen Golf/Polo. This is where the 2021 GR Yaris comes into the picture. It is a high-performance hot hatch, designed to be the perfect platform for rally racing. The end goal for Toyota is to have a new vehicle to compete with in the World Rally Championship, by converting a GR Yaris into WRC (world rally car) specification, thus replacing the current Yaris WRC. To do so, Toyota first needs to build and sell the GR Yaris to the public as a street car.

Current Yaris WRC used for competing in the World Rally Championship

2021 GR Yaris

Performance

GR, which stands for Gazoo Racing, is Toyota’s in-house performance division. While most offerings from Gazoo Racing are essentially modified versions of currently existing models, enhanced with various performance parts to improve the driving experience, the GR Yaris is a different car from a standard Yaris at the core. Its chassis is a hybrid between that of a regular Yaris (as sold in Europe, Japan and Australia- not the re-badged Mazda 2 “Yaris” sold in the US) and of a Corolla/C-HR. This new platform features more weld points and structural adhesive, rendering the GR Yaris as more than your average performance-enhanced hatchback.

GR Yaris racing through sand and gravel

Aside from a new chassis, the GR Yaris is longer, wider, lower and more lightweight than a standard Yaris. And then there’s the engine. Under the hood is now officially the world’s most powerful three cylinder engine: a turbo 1.6 liter that makes up to 257 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Linked to the engine is a standard six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced 4WD system that can modulate torque delivery between the front and rear half of the car. It can be front-wheel-biased, 50/50 balanced, or rear-wheel-biased. All depends on the type of thrill you are seeking in the moment. An optional Circuit Pack adds performance suspension, big brake rotors and calipers, lightweight wheels and high-grip tires to compliment the power and structural rigidity.

Test Drive Impressions

Test drivers at Top Gear took the GR Yaris out for a spin, and had nothing but praise for its driving dynamics: “It’s a short, broad, stiff car. The heavily strengthened bodyshell means zero creaks and rattles and gives the suspension a rigid central core to work from. The GR Yaris doesn’t feel anything like a standard Yaris when you get in. It feels robust... small and light. With punchy dynamics and a gutsy motor, it’s a deeply compelling machine... an addictive experience. The best Toyota we’ve ever driven.”

Motor Trend also had the chance to experience the GR Yaris, and the drivers there were left with a positive impression as well: “The GR Yaris feels like a car developed by race engineers. The brakes are superb, the steering is accurate and well weighted. But what’s most impressive is how smoothly the GR Yaris gets into corners… and how concisely it tracks through them. You can go to power much earlier than in any of its front- or even all-wheel-drive rivals and let the differentials do their thing. Just steer where you want to go, and the GR Yaris will go there. There isn't a hot hatch on the planet that gets out of corners as quickly and confidently as this Toyota.”

Design

The exterior design looks very aggressive. Inward slanted headlights and a big rectangular grille make for an angry face that would certainly catch attention on the road. The fenders are nicely pronounced, with the two door configuration helping make way for beautifully wide rear fenders, effectively giving it a widebody look. The hood has a bulge in the middle, further accentuating it as a performance car. Overall, the GR Yaris looks like a proper performance hatchback, shamelessly boasting its motorsport roots.

GR Yaris aggressive front

GR Yaris side

Side close-up

GR Yaris rear

Close-up of the wide rear fenders

The interior is simple, to-the-point, and driver-focused. A well-bolstered leather steering wheel, round leather gear-shift knob, physical e-brake, aluminum pedals, suede bucket seats and a simple, distraction-free dashboard all make for an interior that looks ready to provide for the hooning needs of a car enthusiast.

