Photographer Simon Davidson has built a career out of photographing Australia's unique custom car culture.
Photographer Simon Davidson has built a career out of photographing Australia's unique custom car culture.
Simon Davidson
The country's vast open spaces and strong domestic manufacturing industry helped fuel a love of fast, modified cars among many Australians, especially those who live in rural areas.
The country's vast open spaces and strong domestic manufacturing industry helped fuel a love of fast, modified cars among many Australians, especially those who live in rural areas.
Simon Davidson
"I go searching for the snippets of peacefulness in these photographs and I try and rip everything else away and show you something that is quiet and serene," says Davidson of his work.
"I go searching for the snippets of peacefulness in these photographs and I try and rip everything else away and show you something that is quiet and serene," says Davidson of his work.
Simon Davidson
Originally a fashion photographer, Davidson says people often question why he now focuses on things like muscle cars and hot rods, which seem so violent.
Originally a fashion photographer, Davidson says people often question why he now focuses on things like muscle cars and hot rods, which seem so violent.
Simon Davidson
But he says the cars -- and the people involved in the industry -- make beautiful muses.
But he says the cars -- and the people involved in the industry -- make beautiful muses.
simon davidson
"What drew me in was the blind passion of people, that someone would risk so much financially or socially...because it takes so much time to build a car or to have a past time that would soak up so much time."
"What drew me in was the blind passion of people, that someone would risk so much financially or socially...because it takes so much time to build a car or to have a past time that would soak up so much time."
Simon Davidson
Davidson now focuses on land speed racing, which he says is very "zen." "It's the most surreal environment you can be in. It's like a meditation with people trying to go really, really fast in these beautiful cars steeped in history."
Davidson now focuses on land speed racing, which he says is very "zen." "It's the most surreal environment you can be in. It's like a meditation with people trying to go really, really fast in these beautiful cars steeped in history."
simon davidson
He is also famous for his series of photos of Australian burnouts -- which is when a stationery car spins its wheels so fast that the tires heat up and create smoke.
He is also famous for his series of photos of Australian burnouts -- which is when a stationery car spins its wheels so fast that the tires heat up and create smoke.
Simon Davidson
There are entire car events held in Australia around burnouts.
There are entire car events held in Australia around burnouts.
simon davidson
Davidson says he takes special precautions, like wearing hearing protection and a respiratory mask, when shooting in these environments.
Davidson says he takes special precautions, like wearing hearing protection and a respiratory mask, when shooting in these environments.
simon davidson
A burnout usually only lasts from 60 to 90 seconds but by the time it's over the car's tires -- and sometimes even its engine -- have been destroyed in the process.
A burnout usually only lasts from 60 to 90 seconds but by the time it's over the car's tires -- and sometimes even its engine -- have been destroyed in the process.
Simon Davidson
A lot of thought and creativity goes into creating such beautiful custom cars, according to Davidson.
A lot of thought and creativity goes into creating such beautiful custom cars, according to Davidson.
Simon Davidson
He says people will spend months working to get the design of their car perfect, from the shape of the vehicle to its paint work.
He says people will spend months working to get the design of their car perfect, from the shape of the vehicle to its paint work.
simon davidson
"When something is designed really well, there's a sense of harmony and balance. It's like a perfect song or the right tone, and it's the same with the lines on a car," Davidson says of the unique artwork on the vehicles.
"When something is designed really well, there's a sense of harmony and balance. It's like a perfect song or the right tone, and it's the same with the lines on a car," Davidson says of the unique artwork on the vehicles.
Simon Davidson
Davidson's photos display the same harmony, capturing beauty among the noisy, testosterone-fueled world he covers.
Davidson's photos display the same harmony, capturing beauty among the noisy, testosterone-fueled world he covers.
Simon Davidson
"I'm lucky to have a back catalogue of images taken over the last 13 years of Australian car culture... it's a portrait of time," says Davidson.
"I'm lucky to have a back catalogue of images taken over the last 13 years of Australian car culture... it's a portrait of time," says Davidson.
Simon Davidson