Rangefinder Magazine
August 2005

Click Here for printable version of this article.

I’ve lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, for 20 years, and I have spent much time scouting for locations suitable for shooting cars. I observed recently that I was beginning to use many of the locations I’d seen nearly 20 years ago to solve graphic problems with today’s new cars. This shot of the Aston Martin DB9 was done at a location I used a long time ago. That older shot wasn’t worth printing. It was terrible, and it was shot at the wrong time of day.

But the idea of that spot at the right time of day with the right car stuck with me for the last 20 years. Locations and the time of day are chosen both for the lighting and for who’s around at that hour. I like to work as simply as I can. I don’t have budgets that allow me to hire crews to shut down roads or bridges. I’ve always found that being flexible about where and when to shoot the car has been to my advantage.

As I’ve gotten to know this about my own town, I’ve found that the same goes for just about anywhere else. But most everywhere else I’ve worked with these cars, I’ve been able to find a place to do a shoot quickly, quietly and conveniently without disruption to traffic or the owner’s/driver’s common sense.

I’m getting better at “looking” around now. I look at the space where a car may fit—where it can sit out of the way for a period of time, which is very important. I analyze what’s behind the car and what the light will be like at sunrise or at different times of the year and on different days of the week. Sunday morning, for example, is a great time to shoot cars because no on else is usually around.

This shot is facing east at the end of May. I thought, “In late November, the light will be from the other side of the bridge. Would that be better? Would the owner get the car out in November or January? Will there be salt on the road? Will the car get the right reflections without having to set up numerous reflector panels that call attention to what I’m doing? Will I be able to park the car in a place that will allow me to feature it and the background so they work together and enhance each other?” This shot only took about 10 to 15 minutes. And I took my time.

Learning when and where great places are just takes time and observation. It’s something you acquire if you have the interest. My job is to find spots where I can park a great car and make a good image. My job is to make the image like the DB9 here. I call myself lucky, and I am. But I also spend a lot of time looking for these kinds of places so I can be there when the luck is there with me.

INGREDIENTS
• Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
• Lens: Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 at 200mm
• Exposure: 1/160 @ f/2.8
• Mode: RAW
• Software: Photoshop CS