GR Yaris interior

Steering wheel close-up

Suede bucket seats

Conclusion

From the experiences of the test drivers at Top Gear and Motor Trend, one thing is clear: The GR Yaris is a genuine thrill machine. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed of 143 mph, which are decent performance numbers, but the numbers don’t matter so much with a car like this. What matters most is the feeling of the driving experience. With a small, compact performance hatchback, you usually get a well-controlled, agile and responsive ride that feels faster than it actually is. The GR Yaris, with it being a proper hot hatch, is built to induce a total adrenaline rush, and according to the drivers at Motor Trend, it “feels quicker” than its actual acceleration and top speed. They explain this as “a function of size… you simply don't expect a car smaller than a Corolla to deliver the neck-snapping launch and determined acceleration of the GR Yaris.”

Unfortunately, the GR Yaris will not be sold in the US, but the 86 and Supra are both available, and are heart-pounding enthusiast’s cars as well. When converted from British Pounds, the starting price is around $40,000 and the Circuit Pack model is around $45,000.

With its rally roots, the GR Yaris has a robust structure that is capable of traversing at speed both on and off-road. The world is for the taking in Toyota’s new hot hatch.

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un-enfant-immature · 4 years

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Ford names Jim Farley as new CEO, Jim Hackett to retire

Ford Motor CEO Jim Hackett is retiring, leaving the company three years after being tapped to transform the automaker into a leaner, more competitive and profitable company while investing in technology and shifting towards electrification, automation and connectivity.

Jim Farley, who many believed was being groomed for the position, has been named president and CEO. Farley joined Ford in 2007 as global head of marketing and sales. He moved through the ranks of the company until 2019 when he was picked to lead Ford’s new businesses, technology and strategy team. He was named COO in February, a decision that along with the sudden retirement of Ford’s president of automotive, Joe Hinrichs, seemed to seal Farley’s path to CEO.

The change to leadership and Hackett’s exit will become effective October 1. Hackett will continue as a special advisor to Ford through March 2021.

“My goal when I took on the CEO role was to prepare Ford to win in the future,” Hackett said. “The hardest thing for a proud, long-lived company to do is change to meet the challenges of the world it’s entering rather than the world it has known. I’m very proud of how far we have come in creating a modern Ford and I am very optimistic about the future.”

Hackett’s turnaround plan was aimed at modernizing the company while making it “fitter,” a term he used back in 2017 several months after being named CEO. That plan included $14 billion in cost reductions over five years, a target that Ford said it could reach by increasing the use of common parts across its portfolio, building fewer prototypes and reducing the number of possible option combinations customers could order.

Ford also planned to shift its focus to its money makers — aka the trucks and SUVs that provided the heftiest gross margins. Three years ago, the company said it would take $7 billion away from cars and put it to work in those profit centers, vehicles like the Ford F-150, Ranger and the all-new Bronco. Ford has since announced plans to stop selling cars in North America — with the exception of the Mustang — in its shift to trucks and SUVs. The automaker has already stopped producing the Ford Taurus, Fiesta and C Max.

It also included a directive to put more money into electric vehicles, make connectivity a priority and modernize Ford’s factories by adding robotics, 3D printing and virtual reality tools to speed up the design, development, and production of its vehicles.

Hackett accomplished many of those goals, but fell short in others, particularly around the day-to-day toil of making and shipping vehicles. Despite the launch of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, a redesigned Ford F-150 and new Bronco series, Ford’s share price languished. The company has been hamstrung by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted its plans to streamline operations overseas and caused it to shut down factories in North America in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the company has seen warranty costs balloon due to some quality problems with its vehicles. Not every vehicle launch went smoothly either. For instance, the rollout of the redesigned Ford Explorer was blundered and set the company back.

Still, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford, in a statement Tuesday, credited Hackett for his leadership.

“I am very grateful to Jim Hackett for all he has done to modernize Ford and prepare us to compete and win in the future,” said Ford. “Our new product vision — led by the Mustang Mach-E, new F-150 and Bronco family — is taking shape. We now have compelling plans for electric and autonomous vehicles, as well as full vehicle connectivity. And we are becoming much more nimble, which was apparent when we quickly mobilized to make life-saving equipment at the outset of the pandemic.”

