Life in the Fast Lane

Photographs by Shawn the Trapographer

Documentary photographer Shawn the Trapographer gives us a glimpse into the underground car scene in Atlanta, Georgia, where the city comes together and you never know what’s going to happen.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

What is your story as an artist and photographer?

I started my photography journey a year ago. Since Myspace and Bebo days I always had an eye for taking pictures and always said one day I would actually take it serious and invest in a camera. Then one random morning I said “today is the day I invest in my dream of becoming a photographer.”

How did you get into shooting Atlanta's car meet ups ?

“Car meets” are so blah, haha. Here, we call them "Slide shows.” Where I grew up, there aren't scenic routes, sunflowers growing next to a barn house, or fancy bridges…you know, the imagery that normally comes to mind when someone says they’re a photographer. I wanted to show what goes on where I’m from! What we find interesting.

What is the underground car scene like in Atlanta?

The car scene here is crazy! There’s always something going on! Who attends? The whole city! Nah'fr! Haha. All sides come out! North South East West, we even got people coming in from surrounding cities! It’s a beautiful thing! All races, Black and White, hell you might even catch a purple person there, haha. The meet up spot is always different that way the cops cant keep up with us.

Do you have any run-ins with cops during the Slide Shows?

Of course! They hate us, haha. They actually have people on instagram that follow our pages to get the drop on meet up spots. With everything going on in the city they spend their time watching us on social media, mind blowing right?

What kind of cars are mostly there?

Honestly, there's no telling what kinda car your gonna see at a slide show but in my opinion, Atlanta is a Mopar City! Seems like everybody drives a Dodge Charger or challenger. Like I said, you see all kinda cars but 80% of what you see are gonna be Mopars.

How do you find out about the locations?

I get a text with a list of locations and we go down the list. When the cops shut down one location, we move to the next on the list. The spots can be on a bridge, at a random intersection, a business parking lot; a slide show can take place just about anywhere.

Is there a type of hierarchy? “Best in show" kind of deal?

No, its not like a competition type thing. It’s more like a bunch of people who enjoy cars coming together to escape the ups and downs of life and enjoy themselves.

Do you ride during the Slide Shows?

Do I slide my car? Noooooo haha. I got a set of oversized rims on my car! My car is all for looks, so I’m there just to document.

Why does this scene inspire your photography?

It inspires my photography because like I said, it brings everybody together! Through Slide Shows, I've connected with people I never thought I would. Unlike a lot of others things, no matter how many pictures I take it never gets old; theres always something interesting happening.