Photography Tips: How to Take Good Pictures at Car Shows

It can be a challenge to take good pictures at a neighborhood car show. At a car show, shiny chrome, densely parked vehicles, poorly dressed spectators, and bright summer sun can conspire against a photographer. However, with a little planning, you can take good pictures at a car show. Here are eight tips for improving your automotive photography.

1. Arrive Early/Stay Late - If you arrive in the morning at the beginning of a car show, you may be able to photograph the cars as they roll in. This will provide the opportunity to take pictures of rumbling hot rod cars with their hoods down and doors closed. In addition, there may be fewer spectators and fewer cars early in the show. With more space around the cars and fewer spectators, you should be able to compose better pictures and stand a little further from the cars. The rising sun will also hit the cars at an angle and provide better light for your pictures. If you stay late or return to the show in the evening or late afternoon, the lighting will be different, the sun will again be angled, cars may be leaving, and the car show may evolve into a completely different scene.

2. Take Reference Pictures - With digital cameras, you can take hundreds of pictures at a single car show. You will vastly simply your life by systematically taking one picture that captures the entire car followed by another picture that captures any identifying sign or plaque accompanying the car. Then, you can zoom in on details like hood ornaments, badges, engines, and capture the car from unusual angles. When you get home and download your pictures, you won't be confused about which detail shot goes with which car.

3. Watch For Your Reflection - You can't have a hot rod show without bright, shiny, chrome. Unfortunately, the mirror-like chrome can reveal the photographers presence. Even worse, reflective chrome can make the photographer look short and fat. When taking a picture, try to avoid angles where you can see your shadow or reflection in the chrome or sheet metal. In the digital photography era with auto focus and delay timers, you may be able to step out of the shot entirely.

4. Tilt the Camera Vertically - If you are taking a picture from the front or back of a hot rod, you can often squeeze bystanders out of the frame by tilting the camera vertically (90-degrees from normal). This can also be used to capture an entire engine compartment.

5. Try Unusual Angles - If you don't want your car show photos to look like the pages of AutoTrader, you'll need to experiment with unusual angles and perspectives. Try taking a picture from shoelace height or from up on a hill looking down on the subject. Try taking a picture of one car reflected in the shiny hubcaps or rear-view mirror of another car.

6. Focus on the Details - Once you've captured a picture of an entire classic car, zoom in on specific details. Badges, decals, hood ornaments, engines, alloy wheels, tail fins, speedometers, shifters, and other details give a car personality and evoke fond memories of bygone eras.

7. Set the Scene - It's natural to focus your photography on the cars. After all, the cars are stars of the show. But, to keep your car show pictures from being stale, it's nice capture the setting for the car show. Go ahead and take pictures of the trophies, the sponsor's inflatable decorations, the hot dog stand, the bustling show parking lot, and the visitors or exhibitors you know. If your local car show takes place at a vintage drive-in burger joint, make sure you use the restaurant as a backdrop. Some car shows have 50's costume contests, rock and roll shows, and other activities. These background scenes will enrich your pictures and help distinguish one car show from another.

8. Bad Weather Can Make For Good Pictures - If a summer afternoon thunderstorm threatens, it may provide an opportunity for you to take better pictures. Some exhibitors may race for their cars and leave. Thus, providing an opportunity for dynamic action photographs. If it does rain, you may be able emerge from shelter to take pictures of raindrops beading on a hot cars hood. Clouds and wet pavement will completely change the lighting and reduce glare.

You'll be amazed at how much you can improve your car show photography by simply taking the time to think about and compose your series of shots. Enjoy the summer car shows and remember that cars don't complain, cars don't fidget, cars don't blink, and cars don't say cheese. Take lots of pictures!