#TechCrunch

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raygoodwinbaphotographyjournal3 · 5 years

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PHOT301 - Mileage May Vary - Research and Influences

Influence is a funny thing. Looking at other’s work has always seemed odd to me as it comes across as you’re ingesting what they create, and then recreating it. To me, it seems somewhat disingenuous to take someone else’s work and make it your own, as it doesn’t seem entirely conducive to create a body of work. Perhaps there’s a disconnect between looking at work, and being influenced by it. Because of this, I don’t tend to look at other photographers work nowadays. The ways that I ingest photographers is usually online, with social media applications - but sometimes I stumble across words of wisdom with passing visiting practitioners such as Nicholas J.R White or Jack Latham. As for social media, its people such as Vlad Tretiak. And past projects such Chris Dorley-Brown’s “Driver’s in the 1980′s”.

How do I get inspired? This, is the million dollar question. Inspiration has been always a stumbling block when it comes to my work: I don’t like looking at other people’s work and taking it and I rarely find work that truly resonates with me. I have always found it easier to shoot more often and see where my eye takes me. One could say that my eye is influenced by what I have ingested, and that could potentially be the case. The other thing that initially inspires me is the contextuality of my practice, which is usually philosophically based with some political undertones. My previous work played a lot on my own experiences living in a modern capitalist society - PHOT201 featured a lot of my own personal feelings on alienation/estrangement, and PHOT102 used my interests of Brutalism. In terms of PHOT301, this is spearheaded by the intrigue of the system that we live in, the 2008 Financial Crisis and the then Labour Government’s 2009 Scrappage Scheme. As well as this, there is the personal appreciation for the everyday vehicle. Mentioned in the post in the first shoot, I talk about how I grew to appreciate the car that the layman use on a day-to-day basis. Cars of a certain age were purged once the Labour Government unveiled the scheme to rid the roads of ageing vehicles, replacing them with newer, safer and more environmentally friendly options.

This scheme was set after the 2008 financial crisis, where banks were allowed to trade through a deregulated system, demanding mortgage schemes which they couldn’t necessarily pay back. This lead to banks like Northern Rock collapsing, which returned to private ownership, but dissolved in 2012. The global financial crisis of 2008 led to a mass recession across the western world, causing the most significant financial crisis since the great depression. In the 2009 budget, the Labour government unveiled the VSS as an incentive for motorists to trade their old car, get a discount, and get a brand new car which offers greater safety, reliability and environmentalism. Governmental information regarding the scheme is easily accessible on the internet, and can be see - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357672/bis-foi-2014-20775-scrapped-vehicles-supporting-data.csv/preview .

With this link, one is able to download an Excel file which details all of the vehicles scrapped in 2009. This covers everyday cars of the day like the Rover 214 (of which 2045 were scrapped), as well as odd manufacturers such as Lada’s Riva, where 7 were scrapped. In total, 392227 cars were scrapped in total, according to the spreadsheet in 2009. The document can be seen here - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1azLGX99mmsL79kbA8qnUuV_C8_k3fI--

Meaning, the Government managed to get rid of a number not too far off of half a million undesirable vehicles from the scheme alone. That being said, there are some discrepancies within the document, such as potential duplicates and spelling errors which could hamper the end result.

Thankfully, the ever helpful Government have released a document with the results which states that there is some variability, as the information was collected by the manufactures instead of the Government itself for the VSS (Vehicle Scrappage Scheme). These numbers are fascinating to me - browsing the document also brought up some interesting results. A lot of the manufacturers that are/were stationed in the U.K, such as Ford, Nissan, Peugeot and Vauxhall recorded higher numbers compared to manufacturers such as Mercedes or Volvo for example. This means, there is some potential correlation between vehicle manufacturer location and scrappage numbers, as well as the type of manufacturer that’s marketed. Higher market vehicles, such as Mercedes again saw lower numbers in general, compared to a more consumer based manufacturer such as Toyota. Obviously, this would make sense are Toyota is more of an accessible option compared to Mercedes.

