Wes D's Portrait Studio at the Slab City Riot

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Wes D's Portrait Studio at the Slab City Riot

Written By: Bill Bryant
11-20-2009
Categorized in: Events, Motorcycles, News, People

Wes Drelleshak tackled the improbable at Biltwell's Slab City Riot. His task: to document the characters and machines that infiltrated this wasteland in all their beer-soaked glory. This included setting up several thousand dollar's worth of high-end camera gear in the desert, then parading small groups of freaks—some ours, some local—in front of his lens. Through the wrestling, fireworks, heckling and mayhem, Wes was able to create nearly 200 portraits. Here is a sample of that work.

If you were at the Slab City Riot, some of these portraits may be of you. Wes has published all of them on Flickr. If you want to buy a high-quality 8x10 print, Wes will sell you one for $30.00 shipped.

The Slab City Riot Flickr set can be viewed here

You can contact Wes directly at wesdphotography@gmail.com

Wes' blog: wesdphotography.blogspot.com

Wes's ChopCult profile

Comments (38)

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 06:22 pm

DaddysDevil666

The photographs are great! Wish I could have been there! Definitely next year! Shenanigans!

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 10:18 pm

In reply to #1

#28

JackShit

Hey Wes, it's Jackshit, with the red 47 knuck. I love the shot man. This was a great idea. You asked me to shoot ya an email after the event and damn if I know what I did with your card. I am out in Phoenix. I love the shot with the local old broad.... I think it captured everything about the run..... fanfuckintastic!!!!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 06:24 pm

Motorradfahrer

Awesome, awesome photos! Look at those tits!!!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 06:32 pm

RockinRyan

Sweet. Please tell me we're doing this again next year.

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 06:53 pm

fashionserialKiller72

crazy motherfuckers... I had so much fun, if you couldn't tell. Nice job WesD! Can I be your assistant next time?

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 07:05 pm

MsHeather

I'm so bummed I missed your photoshoot! But good times and fantastic pics. Can't wait to see the shit from that '70's camera' :)

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 07:41 pm

Scottienoooo

fuckin raaad pics wes

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 07:41 pm

SDJose

Killer photos! Mikey Ratt's Snake Style Kung Fu versus Fredo's Shaolin Death Touch!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 07:52 pm

hellbilly1932

my money is on the Fredo death touch

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 07:58 pm

Rich74

good work wes

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 08:30 pm

#10

Jesse

Wes, AWSOME pics!!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 08:38 pm

#11

Flatironmike

hmmm, no foolin'

glad i didn't make this one.

oooofa

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 08:59 pm

#12

Robzilla

Awesome shots!!! Be around at the Twine Ball Run?

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 09:10 pm

#13

CaveMann

Man Im sorry I had to miss that run.

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 10:00 pm

#14

logi	Sweet photos Wes, you killed it!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 10:04 pm

#15

Knucklebuster

great pics, nice job Wes.

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 11:17 pm

#16

motoguru

great shots, dude!

Commented on 11-20-2009 At 11:48 pm

#17

NHMike

This just proves to me how much I SUCK at taking pictures. Great shots!!

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 09:12 am

#18

Gommorah

hey girl on yer back in the dirt. pull up your pants your pussys given me a boner

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 10:50 am

#19

fashionserialKiller72

You can't see my puss you boner! Haha

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 12:47 pm

#20

WesD

Thanks for all the positive feedback and to everyone that had a good time jumping in front of the camera.I cant wait to do this again but with a few more idea's up my sleeve. Special thanks to B.F.F Josh for assisting with the lights and gear.Also to Bill and Magoo for inviting me and letting me take photo's.

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 01:14 pm

#21

Boylecomm

$30??? What is this 2006? & Someone sure is a photo whore.

No foolin'
glad i didn't miss this one it was a super fun.

(kiddinwes)

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 01:28 pm

#22

WesD

Just like you spending 8 bucks on a hotdog or hamburger from some tweekers, that you could have bought for 30cents if you did it yourself.
I had fun doing it and my profit is a few bucks after post production, printing,boxing,shipping,and not including all the Gas.Come to think of it I am losing money and its a great deal compared to sears etc...
its just a offer Kim.no one has to buy anything.

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 02:37 pm

#23

Tyler

Nice pics Wes, good for pulling it off too, took a lot of work to haul all your equipment out there and shoot when you could have just been riding and drinking.

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 03:28 pm

#24

GreaserMike

Great work Wes! Night shots always seem to be pretty tricky but you really use it to add to the portraits.

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 08:40 pm

#25

Boylecomm

Who spent $8 on tweaker dogs? The tweak is in the 30 cent dogs that also come with thin skin that's why they're only 30 cents.
The Photo whore I was referring to is Ms. Cindy I should've chosen my words better. Sorry.

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 09:43 pm

#26

WesD	I cant bust your balls back, Kim?thin skin dogs..your killing me...

Commented on 11-21-2009 At 10:11 pm

#27

Oklahoma

Thanks for documenting and the party pics Wes. They came out great.

Commented on 11-23-2009 At 10:52 am

#29

JayTucc

Killer pics!

Commented on 11-23-2009 At 02:35 pm

#30

SledsandSickles

I forgot about this.I'm such a dork.

Commented on 11-23-2009 At 11:54 pm

#31

LAV	Someone should organise one o' these get-togethers in Oz...

Commented on 11-25-2009 At 12:16 am

#32

jonnyrtn

Nice.. I had myself all bundled in against the desert .... watched the pics being taken.... but since i had bungy corded the liner on and had the site set up.... it was not worth undoing.. your pics are gret... nice litle boobies...

Commented on 11-25-2009 At 08:43 pm

#33

Halwade

"Someone should organise one o' these get-togethers in Oz..."

Hey Lav, instead of wishing somebody else organized one of these events in your neck of the woods, why don't you do it? Just curious...

Commented on 11-25-2009 At 11:27 pm

#34

WesD

good stuff here.
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

1.Donger : penis t
2.Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
3. Gutful of piss : drunk, "he's got a gutful of piss"
4.Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke
5.Dog's eye : meat pie

good day mate.... ill try to make it

Commented on 11-26-2009 At 09:02 am

#35

garagemoto