Covering the Car Show

There’s an English-language magazine in Medellin. How perfect is that? Previously called The Arepa (a thick, regional tortilla made of corn dough –OR– that thing I have for breakfast everyday), the magazine is now called Jack. Robin, the editor, is pushing for more national appeal, hence the relaunch. I met someone who knew Robin at a party (hi Lori!) and she gave me his contact info (thanks Lori!). Turns out we live a block away from each other. How I missed another 6’4″ gringo is beyond me, but there you have it. After some coffee and an introduction, Robin asked if I wanted to accompany him to the opening night of an auto show. He landed me a press pass and off we went. I brought a camera, a notebook, and a couple days later I churned out a story (full text at bottom of post).

Photography sidebar: it’s not terribly easy to take pictures of cars, especially not in a large, crowded exhibition hall. The light was glaring — industrial-strength fluorescent bulbs that either washed out color or over-saturated it, depending on the angle. What’s more, it’s generally tough to make a car look like it’s supposed to look, which is “in motion.” Mostly you get shots that look static and uninspiring. Adding to the problem is that I’m not traveling with a wide angle lens, meaning that with my 50mm, I needed some distance between the cars and the camera to get everything in frame. With a huge crowd milling around, this was difficult.

Still, I think I nabbed some decent shots. After cherry-picking the best of them, then editing, I was happy with the results. Just goes to show, when you’re shooting for an assignment, especially in this age of cheap digital memory, take LOTS OF PHOTOS! Try to make them all keepers, but don’t be disappointed when, inevitably, many of them aren’t.

Camera: Lumix GH-1

Lens: Yashinon 50mm f1.8

ARTICLE, Jack, 8/27/2011: http://www.jackmag.com.co/articles/expomotriz/

“Car Culture Revs up in Medellin”

Text and Photography: Greg Nichols

Filling the chic, cavernous interior of the Palacio de Exposiciones, the sixth edition of the Expomotriz auto show was a glossy showcase of mobility and style. With a quick gander at the massive feria one can discern that Medellín in the 21st century is all about sustainability, a rising middle class, and, of course, motorcycles.

One of the more unique exhibits this year is a line of electric bicycles built by Australian company Envirotech. The bikes are capable of reaching 80 kilometers per hour and recharge in just two hours. With Medellin’s population booming—3.8 million in the metro area—pollution and quality of life issues related to car travel are palpable concerns. Following a government push to install bike paths and promote Sunday rides on closed city streets, Envirotech is betting that Medellín’s burgeoning bike culture may be the answer to nagging gridlock and worsening air quality.

For European and North American auto aficionados, the biggest surprise at Expomotriz might be the brand presence of familiar auto companies. With the economy-range well represented by trusted favorites like Kia and Renault, this year showcased a handful of premium brands—BMW, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Alfa Romeo, Volvo—virtually unseen in Medellín five years ago.

And it’s little surprise; Medellín has long had the ingredients for a healthy middle class: strong technical infrastructure, skilled labor pool, low cost of living, world-class health care. With companies like Hewlett-Packard putting down stakes in Medellin and a bevy of large public works projects generating an increase in jobs, a fledgling middle class is starting to buy the kinds of big ticket luxuries that were once non-existent in Antioquia’s mountain capital.

Ever wonder when people are finally going to get tired of the death-defying lane changes and comical disregard for highway safety that accompany motorcycling in Medellín? The short answer: no time soon. Medellín is a motorcycle city. Pulsar’s still dominate, but brands like AKT, Suzuki, and a swath of smaller Chinese brands are gaining ground.

Expomotriz is an annual event held every August in Medellin, Colombia.