Through Dad's lens

Through Dad's lensThrough the Lens of Legacy: The 911 Carrera S The Porsche 911 Carerra S shone under the Oak trees. The shadows of their branches tell stories in their reflections. I set up my Graflex Super D camerathe one Ed, my husband, bought for mewith my 1800s Petzval lens attached and lined up the shot, capturing her details onto the film. In the darkroom, I hand developed the negatives, the car taking shape in shades of gray. It isnt just a carit is a link. Dad

Through the Lens of Legacy: The 911 Carrera S

The Porsche 911 Carerra S shone under the Oak trees. The shadows of their branches tell stories in their reflections. I set up my Graflex Super D camera—the one Ed, my husband, bought for me—with my 1800s  Petzval lens attached and lined up the shot, capturing her details onto the film. In the darkroom, I hand-developed the negatives, the car taking shape in shades of gray. It isn’t just a car—it is a link.

Dad was a Porsche lover and a photographer. He owned so many Porsches, and his camera was always with him. He’d drive us (my sister and me) in his 911s and other exotic cars and photograph us playing next to them. He taught me how to see the world through his lens, and that stuck with me, even after he was gone.

I married Ed, a Porsche lover too. When he gave me the Graflex, it felt like a nod to Dad. With his 911 Carrera S, I’d tied them together—Dad’s lessons, Ed’s gift, my hands. The photos I developed aren’t just of a car; they are a piece of Dad’s eye, Ed’s heart, and my past, all rolled into one.

Erika Masterson Photographic Artist 2025