Paul Barshon is the type of adventurous commercial photographer who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.  And working in rugged locations with clients like Groupe Renault, Ford Raptor and Jeep… Well, let’s just say Paul’s favorite jobs give his hands plenty of access to dirt.

Growing up in Australia, Paul says trucks and 4x4s were a part of his upbringing.

“Almost all my cars have been off-road cars,” said Paul. “My favorite pastime was heading off-road to the most difficult tracks I could find. I would get stuck, have fun getting out, then camp the night and repeat for as long as I could.”

Experiences like these are what makes Paul a rockstar off-road. The locations of Paul’s shoots are ones that show off the raw power of the vehicles captured in his shots, but are often spots that need an experienced 4x4 driver to get to as well. From the scenic backdrops of Spain to off-roading in the desert of Alabama Hills, Paul shifts into 5th gear to find the locales that highlight every last horsepower.

Paul sees each shoot as an opportunity to escape the city and take in the world.

“I have always lived in the city. Melbourne, London, LA... so the ability to get out of the city and away from ‘people’ was, and still is, super-important to my well-being,” said Paul. 

“I am happy to shoot anywhere, but the freedom of being able to shoot in the wild with no traffic, no Starbucks and no people is what I love to do. I never get sick of sunrise or sunset and always take time to watch it.

His favorite rural spot to shoot? Moab, Utah! With its breathtaking views and rough terrain, it’s no shock that Paul has fallen in love with using the region to highlight the extraordinary capabilities of the 4x4s in his frames.

“It’s the experience that I remember more than the images that I shoot. And having shot off-road in Australia and Europe, there is nothing [that] beats shooting in Utah. It’s the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever experienced and it’s pretty difficult to take a bad image.”

With a palpable passion for speed and adventure, Paul finds dramatic ways to demonstrate automotive power in a single still frame. As a photographer, director and  FAA licensed drone pilot, Paul also loves motion and says it gives him “more frames to tell the story.”

A small nimble hybrid crew with an enthusiasm for earthy adventure allows Paul’s shoots to have big production quality with a small footprint, making them an unstoppable force much like their powerful subjects. His multi-talented first assistant even doubles as his digital tech, which is a huge asset when working in remote locations. Capturing both high resolution motion footage and stills at the same time gives clients multimedia options from one shoot. With 2 RED cameras and an FAA Drone license, Paul and his team sure bring a lot of torque to the table! Paul says he uses the same equipment “in the scrub” as he does in the city, but that it just needs “a little more care and attention post-shoot!”

Paul doesn’t let life or his work skate by on cruise control. Get ready for a wild ride as you check out his photography, drone, and video of trucks and four-wheel drives.

To view more of Paul's adventurous 4x4 photography, check out his portfolio at www.paulbarshon.com and follow him on Instagram at @paulbarshon.