Photo Diary: Chopped 2022

Photos and words: Morgan Rudolph // IG: @mqrgs

The dissonant cry of wide-open throttles and screeching tyres rang in the first weekend of summer in Carisbrook, Victoria. Best described as a rusty hook baited with drag racing, paddock bashing and live music to the tune of Amyl and the Sniffers, Andy Golledge, C.O.F.F.I.N and Grindhouse —Chopped was not only back, but firing on all cylinders.

Begrimed with the stick of motor oil, sweat and dry grass, I set about documenting the revelry on my Mamiya 645 1000S coupled with Kodak T-Max 100, a no-brainer for shooting in harsh midday light. Something can be said for the way traditional hot rods, customs and choppers from the 1960s and 1970s render through glass of the same period — as if looking into the rearview mirror. Take a peek for yourself.

Between frames, I jumped behind the wheel, pitting myself against my good mate Jack. Having only recently built new inline six-cylinder engines for our old Holdens begged the question — whose car is the fastest? Despite the handicap (one less carburettor and a stock three-speed transmission), I took both wins and with it eternal glory.

Images developed and scanned by Work in Process.

Check out more of Morgan's work, here.