The world looks different to a photographer than it does to everyone else. Through the eye of their lens, they see the light, details, shadows, highlights, shapes, and how they interact with each other. Darryl “Killboy” Cannon and this talented team of photographers capture flat images and turn them into visceral art for all of us to enjoy.
For years, Darryl has chronicled the ebb and flow of life on the world-famous Tail of the Dragon.
A twisty ribbon of highway perched high in the Great Smokey Mountains serves as a scenic backdrop for man and machine bent on a deeper connection to the road.
The Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of pavement with 318 challenging curves, all of which test skill, patience, and courage.
What follows is our interview with Darryl adapted from our new “Vettes of Atlanta” podcast. This article is the last of three from our in-depth interview with Darryl.
If you’d like, you can read the first article here, Darryl “Killboy” Cannon – The Eyes Of The Dragon, and Darryl “Killboy” Cannon – The Eyes Of The Dragon, Part 2.
For this installment, we talked to Darryl about the dangers of the Dragon becoming too popular and the gear he uses to capture those amazing photos. We also get into the reasons he started his new Patreon membership service.
The Dragon Self-Corrects
ROD WORLEY – EDITOR – For years, the U.S. 129 highway through Deals Gap was just an obscure piece of road. Nobody other than the locals cared about it.
Today, it’s become a mecca for motorcyclists and car enthusiasts around the world. Are you worried the Tail of the Dragon could become a victim of its fame and become too overcrowded?
DARRYL “KILLBOY” CANNON – It’s a possibility. We’re here almost 20 years now, and we’ve seen it sort of self-correct.
If it gets too busy, then people get frustrated and stop coming. Then it slows down, and it becomes fun again, and people come back.
So there’s this wave of ups and downs that we see. Last weekend was pretty wild. There were 120 Camaros up here doing a rally.
It clogged things up in the middle of the day on Saturday, so some people left. As I said, it’s self-correcting like that.
The Dragon will always be restricted for business growth because it’s all protected property. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is on the one side, and the protected forests for Wildlife Sanctuary are on the other.
So there can’t be any businesses set up on that stretch of road. It can’t blow up like Pigeon Forge. Now, down at the other end, where our Tail of the Dragon store is, of course, there’s potential for revenue growth down there.
Those building restrictions help to keep it at a certain level, where it’s usually fun. Middle of the day on a Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sunday, it can be frustratingly busy. If you’re smart about it, you can figure out times to avoid traffic.
When it’s busy, it’s a cool show on the Dragon. You can go out there and pick one of those hundred-plus pull-offs in the shade and watch the show go by for hours.
It’s kind of cool.
Cannon uses Canon
ROD WORLEY – EDITOR – Yeah, it would be fun to sit in a shaded pull-off and watch the show go by you.
One of the questions everyone was asking me before this interview was what gear and lenses you used to get those incredible photographs. It looks like you’re using a slower shutter speed that most of us wouldn’t use.
But is that true?
DARRYL “KILLBOY” CANNON – Yeah, we try to keep the shutter speed reasonably slow. I mean, there’s a line that we’re walking when we’re taking the photos.
I would love to shoot at slower shutter speeds, but it’s risky. The problem is that we only get one chance with the traffic that’s going by.
So, to shoot a slower shutter speed than we already are, it would be aesthetically more pleasing. It’s a risky move; if you don’t get at least one or two good shots, you’ve missed your opportunity.
On a track day, when a vehicle keeps going by, then you can do things like that. Take those chances. So we try with the shutter speed to not make cars and bikes look parked on the road frozen.
We also use high-end gear with professional lenses. The Canon is a typical brand that’s being used by our guys. The Nikon gear is strong, too.
We started out using Canon gear, and now we can interchange if we need to. It’s helpful for people to use the same brand of equipment. So if there’s a problem, we’ve got backup lenses available.
We run through a lot of shutter counts on these cameras. Most cameras have, especially with the mechanical shutters, a lifespan that’s pretty short, actually.
The camera bodies are designed for 200,000 to 500,000 cycles. Our guys will burn through that in six months to a year. The big difference for us is the gear and the experience.
We use professional-grade lenses that bring out the depth of the photo. It gives the picture that 3D look that everybody loves.
Available for Clubs & Corporate
ROD WORLEY – EDITOR – Absolutely. The photographs look great! Killboy production does more than take fantastic action photos. Aren’t your team of photographers also available for private or corporate photography and video as well?
DARRYL “KILLBOY” CANNON – We do offer those services as well. If someone needs their own time aside, we can do that also.
We do offer group photos and video services. I often use the drone to shoot a different angle or the whole scene. If our guys are out photographing that day, you can pull into our pull-off area and get some beauty shots of your car. We have a lot of options for you.
A Deeper Experience Through Patreon
ROD WORLEY – EDITOR – We can’t close today without talking about your new Patreon membership service. Your members get a more profound sense of what life’s like on the Tail of the Dragon.
Can you tell us more about it? And how’s the reception been so far?
DARRYL “KILLBOY” CANNON – Yeah, I’ve gotten a little bit burnt out on social media posting. I wanted to share more, but I was not looking forward to doing it.
Since I started the Patreon subscription service, it has encouraged me to get out there and post more. I’m sharing a lot more video and photo content of what it’s like out there on the Dragon in real time.
Everyone has been very supportive of our Patreon service. We’ve had a lot of people sign up. I’m sharing things that I sometimes don’t want to share publicly.
You know, maybe we’re talking about sensitive issues. Perhaps we’re talking about police and legal matters that don’t need to be made public.
But I still want to discuss these things with people somehow. This platform allows me to do that.
Then, of course, there’s the adult content, you know, flashing, and things like that go on out there. I can’t post that material on Facebook and Instagram without really censoring it and watered it down.
With Patreon, I’m allowed to share things like that uncensored. I really appreciate the support and the motivation that it’s given me, too.
After so many years of doing it, I’ve just gotten sort of lazy about hustling, and I’m back at it again. And it’s refreshing to me. I love it.
Let The Good Times Roll
ROD WORLEY, EDITOR – Well, Darryl, I can’t thank you enough for taking time today to talk to us. And I truly appreciate the experience you’re bringing to all of us on the Tail the Dragon.
DARRYL “KILLBOY” CANNON – Thank you, Rod. We’re going to keep doing it as long as we can. Support for us keeps climbing and growing. Everything is looking up.
Even during these tough times with the pandemic and the recession in 2008, we’ve done pretty well. Since people keep supporting us, we’re going to keep at it as long as we can.
The Dragon Lives On
The Tail of the Dragon will always live on because, in some deep recesses of our being, we hunger to answer nagging questions about ourselves. For some, it’s a need to test their resolve, measure skill, or validate that they’re still alive.
Darryl “Killboy” Cannon and his professional team of photographers immortalize those moments. Their stunning photographs allow us to recall with total clarity those moments when we were truly alive.
Articles We Recommend:
Tail of the Dragon – A Voice That Drives My Heel
Ron Johnson – Keeper of the Dragon
Ron Johnson – Keeper Of The Dragon Part 2
Ron Johnson – Keeper Of The Dragon Part 3
Darryl “Killboy” Cannon – The Eyes of the Dragon
Darryl “Killboy” Cannon – The Eyes Of The Dragon Part 2
Darryl “Killboy” Cannon – The Eyes Of The Dragon Part 3
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