Series in Progress - Classic Cars with a Retro Camera

Last spring, I started throwing one of my many old/antique cameras in my camera bag when I went to car events - a Sabre 620. In order to use it, I have to re-roll 120 film onto 620 reels - yes, I roll my own. Film! I wanted to shoot classic cars with a camera that is about as old as they are, and I really dug the results when I developed the first rolls. I've seen a lot of digital photos post-processed to look "old" or "retro," but actually using film gives it an authenticity that can't be replicated in Photoshop.

Last night, I was hosting a friend who was a JFK Airport refugee - she was stuck here because of the blizzard, halfway to her destination. Before she arrived I had been scanning some film I shot at a restoration shop in Texas, and the roll hadn't turned out all that well. It was way too dark in the shop for a simple box camera with no exposure control. I left the one frame that was salvageable open in Photoshop, and when she woke up my laptop to check her flight status, she exclaimed, "Wow, I like that!" Great, all was not lost. If Lecia from my art school days likes it, I guess it's got some merit - I am my own worst editor and critic.

This is a series-in-progress - I'm still not sure what it will ultimately be or when it will end (maybe a Blurb book?), but I'm having fun with it for now - and it will go to Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend with me! I bought the tickets months ago...

12.23.2010, Houston, TX:

6.12.2010, Rumble in the Country, Terryville, CT:

8.21.2010, Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit, MI:

11.3.2010, SEMA, Las Vegas, NV:

10.9.2010, Riff Raff Riot, Greenlawn, NY:

If you "Like" my Pony Car Girl facebook page, there are a few more shots there. Looking at these, I realize I need to shoot more rat rods! I'll post more as the series goes on... but right now, all of the cool cars are in hibernation here in the cold, snowy Northeast.

Outtakes from LA Auto Show

Nov. 17-19, 2010

This year's Los Angeles Auto Show proved to be more frantic than last year, possibly because (as the NY Times reported) there were 50% more journalists there this year than last year. There just didn't seem to be enough time and space to get the more creative and interesting shots I wanted to get (or, in some cases, the basic shots that I needed) without other photographers in the way - and it seemed we were always in each others' way. After three days (two press days and the first day open to the public) I was exhausted; my feet hurt for a week. One journalist announced in the press room, "My pedometer says I've walked 14 miles today!" It took me this long to get to the task of finding my shots for the blog because of the sheer number of photos I took.

There were few surprises, least of which was the 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible.

I think the car I loved photographing the most was the Jaguar C-X75 concept. My camera loved its fluid lines. Just look at the way the cover hangs on it...

Yes, drool-worthy. Jay Leno apparently has one already.

Porsche was fun with models dressed in retro fashion. (Two other Porsches here and here.)

Here's a great example of what NOT to do when going in for a really cool reflective shot (of the 2012 Ford Focus) - get your Fiat swag in the picture!

_______________________________________^^white bag of swag

While this shot isn't perfect, I think it's my favorite shot from L.A. This is a detail of the back of the Dodge 2011 Charger. I wish the Charger plate was lit better and a bit brighter; this was the rare occasion where, for a few moments, no one got in my way at Dodge. They tweaked their interiors a lot, which is good - I was in the backseat of a rented Avenger from Dallas to Odessa, and it was a bit... firm.

Kia is always fun to shoot - yet another hybrid choice:

The Mazda Shinari concept was just as exciting as the Jaguar C-X75 to photograph:

Love that snake eye headlight:

Things were less rushed on the second day at Audi, and I was able to slow down and get some nice detail shots such as this one inside the R8 GT.

While waiting for the press conference to begin, I played around with the camera to try some unique shots of the event. I like to flex that creative muscle to keep things fresh, even if the shots fail in the end. There's something about this shot that I dig.

Before the show opened to the public, I had five wonderful minutes alone with the Boss 302. I had a list of about 15 different shots that I wanted. I couldn't get them all - the doors opened to the public way too soon.

Yes, kids, I'll be asking for a pony for Christmas too.

_______

All Photographs ©2010 Megan Green, All Rights Reserved. Do not download or otherwise copy without my permission.

SEMA 2010 - Las Vegas

Something chewed me up in Vegas and spit me out in my bed in New York, and I'm pretty sure it's name was SEMA 2010. It was two days of seeing the sun rise over the Strip, then exhausting ourselves walking behind people moving at the speed of stuck rocks, tripping over the Rascal brigade, and omgihavetobeatapressconferenceinfiveminutesinahallididn'tknowexistedWHEREISIT?!?!? Two days fueled by protein bars, dry boxed lunches and as much caffeine as one ingest. It even killed my second flash of the year. Viva Las Vegas, but the pony car girl is begging "no mas!"

What did I notice? The show was still Camaro-heavy, but not quite as heavy as last year. I saw a few cars with a pearl matte white finish - on a classic (forget which one, it was in passing) as well as a customized Equus at the Hyundai footprint. Not many '57 Chevy Bel-Airs. The track in the parking lot was Ford Racing, not Toyota Trucks - and it looked very well attended. I was so busy getting my shots, though, that I never had the chance to head over and watch for a few minutes.

However, on the way to team lunches and rushing to the Top Gear screening (yes, I do have to mention that, I can't wait for the show!) I managed to snap a few personal photos of some things that caught my eye.

I drooled over this Mustang:

Top Gear Ferrari that I sadly did not have time to stand on line and ride in:

Top Gear Mercedes:
DUB had some great cars:

Mythbusters backwards Porsche:

I know that it's a refrigerator, but the Avatar mural was gorgeous:

The Hulk car over at DUB:

...rat rod...




...and I leave you with Hair God:
That's it - I have to go pack for LA.