The Shell Eco-Marathon for Royal Dutch Shell

Photography: Action and behind-the-scenes at Sonoma Raceway

I had the fantastic opportunity to cover the 2018 Shell Eco-Challenge at Sonoma Raceway last month. The four-day event was a competition between college and high school engineering students to design, build and race the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. The top winners of each category - electric, gasoline and hydrogen - proceeds to the big race in London later this year.

Check out some of my favorite images below and let me know what you think!

Team B-17 with their vehicle the B-17, #511, from Braham High School, Braham, Mn, United States, competing under the UrbanConcept - Gasoline category, hits the track at Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team #316, E-Team UDA Elec, of Universidad del Azuay, in Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador, Prototype, Battery Electric work on their car in the paddock during day one of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team Cal Poly Supermileage with their vehicle the Donald Duck, #4,from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States, competing under the Prototype - Gasoline category waits before a group portrait during day two of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team #5, University of Toronto Supermileage, of University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Prototype, Gasoline works on their car in the paddock during day one of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team #201, Wheat Ridge STEM Gold, of Wheat Ridge High School, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, United States, Prototype, Hydrogen is pushed out of the paddock during day one of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team OSU Beavers with their vehicle the Beaver Bolt, #302, from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States, competing under the Prototype - Battery Electric category, and Team SEMA PUCP with their vehicle the PUCP 1, #21, from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Lima, Peru, competing under the Prototype - Gasoline category leave the paddock during day two of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team HydroAggies with their vehicle the Streamline, #211, from North Carolina A&T State University , Greensboro, North Carolina, United States, competing under the Prototype - Hydrogen category in the paddock during day two of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

A Saskatchewan Polytechnic SaskEco participant carries a car part to the paddocks, competing under the Prototype - category at Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Participants take in the experience during day two of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif. 

UBC Supermileage Team with their vehicle the Zephyr, #520, from University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada, competing under the UrbanConcept - Gasoline category work on their car near the paddock during day two of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team members prepare signage to signal their driver during day three of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Team Mavericks with their vehicle the The Tank , #508, from Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, New York , United States, competing under the UrbanConcept - Diesel category on the track during day three of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

The driver of Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team Alpha with their vehicle the The Doppler Effect, #701, from Saint Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights, MN, United States, competing under the UrbanConcept - Battery Electric category took 1st place in the Drivers World Championship on the final day of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team Alpha with their vehicle the The Doppler Effect, #701, from Saint Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights, MN, United States, competing under the UrbanConcept - Battery Electric category gets the checkered flag during the Drivers World Championship on the final day of Shell Make the Future at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.

On Commission: Non-profit photography for Plant It Forward Farms

A recent commission to create fresh imagery for a Houston-based non-profit organization allowed me to see first-hand how refugees are being helped to establish themselves in their new country. Plant It Forward serves mainly Congolese refugees by allowing them to farm unused land in urban areas while letting participants keep all their profit. Farmers sell their fresh veggies at local farmers markets as well as farm-to-table based restaurants.

The images were used to build a new website, create print collateral and for social media publication.