Long Story Short. (Click for bigger. © William Anthony)

In case you didn’t know, the current World Soapbox Derby Champion is from right here in Rose City. I was asked by Portland Monthly to get a portrait of Tucker McClaran, the 14 year old who recently won the sport’s highest honor. Design Director Jason Blackheart and I brainstormed on a few concepts including a hero shot at Mt. Tabor’s soapbox derby track as well as photographing her in the driveway of their SE Portland home, the family subbing as a pit crew. The long shot, blue-sky concept I had was to shoot her in a wind-tunnel. But where does one find a wind tunnel? Much less one we can take over for a few hours for a photoshoot? Well, there just so happens to be one in Portland! (Thank you Google!)

A few years back, a state-of-the-art wind tunnel was built by Daimler Trucks North America on Swan Island. I called up their media department and much to my relief, their Internal Communications Manager, David Wiederrich, was all-in. Correction, he was ecstatic over the idea. We talked scheduling and load-in info and before long, we had a date with a wind tunnel. 

I called Tucker’s Dad to set up a time for the shoot. Lo and behold, Tucker’s Dad is the seasoned and talented editorial photographer Robbie McClaran.

No pressure. 

Dad polishing Blue Meanie inside the massive Daimler Trucks
of North America Wind Tunnel.
(Click for bigger. © William Anthony)

We ended up shooting for nearly two hours. Which is amazing when you consider how busy this test tunnel is. We were very thankful for the time and assistance from the staff at Daimler Trucks North America. And judging by all the smiles and laughter that day, I suspect they enjoyed the break from testing fairings and truck mirrors, if only for a few hours. 

And of course Tucker was, like her new title, a total champ. We ended up using a shot of her proudly standing next to Blue Meanie with the honeycomb intake grid of the wind tunnel behind her. (See above.) It all worked out great. 

The magazine is on stands now.

Tucker and Blue Meanie. (Click for bigger. © William Anthony)

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Credits:

Client: Portland Monthly

Art Director: Jason Blackheart

Production Manager: Pamela Sunnarborg

Special thanks to:

David Wiederrich, Daimler Trucks North America

Robbie McClaren & Lydia Hess, parents/coaches 

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