#sandy carson

Wonder Wheels

© Sandy Carson

The 2019 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin, Texas

Corndogs, cowboy hats and cheerleaders are not what I remember about Formula 1 through as a wee boy’s distant memories of Scotland in the 70s and 80s. Back then It was just a fizzy drink, crisps from the ice cream van and sat glued to a black n white TV Screen watching Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart rule the tracks in less safe cars back then.

Fast forward a lifetime later and I’m asked to shoot the F1 Grand Prix in 2019 at the Circuit of Americas racetrack in Austin Texas, the only purpose-built track in the States to host F1 and motorsports.

The dream assignment;- be a fly on the wall and do a tour thing following the Haas F1 Team superstars as they prepped in the pits, raced, and mingled with fans in the grandstands. I’ve always meant to check out F1 in my adopted town of Austin but this was my opportunity, or way in to be nosey. I knew it’d be fun to document the F1 madness, especially on Halloween, the city’s biggest holiday where they like to ‘Keep Austin Weird’. I’ve been to COTA to shoot the X games and numerous big concerts and knew fully well this one would bring out all the weirdos and die hard sports fans flying their countries colours as well as their freak flags under one big loud white noise revving weekend.

The whole weekend at F1 was actually a pretty fascinating whirlwind and bizarrely stimulating to photograph, as a cast of extraordinary characters and an international mix of everyday fans and royalty melted together to take in F1 right before a Covid-19 lockdown shut it down for 2020.

Happy New Year, y’all! 

Kicking off 2023 here with a magazine release party and rock show on January 21st at FLATS Houston, TX.

Thrilled to be featured in FLAT FILES Issue 3 release with work from my Passing Place book alongside Kristina Knipe and Bucky Miller. My wife Karen and I’s band SKLOSS are also playing the party with Houston’s Little Outfit. Should be a right good time.

Deep Red Press listed my new photo memoir ‘Passing Place’ in their top 20 books for 2020 along with Marcy Palmer’s new book also on Yoffy Press. Thanks, DRP!

Also an air hug to BOOOOOOOM for the shout out in the 75 for 75 in 2020! 

Hope y’all are having a happy new year and all the best for ‘21.

Last week of pre-orders for my new book ‘PASSING PLACE’

http://www.yoffypress.com/catalog/passing-place

Available November 2020

Photographs by Sandy Carson Introduction by Allan McNaughton Essays by Daniel Kalder and Stephen McLaren

Hardcover, 9 x 6.5 inches 108 pages Edition of 350

ISBN: 978-1-949608-23-6 Trade Edition:  $40.00

Passing Place by Sandy Carson

Passing Place is an intimate portrait of both Sandy Carson’s mother and the ex-mining village he grew up in the West of Scotland after emigrating to America at a young age. This photographic memoir deals with separation, space, and the invisible family bonds that exist despite physical distance incurred by geographical displacement.

The name is inspired by one-lane rural roads with wide spots that are common in Scotland, allowing vehicles to pass each other and continue on their journey.

These photographs and memories made on annual visits home since 2001, are a testimony to Carson’s upbringing and a gentle reminder that absence creates longing and nostalgia across the miles. Carson was drawn to make a record of everyday domestic rituals and routines during the rare times he and his mother spent together, to distill time with her portending passing in 2016.