Print edition: 
Here's a deep, dark secret shared by most car guys and gals. They may be able to design, build and finish amazing looking cars, but when it comes time to photograph them, their skills leave something to be desired.
That's where folks like Travis Scanlan and Martin Libhart, both car guys themselves, can provide an invaluable service. With their skills and high-end equipment, they can ensure that the photographic renderings of your pride and joy capture the true essence of your ride. And for those of us who can't make it to as many car shows as we would like, Scanlan can keep us up to date with more than 22,000 car show images on his website, www.royboyproductions.com.
Here's a quick rundown on each of their auto photography careers, starting with Libhart, a Wichitan. Trained as an architect, he worked in that field for about 15 years, opening a small architectural photography business in the process. He then switched career paths, logging 23 years as an educator with the Wichita public schools system, even serving for a time as interim superintendent of schools.
"With my retirement (earlier this year), I have resurrected that (photo) business, with several new areas of emphasis — including photography of street rods, customs, muscle cars and drag racing," Libhart said.
"As a kid in Newton, my dad's business was located next door to 'Kansas' John Wiebe's gas station, where John also built and maintained his AA fuel dragster. Drag racing fans will remember Wiebe's successful career — particularly in the 70s as he competed nationally with considerable success. Hours of hanging out as a teen and watching John work on his car established my life-long love of drag racing."
He attends numerous nostalgia racing events each year and produces art-quality images of custom cars and street rods for their proud owners. He also owns a small fleet of collectible cars himself, including a '66 Mustang GT coupe, a '74 big block Corvette with only 36,000 miles on it, a restored 1972 MGB GT and an original 1977 MGB roadster.
To view more of Libhart's work, go to: www.mlibhart.zenfolio.com.
Scanlan, who is nowhere near retirement, lives in the tiny town of Gypsum and owns a slick white 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 fastback.
He began by taking photos at car shows using Kodak disposable cameras. "I was ecstatic to finally get my first digital camera. The first time I took it to a car show was in Lawrence in 2006," he said.
Some of the 200 photos he shot that day led to lasting friendships with car owners and helped inspire him in 2009 to build his free website where he shares his ever-growing collection of photos.
Viewers can buy downloadable photos, prints, posters, complete books of photos and even calendars. The proceeds of calendar sales go to various children's charities.
"The goal of RBP is to bring the absolute best show coverage that I can to the world so that those that couldn't make it can see what they missed, those that were there can share the show with others, and so that we have some kind of record of the cars and amazing people that build and own them," Scanlan said. "In the near future I hope to include a lot more video coverage."