Top 5 Scrapped cars from 2009/2010

Ford Fiesta - 13622

Nissan Micra - 11808

Vauxhall Corsa - 10453

Volkswagen Polo - 8432

Vauxhall Astra - 8066

(info provided with the VSS Spreadsheet linked above)

This is intrinsically fascinating to me, as it puts into perspective the number of vehicles that were rid within the period of the scheme. Despite the high number of scrapped cars, many of these models still roam our streets. There is a great website titled ‘https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/’, which collates Governmental data on cars that are left on our roads. The website can be used to search models of cars that are still being used today, which details cars that are being used on the road, as well as cars that have been SORN. For example, we saw that 2045 Rover 214s were scrapped in 2009. Today, there are only 155 left on the road, with 189 SORN (not on the road). The graph the website offers shows the rapid decline in 2009, correlating with the VSS. This can also be used to see the gradual decline of the vehicle’s usability, whether that’s due to owners discarding it or replacing it.

This information spearheads the project, mostly in it’s entirety. This projects sets to document what’s left behind from the VSS, as well as the vehicles themselves. Each one is different despite it being made identical in the factory with robots and humans. Each and every car has been used differently by different people, and this shows different ways in which it has been worn and battle torn. These can take the form of scrapes, dents and missing pieces of trim - which can sometimes be enough for one to scrap their car. Despite the scheme being scrapped in itself in 2010, VSSs are still being employed by manufacturers and website on the internet. This means that these cars aren’t all that safe after all. They might have missed the initial barrage of time, and the Government’s scheme, but at any moment they could be still given into the dealership and discarded, being recycled into a fancy washing machine or a bean tin. Manufacturers such as Citroen and Vauxhall still offer such schemes, with money-off incentives on new models, as well as a scheme in London set by Sadiq Khan, with vehicles such as mini vans and mopeds to be scrapped to reduce carbon emissions in London, with an ultra low emission zone in London by October 2021 (TfL, 2019).

There is also a somewhat philosophical aspect to this body of work, also. Hauntology has risen in popularity within the last decade, with Mark Fisher potentially reviving it into the focus of conversation with his easily accessible writing. At first, I found Derrida’s original explanations absolutely horrid to understand. His writing (to me, at least) was often confusing and convoluted. Thankfully, Fisher’s writing in Ghosts of my Life and What is Hauntology offer realistic and easily understandable explanations on what Hauntology really is, and how it’s applicable to our contemporary zeitgeist. It can really be distilled into ‘a time out of joint’ (p.21. Fisher. M. Ghosts of My Life). Hauntology is really the philosophy of the past haunting the present. Derrida links Communism being a spectre on western Capitalism. This, can be applied to almost anything within popular culture, in addition our world now. Fisher also mentions our futures, due to our mixture of past melding with our current times. Things have been increasing harder to see what the future really is, as our times become more anachronistic. This all plays into my work, in terms of subject and what it has been taken on. The cars themselves are inherently anachronistic, as they belong from a different time period. And, the images themselves have been taken on cameras that should, in essence, be extinct - hence digital photography has taken the spotlight in contemporary image making.

Although, film photography certainly is a spectre hanging over digital photographer, and offers up a form of spectral nature of itself. Yet, there is still a place and a market for analogue photography, despite companies either discontinuing their stock or raising prices. The rationale of shooting film is purely a personal choice. It isn’t because I think it’s better than digital, it’s because I enjoy the tactility of the equipment, and the process of scanning in a physical photograph. There are so many more nuances and variables that can’t be corrected once it has been taken, and can only really be corrected once it has been digitised with a scanner. It may even defeat the point when an analogue image is digitised, as the scanner is interpreting the tones and colours of the film with its processing and software - scanning with different scanners can vary everything about the film. I found this out when I bought my own Canoscan 9000F MKii in first year, and there is a massive quality difference between the Canoscan and my favourite scanner: the Epson V850 Pro. This, of course is due to the large price difference and aim towards the demographic. The Canoscan is aimed purely at the enthusiast who needs a scanner, and might potentially need to scan the odd roll of film. The Epson is of course aimed more towards the professional, with the increase in scan quality and scanning options. With this, there are quality differences, with the Epson scanning a lot flatter, with increased dynamic range, compared to the Canoscan’s odd colour cast and contrast increase.

