It was absolutely astonishing to be able to shoot an event that was so stunningly thought out that almost every view felt like looking at art.  The first east coast Luftgekuhlt event did not disappoint, bringing to Durham, NC everything they have a reputation for. The show, focused on air cooled Porsches, is known for bringing out rare and once-in-a-lifetime cars steeped in history and racing pedigree and then displaying those cars in places that make it feel like a museum, which exactly what Luftgekuhlt 11 accomplished.

The American Tobacco Campus was the perfect location for this event, providing history of it’s own as well as lovely green spaces, wood floors that creaked with stories of their own and brick walls that felt as if they had stood the test of time and lived to tell the tale. The campus allowed for great use of all of the outdoor spaces with Porsches parked along sidewalks, on turf tucked in among planters, along the water and covering the streets with cars representing every era of air cooled Porsche, including examples from bespoke restomod companies like Gunther Werks and Singer. Moreover, the campus also allowed for some stunning indoor displays with cars nestled in neatly between stairwells, in transition spaces and lobbies of buildings, some with lighting that made it feel as though the cars were sculptures crafted out of marble by masters of bygone eras, displayed for marveling and studying.

While we didn’t get approved for the media-only hour from 7-8am, we did splurge on the tickets for early entry, granting us time from 8-10 before general admission opened up, and I am so grateful we chose those tickets as it let me get some photos that would have been nearly impossible with the full crowd. We arrived early, around 630, as we were traveling with another photographer who was approved for media, so we spent the hour between 7-8 wandering the areas that weren’t closed off, including some time spent walking the parking deck which resulted in photos that may be among my favorites from the event. The sun was still creeping into the sky and while the energy was humming at a quiet level, the event still felt as though it was just beginning to awaken as vendors, staff and media milled about.

After we entered you could feel the energy building as more and more spectators continued to arrive, taking in the variety of eye candy supplied at every corner. I attempted to get as many photos as I could without a large crowd to contend with, but even with 2 hours to explore with the early entry folks I still didn’t have enough time to see and shoot everything. By the time 10 rolled around and the general admission spectators began filing in you could feel the buzz build in the air, dense and palpable, and the energy stayed infectious through the entirety of the event, with many exclamations of the same thought I’d had a few times myself- ‘there’s more over here!’. While it felt as if the displays were unending it never felt as if it was too much or as if any ounce of quality ever wavered. It was obvious how much thought was placed into choosing every car, each display and how the areas flowed from one to the other.

I can’t speak for Luftgekuhlt 1-10, but 11 was astonishing and a show I will remember for years to come. From perfect weather to beautifully framed displays, Luft delivered above and beyond my hopes and expectations. I hope to see more east coast events from them in the future. This is absolutely worth the drive, the sore feet and the daunting task of choosing favorite photos from- a task that I’m not sure I’ll ever fully complete.