Smog is something that’s a strange, yet familiar smell.  Like a mix of trash dumpster and exhaust fumes. It filled the air of my vehicle interior as I navigated my way down highway 101 and into the cramped hillsides of Hollywood California.  The sky was pitch black as the headlights of my Tacoma projected a barley noticeable view of the steep narrow winding roadways, passing through what seemed like a sleepy hilltop neighborhood barricaded by privacy fences and the shadows of trees.

I eventually trekked my way through the twists and turns until I reached the pre-scheduled destination, a roadside view of the iconic Hollywood hill top.  There I sat. Sipping my coffee, waiting for the sun to rise and my client to show up.  While imagining how I would compose the scene, at that moment, a light began to peek over the hazy mountain top — and then my subject approached in a rumble of classic muscle car.

This was the morning I met Tonya Kay.

Working as a project for The SpeedGirls Magazine, my subject Tony is a very accomplished movie actor and she owns her own production company; a burlesques show, and surprisingly is a true gearhead.  She wooed me with her knowledge of past automotive projects and also her professionalism of modeling.  And although the sun never completely appeared that morning, the ambient cover of smog gave way to beautiful scenery and contrast of the photoshoot.

Enjoy.