If there’s one thing about 2021, I’m genuinely proud of my photos I took.
After a miserable 2020, it was great being back on the road on a regular basis.
Not only I’ve had the chance to cover events I’ve wanted to do for a long time, I actually adapted new techniques into my photography.
Room for growth is the greatest tool I’ve tried to use in my media career arsenal.
Compared to the last two installments, it was extremely difficult to narrow down my favorite photos from this year.
Even the events I didn’t have fun or things could’ve been better, I can at least be happy with the ones that look great, look great.
If you haven’t seen my favorite photos from 2019 and 2020, you can click on those years and check them out.
Before jumping to my personal favorite photos, here’s five that didn’t make my final list but still deserve some love.

From Left to Right: Joey Iest, Trevor Huddleston, Jake Drew, PJ Pedroncelli, Jesse Love, Cole Moore and Todd Souza
Fortunately, that was done at Phoenix Raceway and happy to snap this one with just the drivers. They brought in a couple ARCA people for the main shot moments after, but I also got this to clamor on.




Without further ado, here’s my 25 favorite photos and the stories behind each of them.
The Surprise Dance

Florida Takeoff

Race Day Cheer

Joke aside, the pre-race festivities at Indianapolis is very unique. Purdue had the band and spirit squad at full swing in the 105th Indianapolis 500.
In this particular shot, you’ll see the spirit squad have multiple groups leading a marching line on the front stretch. I may have finished college half a decade ago, but the school spirit lives on.
Going for a Fancier Route

It’s not an easy task, but when it comes out sharp, I smile with ease. Only thing I’d wish it would’ve been better was Rosenqvist’s ARROW McLaren SP being in the middle. I’ll hone my craft in that regard eventually.
Northwest Agony

Jesse Love looks at the podium stage where Gray celebrate with disappointment. When I made this photo black and white, it added more depth into the emotions the younger drivers go through. Love would ultimately win his second straight title two months later.
One Coast to Another

This is the kind of content I want to create more in the future, showing someone’s personality. In this case, her Miata being a part of who she is.
Late Arrival Was A Sign

What happened to their main hauler was their driver ran over a deer carcass in Texas. The hauler arrived the following morning.
At that point, Hemric’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing crew pulled out the car with only a few reporters out there at hand. The lighting was simply beautiful and happy how it came out. To me, this was the big story of the weekend.
Modified Relaxation

SpeedWorld Energy

Championship Views

Eyes on Making the Field

For Dalton Kellett, you can see the sheer preparedness as his shot of making the 500 was several minutes away. He’d make the Indy 500 grid after going 30th fastest out of the 33 that made the cut.
Spring Glamour

Sour Grapes

While it wasn’t ideal for Love bringing back a wrecked Toyota, he would return towards the end of the session. His race didn’t go too well, so safe to say it was a day to forget.
Sadness Looms New Smyrna

That’s because the night before, the track lost Rusty Crews. Before Night No. 3 of the World Series of Asphalt commenced, the track held a moment of silence for Crews.
There’s a saying where the short track racing community are a tight nit family. This moment is when it really hit me how true the statement is. While I got a long ways to go of building a name in the world of racing, I can at least appreciate the bond people have for one another.
Group Nonsense

Before we got the entire ARCA West field to get a photo with Julie Giese, I captured different photos of the drivers interacting with one another. This one is as out of context as it can get.
You have Drew Dollar raising his finger like he won the race. Then you see Ty Gibbs with a sling on his left arm smiling at someone while Toni Breidinger isn’t amused at something. Sebastian Arias presumably is looking at them. Hard to explain out context shit, but it’s funny looking back.
Vision Magic

Kiss the Golden Dirt

As the sun was going down on a February evening at Volusia Speedway Park, Sheldon Haudenschild made his qualifying run. I don’t get many chances to shoot golden hour because a lot of the races I cover are in the day.
Needless to say, more golden hour shots will be awesome. Time will tell when my next event will have such luxury. Same applies with dirt racing because it’s real fun to shoot.
Bay Area Miracle

At Rincon Park, where there’s a Hills Bros. Coffee building nearby, what I was intending to do here was capture this shot but without the bird. I noticed it and thought, ‘Get that instead!’ It went away, but another one arrived a few minutes later and was ready to capture a photo.
Problem with my camera sometimes is if my subject will be focused on blurred. Thank goodness, the bird was focused and became a no brainer this would make my favorite images of 2021.
The Only Positive Moment

That’s because of how awesome that moment was of Lane Sundholm winning the 40-lap Mini Stock race at Evergreen Speedway. This wasn’t even the main show, yet it felt like one when Sundholm noticed me here. Amazing celebratory shot that I thought would be hard to beat.
Hard Work Pays Off

The only thing negative was the confetti not blasting off properly. It was a cloudy and windy Sunday afternoon in SoCal, but that shit didn’t matter. This image of Palou kissing the Astor Challenge Cup is all you need to tell a story. I also dig how you can see his No. 10 NTT Data Honda in the trophy.
Summer Domination

Unexpected Moment

Part of the assignment was capturing photos of Kellett’s engagement toast in the middle of an IMSA race. Foyt made a rare paddock appearance, especially on the West Coast. I tried not to be seen, but as you see, it didn’t work out. I like to be on the low for those things, but it was worth it just for this moment.
End of an Era

Little did I knew, both would pass away and left a huge void in the world of racing. Along with the passing of Al Unser, who was also at the Media Center that day, I stand that the 105th Indy 500 was the end of an era. We’ve lost many greats in American Open Wheel Racing this year. But the impact both Jenkins and Miller left will never be forgotten and are sorely missed.
Indy Stretch

What made it even sweeter was this image people really loved and even became a shirt. Michael Shank’s stretch game is strong as the gap between those walls must be challenging. It was no question, my all-time favorite image. That was until early August.
Three Wheelin’ It

Colton Herta up to that point ruled the streets. So much so, he was even conquering it on three wheels. Herta would crash late in the race while hunting down Marcus Ericsson, so the dream week had a crushing ending.
This is the kind of stuff that magazines should fight for as far as using my works. It’s the kind of stuff you see in sports cars as to how in-depth it looks. I simply don’t know how any of my photos going forward can top this, but a challenge worth fighting for.
Do I think about it? No. I just hope for the best and see if it’s strong imagery. I take it that way which is a healthier route.
Time will tell how my future will look like, especially in 2022. But as long as I have a camera in my hand, stories will be told.
If somehow I can top 2021 in the next five years, I’ll consider it as an accomplishment.
For now, hope you’ve enjoyed my works and it can lead to even more opportunities to keep my career running.
Those who are still with me or yet to recognize what I bring to the table, I thank you. You’re the fuel to my fire that keeps me motivated.
Until we meet again, doubt me if you insist, prove me wrong if I give consent.