It’s always refreshing to attend a car event that does things a little differently – something that reminds me what I love about photographing cars. Legends Drivers Club’s BLOOM ‘26 event was just that.
BLOOM wasn’t trying to have the most cars, nor was it out to have the most expensive or rarest cars in attendance. Instead, the focus was on bringing together people who actually drive their cars, a variety of machinery, and, equally, a beautiful venue. Set amongst the lavender fields and grounds of Lower Austin Lodge Farm in Kent, UK, the location complemented the array of Porsches perfectly.
Capturing cars in a non-traditional show venue is always a great way to spark creativity and force you to rethink your framing. Having a venue as picturesque and expansive as the farm makes that a lot easier; every time you walk around, you find something new – a different foreground, a new angle, or a change in shadows as the morning sun shifts across the sky. In fact, it was almost impossible to feel like I’d captured ‘everything’.
And yet, capturing ‘everything’ isn’t really the point of a Legends Drivers Club gathering. Andre, who created LDC, puts as much effort into curating the venues as he does the cars. He endeavours to bring Porsche owners together in an environment where they can enjoy where they are just as much as what they arrived in. It’s a far cry – and a welcome alternative – from standing on the side of the road. Not that there isn’t a place for that, but that’s not this. Everyone in attendance has brought a Porsche – everything from a 992 GT3 S/T Sonderwunsch to a 914.
Now, I’m not normally a fan of ‘Owners Club’ Facebook groups, let alone meets, but for this I’ll make an exception. BLOOM encompassed the entire Porsche line-up (yes, even the Panamera), and having an event made up purely of owners gave everyone an immediate conversation starter. Similarities, preferences and, naturally, comparisons follow. A side effect of keeping things intimate and curated in this way is that repeat guests get to know each other, plan drives, make lunch reservations for after the meet, and look forward to seeing which LDC event they’ll cross paths at next.
As a photographer, it’s always invigorating when an event organiser takes the time to truly think about what cars are attending and where they should be positioned – like having a 993 Carrera RS in the clearing of a field, or pairing a row of cars with the rows of lavender. You can find a 356 in some tall grass behind a vintage tractor, a black 993 C2S hiding behind some flowers, and a 997 GT2 tucked into the barn opening.
Contrast always makes images more interesting, and we’ve all seen enough 911s on track or tarmac, so why not next to a pond? A venue as unique as Lower Austin Lodge Farm will always be a visual delight, but placing the cars amongst nature and across the farm is what makes it truly special.
In a world where you could be triple-booked for Cars & Coffee meets on any given Sunday, Andre is providing something more enticing for Porsche owners in the UK: smaller meets, better venues, and an eclectic mix of Stuttgart’s finest.
