Today’s Post by Joe Farace
The weather is starting to get —it’ll hit 87 degrees F today—and you know what that means? Car Shows! The only thing more fun than driving cars is photographing them. To make interesting photographs at a car show, you gotta love cars. A passion for your subject is always a plus and enables you to look beyond the surface of a car to see its essence, its soul.
Tip #1: Before taking pictures try to talk to the owner—if they are hanging around. Be curious and polite. Most owners can talk for hours about their cars because there never was a restoration project that didn’t have some interesting twists and turns.
Tip #2: Do not make photographs with the hoods, or bonnets if they’re British, raised. Many owners like to display the cleanliness or sparkling chrome underneath but that’s not the best way to photography a vehicle because it breaks up the car’s lines. If they are nearby, ask the owner if they would close the hood so you can make a photograph. In exchange, offer to send them a JPEG file for their Facebook page.
Tip #3: It’s a good idea to remove show placards such as the identification cards placed on the dash or under the windshield wiper. Ask the owner before touching any part of his or her car!
Tip #4: Be sure to make images of parts of cars. Don’t be frustrated by the lack of space and crowded conditions at shows. Use that to your advantage by finding small details and capture them in sharp focus.
Tip #5: Get close to the car. Begin by working in close and gradually back off until extraneous non-car details or people start appear in the frame. Make sure your zoom lens allows close focusing.
Tip #6: Explore unconventional views of the car. Tilt the camera to provide a dynamic image. The crowds at most car shows—although they are some of the most polite people you will find anywhere—make it almost impossible to use a tripod.
Tips #7: Dress comfortably and wear the kind of clothing you won’t be afraid to get dirty when trying to get an interesting camera angle. For outdoor shows, be sure to wear a hat to keep the sun off your head and be sure to wear sunscreen.
Tip #8: Take advantage of the best light get to the show early and stay late. As cars began to leave, space opens up allowing you to photograph entire cars as well as some of the environment.
Tip #9: When photographing cars late in the day, ask the owner to turn on the parking lights to add a subtle glow to the side marker, taillights, and turn signals.
Tip #10: Next to your camera and a good wide-angle zoom lens, the most important thing to bring to a car show is lots of memory cards. You never know when you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to photograph a rare or exotic automobile.
PS. Look for an announcement re: car shows real soon now.
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