Randy Erdman joined the Mecca of Speed in 2008 as a photographer/writer. The following is a looking into the man behind the work.

Mecca of Speed: When did you know photography was more then a hobby?

Randy Erdman: When I started a savings account for more lenses and camera equipment.

Mecca of Speed: How long have you been shooting motorsports?

Randy Erdman: I started shooting late model stock cars at some of the local tracks in Central Wisconsin around 1991.  Back then I was shooting with a  Pentax K1000 film camera and manual focus lense.  In 1996 I visited Road America for the first time, and after that I have been focusing all my efforts on Road Racing.

Mecca of Speed: What other work do you do outside of motorsports?

Randy Erdman: I have used many of my landscape and travel photos for presentations in my classroom at the school that I teach at.  Some of my other work includes family photographs for friends, yearbook and school dances, and some aerial photography for farm owners in Central Wisconsin.

Mecca of Speed: Who or what influences your work?

Randy Erdman: I never took any classes or workshops about photography.  I look at pictures on the Internet all the time, but I do not really have anyone I would call an influence. 

I have my own style, which has changed over time.  I like to show the speed of cars, so lot of my images involve panning.  During some of the photo meetings I look at images taken by series photographers like Richard Prince, and John Thawley. I try to get an idea of how they are creating some of their images.  I hope some day to reach the level they have achieved.

Mecca of Speed: How would you describe you style of work?

Randy Erdman: Functional, creative, evolving.  I have learned more by just trying new things with the camera.  Night racing photos from the ALMS race last year were panned by using headlights as a reference. I also tried a lens that I had never used before at night.  I was shocked when I downloaded them that night.  I think I have my own style, hopefully others will find it acceptable.

Mecca of Speed: What have you discovered covering motorsprots that may differ than that of a spectator point of view?

Randy Erdman: When you go to cover of a race weekend, you have to plan what you are going to do for that day.  If you are writing an article and interviewing someone for a story, you have to coordinate around their schedule and their track activity.  You also need to plan on what general areas you are going to shoot at before sessions start. It is too tough to switch areas once a sessions start.  Sometimes I miss sitting in a lawn chair with a beverage watching the cars coming out of the corners.

Mecca of Speed: What are some of the obstacles you have had to overcome as a photographer?

Randy Erdman: Being aware of your surroundings and keeping an eye on what is going on during each track sessions.  Photographers sometimes overlook safety, and flying metals at 180 mph tends to leave a scar behind.  Planning on where to stand to get the shot, as well as having a plan should something go wrong on track is important to me.  Getting many different good quality shots was an obstacle when I first started. Now if I shoot 700 images in a weekend, I usually find what I want.  When I started with film, I was more conservative; now with digital I have a lot more freedom.

Mecca of Speed: Do you have any interesting stories from your experiences at an event?

Randy Erdman: I told a spectator that Bob Uecker was dressed as the Michelin man in victory lane and many people followed him into the paddock until he removed his suit.  I found it humorous at the time.

Mecca of Speed: What do you look for in a subject, either for photography or an interview?

Randy Erdman: Something that is unique, with some history behind it.

Mecca of Speed: What are some subjects you have not yet photographed but are a personal or professional goal?

I want to photograph the Winter X games snow cross and snowboarding half pipe events. City skyline panoramic images are another area I would like to explore.