Automotive Photographer Profile: Torque Media

We stole five minutes of Scott Durnell's time to chat about his passion for photography, his tips for beginners and what he’s got lurking in his garage at home.

Name: Scott Durnell
Business Name: Torque Media

How long have you been shooting?
I did film photography in university and kind of gave it up for a bit over five years or so. Then, ten years ago I picked up a camera again for the first time and registered the ‘Torque Media’ business name. It’ll be ten years in November this year (2023).

What do you shoot on?
I was shooting on a Canon DSLR body for a long time but I changed to Sony a few years ago, and I’m currently shooting on a Sony A7 Mark IV. It’s nice and light and it’s really fast - I can’t imagine all those guys still running around the track all day with two full-body DSLR cameras slung over their shoulders! A bit benefit of the Sony is that it’s mirrorless, compared to a DSLR so for stuff like drag racing and burnouts, I’d say the mirrorless is a winner.

What’s your favourite car show to photograph?
Brashernats! It’s an epic one day thing - it’s a long day and it’s chaos, but the calibre of cars and people make it so special. It’s like catching up with family.

Your burnout photography is quite prolific. What would you say is the hardest part about shooting a burnout event?
Constantly changing light is always a hassle. The smoke comes around or the sun is dropping - the photos change so dramatically throughout the day. And then there’s getting hit in the face with debris!

How does the camera hold up to being pad-side?
I go through a deep clean on the gear after every event. They get the odd scratch or dent but they hold up pretty well. Put it this way - there’s a reason I don’t have any white-bodied lenses!

People probably just see the finished product, but how long can you spend editing photos after an event before you feel they’re ready to post?
I feel like I’m pretty quick at editing individual photos. If there’s a hero shot from an event like Brashernats or Summernats I’ll always rush off and edit that to get it online in the middle of the event! The rest of the gallery can take a few days, though.

What’s your number one tip for someone keen to get in to photography?
Practice. Everyone talks about the gear but you’ve got to be practicing. The other thing I’d say is that the body (of the camera) itself doesn’t matter so much; Invest in your lenses as that's where the image quality comes from.

You’re a car guy too, what’s in your shed?
I’ve still got my VE wagon that I’ve built up over years, but that’s going to a new owner in a few weeks. My new project is a 1980 Chevy C10 that we’ll be building in to my ultimate streeter - bagged, bodied, 22s, LS swap, interior, paint. The whole works!

We want to thank Scott for his time. If you see him out on the pad be sure to give him a wave - and most certainly check out his work.

Torque Media Socials:

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