My name is Jelani Parker (aka Jelly). I'm a Maine-based automotive photographer that is constantly learning and motivated. I have always loved cars, even as a little kid. Growing up, I enjoyed watching Fast & Furious movies and playing a variety of racing games, such as Need for Speed Most Wanted and Midnight Club L.A. I made the decision to pick up the camera when I bought a 2018 Volkswagen GTI in 2021. This was my fourth car ever. I was really introduced to the car scene with this vehicle. I went and used my phone to take some photos on the day I bought it, and that's when I really started to appreciate the beauty of automotive photography. I immediately saw the possibilities and had a spark of inspiration. After a few weeks, I bought my first camera, a Canon EOS RP and so my dream began!

"The first experiences with the camera involve looking at the world beyond the lens, trusting the instrument will 'capture' something 'seen'. The terms shoot and take are not accidental; they represent an attitude of conquest and appropriation. Only when the photographer grows into perception and creative impulse does the term make define a condition of empathy between the external and the internal events."

-Ansel Adams