Rick Cline
When I entered the creative world of photography, auto-focus, and digital were unheard of; everyone was using 35 mm film, and struggling with manual-focus cameras. Some 23-years later, I made the transition into professional, digital capture.
A native Californian, my first experience in photography came at a young age, using an antiquated 8 mm movie-film camera while in the sport of surfing. My introduction to drag racing came around 1963, as an impressionable pre-teen, at Lions Drag Strip (NHRA) in Wilmington, California. Once I obtained a car to drive, I found my way back to the drag strip and boldly entered my ’55 Chevy, racing at OCIR, Orange County International Raceway, in Irvine, California.
Above: Lions Drag Strip, Wilmington, California.
Raised in a power-boat family, it seemed second-nature to take interest in boat racing. Outfitted with newer Canon 35 mm camera gear, I attended my first race in 1981, the NDBA (National Drag Boat Association) Season Premier at Lake Ming, Bakersfield, California. For nearly 15 years, I was the historian for the IHBA (International Hot Boat Association). My reports, and photographs appeared in countless publications including; National Race Boat, Hot Boat Magazine, Trailer Boats Magazine, Powerboat Magazine, National Drag Boat, IHBA’s the Liquid Quarter Mile and others. I also covered circle boat, K-boat, and Unlimited Hydroplane races, and did various work for the APBA (American Power Boat Association). Following the 1986 drag boat season I produced a high-quality full-color drag boat poster, “The Liquid Quarter Mile.” Five years later in 1991, followed with another classic, “The Liquid Quarter Mile – Part 2.” Both can still be purchased right here on this website. Between 1982 and 1996, I earned several awards for professional photography and photojournalism.
Above: For many years the Canon F-1N, was my camera of choice for 35 mm manual-focus photography.
Above: Inside the cockpit of Dean Kirchner’s, top alcohol hydro, “Blown Crazy.”
As an independent photojournalist, my work has been published around the World. Here in America, I’ve worked for and sold photographs to UPI (United Press International), the AP (Associated Press), The National Enquirer, The Star, The Globe, and more magazines and newspapers than I can remember. I opened a full-time studio in Anaheim Hills, California, in the mid-1980’s, producing both commercial and product photography. I also worked as a technical advisor for ESPN’s drag boat television productions during the early 1990’s.
I decided to leave boat racing in 1997, and turned my attention toward a new book publishing career (AllNavyBooks.com). During these years I was still performing the occasional commercial photography projects. Eventually I re-booted my photography business in 2004, after investing in digital camera gear. Later in 2021, I returned to motorsports with a full schedule of drag boat racing, and since then it has been an amazing experience.
Above: At the ‘scope on board the nuclear fast-attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN-715) in 2014. Standing behind me, the captain of the boat.
My work as a professional photographer is not over, now located in sunny Yuma, Arizona, I will continue with this exciting adventure as long as God allows me. A special thank you, to all the wonderful people who posted and shared their kind thoughts on social media. See Customer Reviews page. Your gracious words help keep me going strong, God bless each and every one of you!
