This week, Krista asks us to show everyone someone or something you admire. You can read the entire challenge post here. This is an easy challenge that brings to mind two of my favorite topics, aviation and antique vehicles. In the opening photo, the objects of my admiration are not the highly capable aircraft, it’s the precision skills of the pilots demonstrating their abilities at air shows every summer around the country.

The amount of workmanship that goes into the recreation of these antique automobiles makes them a work of art onto themselves. I have a lot of admiration for the skills and abilities of the restorers of these fine classic automobiles. This example is a 1932 Auburn 12 160A Convertible Sedan that sold at auction in January 2015 for $264,000 USD.

When there are plenty of modern tools available, I also have an admiration for the skills and abilities of those who reject the modern and prefer to create using tools of an earlier era. In many ways, they are carrying on the skills and traditions of their fathers, grandfathers and the generations before them. The image above features a blacksmith working at the annual Rollag Steam Threshers Reunion.

One more image depicts two gentlemen preparing a steam tractor for a demonstration of actual work that can be accomplished by these early 20th century mechanical replacements for the horse and water buffalo.

John Steiner