LibertyWalk Nissan Skyline R34: The Journey To The Bucket Shot

This is my journey of how I went from an amateur photographer, to a published automotive photographer, to obtaining one of my key Bucket Shots: The Nissan R34 Skyline. But not just any R34, my best friend's R34, previously owned by Liberty Walk themselves.

Jeremy Rogers

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Libertywalk Nissan Skyline R34

My IG | Logan's IG

Back in 2019, a good friend of mine and fellow Stance Auto Mag photographer, Wayne Hunter, introduced me to the work of a famous photographer by the name of Peter McKinnon.
The first video I ever watched was his video titled "The Bucket Shot" where he talked about the journey to getting the shot he'd dreamed of for years. What is a bucket shot? It's "THE" shot. It's the one you picture framed on your wall, your pride and joy, the shot that you spent years dreaming of and planning. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket." And the bucket shot...well.. I got mine.

This is the story of why I chose this car for my very own Bucket Shot.

Much like Logan, my dream car from early on was the Nissan R34 Skyline, but we only dreamt of different versions. He wanted Brian O'Conner's GT-R, and I wanted a Millennium Jade Nur. Ever since watching 2Fast 2Furious, I fell in love with the car. As a young teenager, I didn't necessarily understand as much about the JDM world. I grew up around primarily American muscle, classics, and most commonly, Ford trucks and Mustangs. I was brought home from the hospital after being born on base, in a 1969 Mercury Cougar. I knew American, but I was brand new to JDM.

Aspects of the movie, back then, didn't stand out to me, like how Brian found a seemingly salvaged R34 at a shop in the desert when it was a fairly new car not legal to import into the US, yet. As I grew older, it became a dream to see one in person, and I did a few years later at Hollywood Star Cars in Tennessee where they showcased a mock-up of Brian's R34. The obsession didn't stop there, it only grew much more passionate. I began to learn about the 25-year law, JDM production, the extent of their history, the different production models and generations of the Skyline. It became a passion. I wasn't even a photographer, just a teen to young adult with a love for cars.

For so many, the R34, amongst other cars like the FD3S RX-7, Mark IV Supra, and AE86 Corolla, became a bandwagon trend due to Hollywood and various video games. However, for me it was so much deeper. The R32 Skyline GT-R was Godzilla. Bagging many championships and earning several accolades, it became a common name amongst the car world. Then two generations later, the R34 began it's climb up the ladder. What stood out to me, besides it's escalating fame from Hollywood and gaming, was it's aggressive appearance and the beautiful sound produced from the RB26DETT, a 2.6L twin turbocharged in-line 6. I saw what the car was capable of, what lineage it came from, the development and designing that went into it. The R34 had serious potential and could be made into an aggressive car, both in looks and performance. In 2018 when my photography journey really began, when I finally decided to put the camera I'd had for 7 years, to use, I knew what I needed. To shoot an R34 Skyline.

My first time seeing a REAL R34 Skyline GT-R V Spec

In June of 2020, I was at Driver Motorsports, which is about 10 minutes from me in Rustburg, VA where they had an MNP2 2000 R34 Skyline GT-R V Spec. I found out the car had already been sold and was about to undergo several mods like swapping the GT-R wheels for a fresh set of bronze TE37s, big single turbo, and air cup suspension. I immediately knew I had to do whatever it took to go photograph it. So I stopped by the dealership with my camera and snapped several photos over a two hour period, making sure I didn't miss anything. It was a rare sighting, and I had one chance.

I later learned the car had been sold to a gentleman named Brad in Utah. He has, and has owned, several Skylines and GT-Rs. Seeing this car in person, I was in disbelief at finally seeing my dream car up close and personal. I took every photo I could. At the time I was using a crop-body Canon Rebel T3 and was still relatively new to the world of photography and editing. To me, the photos were phenomenal.

Later that year I finally splurged and bought my first full-frame camera, a Canon 6D Mark II. The day after it arrived, I stopped by Driver again, Brad's GT-R was still there and I knew I needed better shots. I felt like I could do more justice to the car, and to my own work. It was the very first car I shot with the new camera. What better way to celebrate upgrading my gear than to shoot my dream car again? So I did, but this time I made sure to really capture my favourite part about the MNP2, that gorgeous bronze-orange hue in the sunlight.

In the following couple of years, I'd gotten to see a few 4-door R34s, a 25GT, and various R32s and R33s at meets where I snagged photos of them. Granted they weren't the trim I dreamt of, but it was still a surreal feeling. Fast forward to 2024, Brad's second GT-R was slated to arrive at Driver, and with the help of Ed Anderson, I was able to get a little solo time with the car in the upper lot and grab some photos. This time, it was a QM1 White GT-R that still had factory GT-R wheels.

Now for the Bucket Shot

Earlier this year my best friend bought his very first R34 Skyline. Click here to read his story. We had talked years ago about how one day he would own one, and with me having an affinity for Skylines, photography, and travelling, I knew what I needed to do. I'd had this idea in my head of several cars I wanted to shoot in my lifetime, but I'd never really considered my list of bucket shots containing cars. Sure, I've wanted to shoot Lamborghinis, Koenigseggs, Ferraris, McLarens, and several others, and I have shot multiple of each of those. But never one-on-one. The day he told me that he had bought the LBWK R34 25GT, it was settled.

This would be my very first automotive bucket shot. So I planned my trip to Houston, TX. Logan and I met over Battlefield 3 back in 2011 and had met in person when he flew to VA in 2018, and again when he flew me to Texas in 2021 to be the Best Man at his wedding. So it was only fitting that this dream come true for him, be the shoot that I would never forget. My dream shot wasn't this ultra cinematic highly planned and perfectly placed shot, I wanted something that showed the owner and the car just..existing. Together.

When I got the shot, I knew it would be the one. He was kneeling down taking a photo of me through the reflection of me taking a photo of the car. The man and his machine, the man I watched go from a young teenager to this grown man with a wife and kids, his own house, and his dream car, in the wonderful state of Texas. That was my bucket shot. The extent of how hard work and dedication can make a dream go from some thought in the back of your head to the reality sitting in your garage. This man has become my brother, and capturing this moment was the highlight of my career.

I probably spent more time in the Skyline during my trip than any other vehicle he owns. We went to meets and met other Skyline owners for whom I did shoots, we laughed harder than I have in a long time, we had deep talks, made some amazing food, and I left with so many wonderful memories. I left craving more of that feeling of being pushed into the seat when he floored it, more of that direct turbo dump, more of the feeling I felt when we made that C8 and SRT8 mad on the highway. So here's my shot, simple as it is, and the story of why it means more to me than any of these words could possibly express.

Logan, congratulations Brother. May she bring you memories for years to come, and may she always bring you home safely.