A race fan since childhood, attending dirt track races with his father in Michigan, Alan became even more of an enthusiast after witnessing legendary drivers such as Clark, Hill, Bandini, Stewart and Gurney at the Formula 1 race at Watkins Glen NY, and the 12 hour endurance race at Sebring, Florida in the mid 60's.

For over four years in the mid 70's, Alan studied art photography under nationally known photographer Tom Knight at Humboldt State University in Northern California. He worked as a darkroom lab assistant at the university, and had work exhibited in national student shows, including "First Light" at the prestigious Focus Gallery in San Francisco in 1974.

With this collection of auto racing and classic car imagery, Alan brings a more abstract and sensual visual interpretation of the genre than the typical "decisive moment" school of racing photography. He entitles the series "AutoRotica"TM to evoke the passion a true enthusiast feels for the thrill of speed and danger inherent in the blend of man and exotic machine. Alan uses a similar philosophy, scanning into the computer his original photos and manipulating them to create new and exciting effects using the latest digital technology... effects not formerly available in the darkroom environment. Alan also accepts individual commissions to do a unique treatment for private owners.

Alan Olmstead currently owns and operates Sirius Studios, an advertising agency and production studio in Eureka, California, since 1979. www.sirius-studios.com