Photographs: Jill Gary

Jill Gary of Snohomish, Washington has captured the beauty of nature around her in more ways than one. More than your average outdoor explorer and Mustang enthusiast, she has creatively used her 1969 Mustang as both her mode of muscle transportation and the focus of breathtaking landscape photographs. Her only challenge is debating which is more beautiful – the view or the classic lines of the car.

“I love my 1969 Mustang.  It is a daily driver with a 351 W with Edelbrock carb and intake.  There is always a list of things I wish I could do or things that I want to do to improve it, but I truly appreciate the fact that I get to drive this old beauty around.  I mostly enjoy driving it to find unique and interesting locations to snap a photograph or two.  I think it highlights both the beauty of the car and the beauty that can be found all around us, that is all free, and that so many people look at every day not taking the time to truly appreciate”, says Gary.

As seen in her photographs, Gary makes a very valid point.  Nature at its best can be beautiful, inspiring, breathtaking, and jaw dropping just like our great American muscle cars.  “Whether it is an old railroad trestle, an empty overgrown parking lot, or a beautiful picturesque back road somewhere, you have to open your eyes to the beauty and try to take the time to enjoy it.  I have fully acknowledged the beauty all around me and what a better way than cruising in my Mustang”, says Gary.

As Gary chooses her landscape to highlight her pony or maybe using her pony to highlight the landscape, we encourage other enthusiasts to follow her lead and take every advantage of the opportunities around us. So grab your keys, grab your camera, get outside, and go get lost in the lens.  Maybe you will find something beautiful.  Maybe you will find something that has always been there but you never really had the time to see it. At the very least you’ll get to spend some time behind the wheel of, and looking at your favorite car.