Visual Inspiration

Vlad Tretiak - A Small Town in Siberia II

As mentioned before, I find visual inspiration often hard to come across, with a feeling of nihilism towards looking at photographers of the past. Many copy established photographers which to me, renders the image useless as you’re just recycling someone else’s project or aesthetic. I do feel that it’s good to look at photographers and take notes from what they create, but not totally rip off what they have already done. The biggest inspiration for my work at the moment is a little known photographer based in Russia, called Vlad Tretiak. He is a Russian based photographer and graphic designer. His work centres around parked cars in the dusk hours, with Tretiak often utilising street lights to enhance the aesthetic of the image. The cars he documents aren't brand new offerings from the automotive conglomerates; they're often bruised Ladas and Japanese obscurities, as well as documenting the spaces that these cars occupy.

The project doesn't just focus on the cars, but also the small town in Siberia, which is Kemerovo - a town closer to China than Moscow. The landscape is often ridden with Siberian snow and the town's neon lights creates an almost vaporwave feel to his work. They're also incredibly cinematic, with an almost tangible look and feel. Tretiak shoots mainly on a Pentacon Six or a Mamiya C33, often with expired film, such as using Kodak Aerocolour III; which has long since been expired. This gives Tretiak's work a hauntological aspect, as he is shooting scenes with film that shouldn't exist in this time (theoretically). With this, it creates a haunted present, as it's presented on a format that is from another time period - unlike shooting fresh film which has been produced in the contemporary sense, but uses the same formula.

All of these aspects makes Tretiak a key piece of research for Mileage May Vary, as it shares a lot of the same themes and aspects as mine. The biggest thing I can learn from A Small Town in Siberia II, is the use of lighting. My previous analogue night photography attempt was lacklustre purely due to the light, as well as not exposing the film for long enough to get some of the shadow detail. I do plan on shooting on some expired film for my project, and as older film usually needs longer to expose, this will lengthen the night exposures exponentially. Yet, Tretiak manages to keep these images looking crisp, clean and clinical. The images are incredibly sharp and features such a deep tonality. There aren’t many practitioners that when I look upon their work, I think to myself that this is what I want to be striving for. a lot of the time, I blankly gaze at work and nothing works for me, but there is something about how Tretiak manages to capture the scene, isolate the subject and use natural, and artificial light to his advantage. The scenes are also so mundane to the layman, as they are just Ladas being photographed in their natural environment in Russia.

This also has another link to Hauntology, as these cars are haunted by the spectre of Communism itself. They were born from the CCCP, lived through the state and now survive in a Capitalist Russia, and then they are documented on a process which has been superseded by a digital process. They’re scenes haunted by Communism, taken by a haunted process. It makes one think how omnipresent Hauntology really is, and this is the reality that we live in. It also makes me think that I have always had links to the CCCP and Hauntology without me really knowing. I have managed to document Brutalist structures and things of the past, but in the present; but its only now that I am able to see what I have been doing and it’s contexts.

Below, is a number of Tretiak’s images from that project which I really enjoy.

