This is gone now. I like to imagine it's been completely restored, and
is now a dazzling showpiece....
I was mulling over writing an article about genres or categories of photographs, and the way in which some of those categories appeal to us and some don't. For instance, I've never been very interested in fashion photography; I could be Amish as far as clothes are concerned. I wore the same four pairs of black jeans throughout the entire George W. Bush administration, and I am not kidding.
On the other hand, I've always loved car photographs. Sometimes I go to eBay Motors and just poke around looking for good shots of old cars. Or I'll do a Google image search on "Riley Imp" or something and just enjoy the photographs that turn up.
For all that, I've never really photographed cars.
Is there anybody out there who does, either as part of their living, or for fun? Straight pics, or quirky ones? I know lots of railfans photograph trains, but I don't know if there are as many carfans who photograph cars. Do you know of any car photographers, or have a favorite? Or maybe you have a tale or two that revolves in some way around photographing cars? Lulu and I are feeling a bit low today, and I'd love to see some of your car pictures or hear a few anecdotes about car-shooting adventures. 'Twould perk me right up.
Mike
P.S. Here's the code for uploading an image to the Comments:
Of course you replace the "http://image.jpg" URL with the URL for your picture. (URL = web address; your picture has to be on the web.) Unfortunately, the largest size that will work is 470 pixels wide; otherwise the image will be cut off. (A limitation of the TypePad template TOP uses.)
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Dillan: "I have a friend, Matt Vieweger, whom I work with from time to time who specializes in car photography. I am his 'voice activated light stand.' He does really try to do some unique things with lighting. I've been helping him for the past year, and it's been a great time. We've shot mostly American muscle cars, but Matt's heart lies with European makes. He's been quite successful with it; he had a feature article in Canadian Hot Rod last year. I am proud to be a part of the project. I too love cars. I can't really afford to own anything other than a basic car, so photography has once again proven to be an outlet my pent up passion. You can see the results here."
Leslie Ashe:
"I photographed rally cars here in Ireland (and on the mainland UK) for some 20 years in the 1970s and '80s. The sun doesn’t always shine here in Ireland. Rain, wind, and poor light made for interesting (challenging!) conditions for action photography. Tri-X rated at ISO 800 for black and white—but don't even think about colour transparencies in the 1970s in poor light (high speed Ektachrome at ISO 160).
"We had great cars and drivers, great action, the pressure of the rally schedule (with little sleep at times), and once back home the pressure to get the processing done and pictures off to magazines. At the end of the day some very satisfying images. And now in retirement I am finding some time to scan all the old material for my website and am enjoying seeing pictures I never looked at before. After a year I am about half-way through so lots of work still to do. Judging by the traffic to my website there are many others who are also nostalgic for the rallying of this era and this makes the effort worthwhile."
Rowan: "This flies in the face of your request, but one thing I've never liked
in photographs is cars. For some reason, any cars appearing in a picture
just spoil them for me. It's completely irrational—I think cars are
great. Just not in pictures!
That said, Lee Friedlander's America by Car
Mike replies: Oh, you had to go and remind me. I've never, ever spent that much for a book, and I'm permanently tempted. Tortured might be a better word.
GuyB: "'Dead Slow' has some wonderful car/house double portraits from San Francisco."
Mike replies: Those are great! Thanks.
See also this page by Tom Wik, from Minneapolis. (Thanks to G.G. for this one.)
Dana Thomas:
"...Hey Mike...how about this for a pick-me-up. I was shooting a job in La Jolla, California, when a convoy of beautiful old cars drove up the driveway of the inn where I was working. This car not only caught my eye but the driver, a dapper gentleman, asked if I would like a ride to dinner, not knowing that I was not on the guest list for the outing."
Crabby Umbo: "...Now you've got me looking at Riley Imps...Mike, you're the devil...."
Mike replies: A couple of days ago I was Frankenstein.
John Brewton: "Two of the best professional car shooters are James Haefner and Simon Harper. They regularly display their work on the MF forum on Luminous-Landscape. Their work is simply incredible. I shot a spread for Autoweek in 1989 and shot many exotics and classics during the '70s through the early '90s, but everything is on film and I never got around to scanning it."
Jason Bonello: "I photograph cars. I grew up in Detroit and worked there as an assistant and photographer. The founder of Midcoast Studio, James Secreto, is the foremost collector of car photography, especially when associated with advertisment. Feel free to contact me if you need more info or have questions."
Mike replies: So do you know Madison Ford?
