Business Takes Place At The Track

That’s what I was told a few weeks back on a sunny Saturday afternoon as I watched Justin Wilson’s #22 Indy Car speed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What does a motorsports marketing company do when it needs original and creative art photography? It buys Schackmuth Art Photography! Avocado Motorsports Marketing’s Managing Director, Chris McGrath, was having a great time at the annual fund raiser for our local church last month when he spotted Speed Racer. What he didn’t know, while bidding on my limited edition print, was where the business relationship would eventually go.

Call it karma, Grace of God, or pure luck - but in the end, I had no Idea Chris was into motorsports and Chris had no idea what I could do with the camera and the digital darkroom. After a follow up e-mail and a few phone conversations, my son/co-photographer William and I were enjoying an afternoon in their corporate hospitality suite at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, working with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Team. After a few simple questions from Chris and his partner Brent Cox; what are you looking to shoot, how can we position the car best for you, and what are your long term goals, we were off to pits like a burst of light.


What Avocado AMR liked most about us was the ability to hand off the the creative portion of the photo shoot along with our attention to detail. The results were remarkable as you can see on our website. As we grow with Chris and Brent we hope to work with other cars on the Dreyer & Reinbold Team to create original branding around their whole team.

For more information on Avocado AMR or Schackmuth Art Photography, visit our websites or email me directly at jonschackmuth@gmail.com

First Friday Artist Reception – Jon Schackmuth Exhibits New Work

During an artist reception on First Friday, April 2nd from 6 to 9 p.m. at Midland Arts & Antiques on Gradle Drive in the Carmel Art and Design District, off Carmel Drive, artist Jon Schackmuth will be available to discuss his new work from the series, “autoworks.” Featuring fifteen art photography pieces, the exhibit runs through April 31.
Schackmuth is excited to be creating original art photography after several years of being on sabbatical. If you experienced his work in the past, you may have eaten at one of his cross vault dinning tables or placed your phone on a three hundred pound cast iron and cherry cantilevered phone table. Schackmuth trained under one of the country’s top furniture artists, Steve Whittlesey, at UMASS Dartmouth. National magazines have published Schackmuth’s unique sculptures; he has also been a guest designer on HGTV Canada in the past. Schackmuth enters the world of art photography with an exciting and fresh view and he has been busy making the transition from furniture art to art photograph - but make no mistake, his eye for high design is ever present in this latest show.
“It’s a new chapter in my life and I’m excited to be expressing it through photography. I’m thankful that Midland is giving me the opportunity to re-launch my art career; they have been a joy to work with. Art photography gives me a medium that is more fluid than furniture and can reach a greater audience – I believe “autoworks” will speak to many viewers.

For additional information call Midland Arts & Antiques at (317) 569-9105 or visit wscottphotography.com
or schackmuth.com
Midland Arts & Antiques
488 Gradle Drive
Carmel, IN 46032
(317) 569-9105
Monday through Saturday-10a. to 6p.
Sunday-Noon to 5p.

Art Photography

What one person calls art, others would not use as fish wrappings? What do you think, is photography art?


Critics, historians, and the average Joe’s across the country will differ on this subject. “How do you call that Kodak trash - Art?” I turn with a curt response, “it is not Kodak trash, I used a Canon……….40D” – my response coming in a British accent. When I know I’m up against a really smart, artsy frartsy aficionado, I pull out the big gun – I shoot a classic Hassy 503cw. My son prefers the new age high res digital gear, you know kids now-a-days. Silence ensues.


Back to the darkroom - When I am done with the original shoot, I rarely use the pure negative and go straight to print. I tend to take my vision, the original photograph, and create a completely different image from where it started. I tweak, filter, and layer the photograph much like a painter works a canvas until it’s - fini – sometimes it’s hard to stop, but that’s where the little voice steps in and tells me to stop, that's where the art in artist is inserted.


If you have any thoughts on the subject please leave a response, visit our website, and the websites of the photographers we listed in the “Our Profile”.

Jon Schackmuth