Chris Dorley - Brown - Drivers in the 1980′s

I came across Dorley-Brown’s work due to Jack Latham recommending his project to me to look at for MMV. The project in question is Drivers in the 1980′s; a documentation of drivers stuck in East London traffic jams in the summer months during the 80′s. Dorley-Brown initially wanted to document the privatisation of Rolls Royce, but instead chose to photograph the faces of the traffic jams of Thatcher’s Britain. For me, its a very humanising project to look upon, and feels slightly odd enjoying a body of work which features actual people. I often feel slightly alienated to look at work with people in them, as I don’t really have any or no connection to the subject. Yet, a lot of the images within this project feel very candid and Cartier-Bresson-esque in terms of their decisive moment feel. That being said, some of the subjects have noticed Dorley-Brown and posed for the camera, knowing they will be photographed and changed their pose ala-Barthes.

Speaking of Barthes, Dorley-Brown’s work feature both studium and punctum. The studium is the subject, and something about it that has jumped out to Dorley-Brown, and the punctum is the end result of that studium. And the end result is rather aesthetically pleasing for what is essentially a portrait of the urban environment.

There is an immediate aesthetic to these images that just shout out 1980′s, purely because of the tones and colours. There is something about these aspects of which I enjoy, and I am not entirely sure why that is. Perhaps its linked to nostalgia, as these was only taken 10 years before I was a small child, and I can remember seeing photographs in a similar style to these. Either that, or its the cars included in the photographs, which I used to see when I was younger and feel nostalgic about seeing; or that I have fallen for the Capitalist ploy to sell me nostalgia of the 1980′s despite never actually experiencing it first hand. There must be something with the emulsions used at the times, causing these bold, yet washed out colours. All of these photographs were taken with either a Rolleiflex 3.5 or a Mamiya C33 (as did Tretiak in ASTiSii). In addition, eight rolls of film were shot in a space of six hours, with a total of 162 photographs. Dorley-Brown is noted in saying about shooting the project:

“They are both waist-level finders so that put me at driver level and helped me be a bit more invisible,” he wrote via email. “People are never sure with those viewfinders whether you are looking at them or not so it gives you some space to work without appearing too obtrusive.”

This gives one insight in the creation of the work, and the use of a TLR camera. They are something that I really want to love, but hate using. Looking down at the viewfinder always feels very unnatural to me, and the inverted movements always throw me off. However, this hasn’t stopped me looking at purchasing a Mamiya C33 or equivalent down the line. Perhaps I will learn to love TLRs, just like I learned to love square format images, and seeing as the C33 is 6x6, its another hurdle to overcome.

Franck Bohbot - Parked Cars

Bohbot is a French born photographer and film maker based in New York. His images offer a cinematic and meticulous approach to image making. They also offer a certain atmosphere that juxtaposes the reality of the day to day. I will be focusing on Bohbot’s ‘Parked Cars’ project. I used Bohbot during the Economy Exhibition, as he used a very similar composition style to what I was already doing. I found the typography of his images very Becher-esque and visually intriguing, as its interesting to see a lot of cars presented like this.

Parked car, Parkslope #1 Brooklyn, NY, 2013

Parked car, Gowanus #5, Brooklyn, NY, 2014

Parked Car, Gowanus #6, Brooklyn

Untitled

Bohbot offers an interesting take on a typographic style of automotive photography. It manages to capture the vehicle, as well as the surrounding space around it. They often tell us things about the area as well, just like the state of the economy and the grade of social status of the occupants. The photographs also tell us what kind of life the vehicles have lead. Just like the Camaro Iroc-Z above, it has discoloured/faded panels. This could mean they have been replaced because its had a collision, or they have just faded over time. Red paint has a habit of doing that as the wavelengths absorb more light compared to other colours, and the UV light degrades the paint faster (oh my previous life as a mechanic and body repairer). This can also be seen on the Caprice Classic at the top, as that has heavily faded and also started to rust around the wheel arches. These elements especially reflect on what I am doing, and focusing on the cars that have aged and seen some years of use. These scrapes and scars can tell a story of what the vehicle has gone through, and shows that its just a mode of transport that someone uses.

