Topic: Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi"

[02Pilot]

I recently had the opportunity to photograph one of the most beautiful, most elusive cars in the world: the one-off custom-bodied 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK known as the "Count Trossi," currently owned by Ralph Lauren and rarely shown publicly. It was at the Lime Rock Historics, where it won Best in Show. It being a heavily-attended public event (1,200 cars on display, and who knows how many people), I had to work around the crowds, which wasn't ideal, but I was able to get some decent shots nonetheless. I was shooting Ektar in my Rolleiflex, a camera made only three years after the car, and which got quite a bit of attention at the event - no small thing, considering the cars on show.

More information on the car is here: http://paulrussell.com/rPortfolio/mercedes-benz/30_SSK/

And a bit on car at the Lime Rock show: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/09/08/count-trossi-mercedes-benz-ssk-wins-best-of-show-at-lime-rock-park/

[Peter84]

really nice photos!!! What film did you use? 5th picture is stunning! The car has got a bat mobile thing going on with those long rear wings

[02Pilot]

Thanks - it's a pretty stunning car. The photos are shot on Ektar, which I find works particularly well through the uncoated lens on the pre-war Rolleiflex - something about the combination that produces colors I never see with other lenses.

[vintagesnaps]

I like the perspective in these, particularly the first and last. Cool looking car, you got some really nice photos of it - great color.

[02Pilot]

Thanks. I'd like to take credit for the perspective, but the truth of it is that I have found I'm forced to shoot low on cars at shows or I'm stuck with a bunch of people and other distractions in the frame. It's bad enough there are some in the reflections, but I did all I could to isolate the car, given the circumstances.

[TheBirdmanJD]

Shooting at shows is always hard...sometimes I try to use the people other times I sit and wait, and wait, and wait...lol

I really like the last shot. That car is all about the curves, and that shot really makes them shine.