The Future is Here!
It all started with my friend Evan Yesmentas, who introduced me to Greg Ward, the owner of Greg's Restoration in Rutland, MA. Evan had mentioned a stunning Volvo TP21 lifted truck he saw on Facebook, and we both agreed we had to see it in person. With Rutland being just a short drive away, we set off on our adventure. Upon arriving at Greg's shop, we were warmly greeted by Greg himself. Evan, always generous with his compliments about my photography, shared his thoughts as we chatted with Greg. Greg then gave us a tour of his facilities, where we were amazed to see the Toyota Pickup from the movie "Back to the Future 2" that Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly drives. This truck, painted orange by a previous owner who was a Denver Broncos fan, had quite an adventurous history - stolen twice and even recovered in Mexico. We continued our conversations, and Greg expressed interest in my photography. We arranged for a photo session at the owner Bill Shea's place, setting the stage for an exciting collaboration.
Before the shoot, I realized I needed a deeper understanding and exposure to the Back to the Future series. While I had seen the movie when I was around 11 or 12, my memory of it was faint. I needed more than just a vague recollection. Luckily, my brother-in-law Andrew Lull was the ultimate authority on all things BTTF. He had watched the movies over 800 times and could recite lines, sounds, and scenes from memory. Andrew became my guide through the films, coming over a few times as we watched each one carefully. During these viewings, he shared fascinating facts about the scenes, pointed out important parts, and highlighted recurring themes throughout the series. Andrew's wealth of knowledge about these cult films was truly impressive, and his insights prepared me well for the upcoming photo session.
The day Andrew came over, his excitement was palpable. When we arrived at Bill Shea's house, Andrew was in his element. Surprisingly, my favorite moment from the entire night's shoot wasn't any of the stunning photographs I captured. Instead, it was witnessing the genuine happiness that radiated from Andrew's face. His reaction to the entire night was pure joy, but the peak of his excitement came when he was able to turn on the Time Circuits. Sitting in the driver's seat, he glanced back at the Flux Capacitor and then forward with a wide smile, saying, "Fluxing." It was a moment of sheer delight for him, and that energy carried him through the rest of the day. I'm sure he's still on cloud nine as October 21 arrives.
Bill and his son Patrick Shea went above and beyond for us during the shoot. Not only did they make time for us, but they also extended their hospitality to my family, allowing them to see the memorabilia and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Their generosity and kindness added an extra layer of magic to the entire day.