Since looking at Bohbot’s work in first year, it has been updated with more detailed and less typographic images. An example is of the Pontiac GTO’s rear lights/badge. Just like my current work, it incorporates a more detailed look at the wear and tear of the vehicle, in addition to using a shallow DOF to isolate the subject.

A Coda

Being inspired and influenced by practitioners is something I find that’s hot anc cold. Quite often, I rarely find photographers that I really get and understand. It seems all too often I blankly stare at ones work and it doesn’t do a thing for me, and I tend to find it easier to just go out and shoot, without any prior research to see where my creative mind is at. Although, I do find that sometimes, one does need to ingest other’s work and get some insight into how they create that work - whether that is due to the camera or film they have used, or the way that they have composed and taken the photograph. Of course, this can be a valuable asset to the photographer to gain insight into how to make a photograph just that little bit better, or something to avoid if they haven’t executed it properly. With Tretiak, Dorley-Brown and Bohbot, they have certainly informed and influenced how I make my work. I enjoy all of their images, and find it fascinating how they actually make their work, as well as the context within them. Yet, these projects seem different, and oh so similar at the same time. Tretiak is documenting the vehicles that lay dormant where he resides, and Dorley-Brown documents similarly dormant cars, but in the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital. Finally, Bohbot documents the dormant and parked cars in Brooklyn, where the social and economic background is vastly different to the Manhattan setting that most people think of when New York is mentioned. All of these play a key roll in my work, and are useful to further my practice.

I also find its key to have some contextual backing to the work. All the way back in PHOT202, I ditched anything contextual and focused on the aesthetic of the photograph. This wasn’t a great idea, as it totally sabotaged my grades and was harshly scrutinised - deservedly so. Just like a broken record, I repeat to say that I hated PHOT202 and it’s outcome. Now, I am creating work that I am proud to be attributed to and willing to progress with. MMV is a project that feels that it will last me a long time, as previous projects felt as if they died as soon as they were handed in and never felt as personal as they were portrayed to be. But somehow, MMV feels as if I can keep this project going, even past university is over for me. Perhaps this is because its something that I want to be creating, rather than interpreting a brief and making something fit with brute force.

Bibliography

Behance, (2019). A Small Town in Siberia II. Behance. [Online]. Available at https://www.behance.net/gallery/81633539/A-Small-Town-in-Siberia-II. [Accessed on 01/12/2019]

Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio. (2019). Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio - Parked cars | 2013-2015. [online] Available at: http://www.franckbohbot.com/parked-cars [Accessed 1 Dec. 2019].

Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio. (2019). Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio - Parked cars | 2013-2015. [online] Available at: http://www.franckbohbot.com/parked-cars#e-5 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2019].

Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio. (2019). Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio - Parked cars | 2013-2015. [online] Available at: http://www.franckbohbot.com/parked-cars#e-35 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2019].

Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio. (2019). Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio - Parked cars | 2013-2015. [online] Available at: http://www.franckbohbot.com/parked-cars#e-8 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2019].

Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio. (2019). Franck Bohbot’s Portfolio - Parked cars | 2013-2015. [online] Available at: https://www.franckbohbot.com/6914744-parked-cars#e-24 [Accessed 1 Dec. 2019]

Rosenberg, D., (2015). Being Stuck in Traffic Never Looked So Good. Slate. [Online]. Available at https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/chris-dorley-brown-drivers-in-the-1980s-is-a-look-back-at-london-car-culture-photos.html. [Accessed on 14/01/2020]

Fisher, M., (2014). Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures. John Hunt Publishing (p.21.)

Jones, M., (2016). Angry drivers stuck in London traffic during the Eighties. British GQ. [Online]. Available at https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/drivers-1980s-book-london-hoxton-press. [Accessed on 14/01/2020]

Transport for London, and Matters, E. J., (no date). ULEZ Car and motorcycle scrappage scheme. [Online]. Available at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/car-and-motorcycle-scrappage-scheme. [Accessed on 08/01/2020]

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