janko Loc: coastal Maine

Autos from a time when they were expressions of a single mind, for better or worse, though certainly more visually pleasing than todays cookie cutter designs. In my humble opinion of course.
Best regards,
Janko

275 GTB twin cam

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I prefer the older cars, also. I remember when our DOT forced Jaguar (and everyone else) to eliminate the form-fitting glass lenses from their headlights...yuk!
Nice photo...it's a bit of a self-portrait! :thumbup:

janko Loc: coastal Maine

Danilo,
I agree about the headlight covers, an early XKE kicks butt over later DOT compliant one! I put them on a Datsun 240 Z I owned, totally cool though illegal.
Have not figured out a way to take these kind of shots without including my ugly visage, perhaps a UHH member could give some advice to keep me out of the shot?
Thanks very much for the input.
Best regards,
Janko

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

One way of dealing with unwanted reflections, janko, is the use of a Circular Polarizing filter on your lens. There are two essential criteria which must be met:
Your light source must be polarized light, such as direct sunlight, or an artificial source with a polarizing filter over it.
The unwanted reflection must originate from a non-metallic surface, such as shiny paint, glass, water, or shiny leaves on trees.
With your light source at approximately a 90 degree angle, rotate the circular polarizing filter while carefully viewing the image through your DSLR to note maximum effect. Note that the filter absorbs up to 2 f/stops of light, and must be compensated for (your camera's light metering system should be able to handle this automatically).
If you're using a circular polarizing filter, as opposed to a linear polarizing filter, your autofocus system should operate normally.
I may be laboring some of these points because I don't know how familiar you might be with this type of filter.

Addendum: The effect of the polarizing filter is one of the few effects which (so far) are unobtainable through Photoshop.

janko Loc: coastal Maine

Danilo,
Many thanks for great advice, I have only used a linear polarizing filter in the past. Been shooting for 40+ years but still learning. Oh boy a new toy!
Thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Best regards,
Janko

autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

A friend of mine once said that all the new(er) cars look like a worn bar of soap. I always thought it was a very appropriate description. Although, when you look at some of the new Cadillac models, I'd have to say that "edginess" is coming back. They may be taking a leadership position as they did in the past..some of you will remember that the "fin" started with the late forties Cadillacs, and soon thereafter, every car had fins until "ultimate fin" was finally reached with the '59 Cadillac. I consider myself to be a "generalist" photographer, however, photographing the more work of art/artistic older car is one of my passions

Speedy Loc: Alabama

I agree Janko, those were the days you knew make and model of a car a mile away. That was one of the first things I taught my wife (then my girl friend in 1963)was which model was what.

Thanks Danilo for tip on reflections. I take a lot photos of my 57 Chevy on overcast days due to all the reflections. I am still new at this.

Speedy

janko Loc: coastal Maine

Speedy,
Right car, right color, proper 5 spoke mags! No rust in Alabama, up here in Maine, cars start to return to the earth in five years or less.
By the way Danilo, it seems my lady friend, who is a pro photographer, had a spare circular polarizing filter to give me, best price going.
Even after sooo many years, I can identify the year of an older car just by the location of its front turn signals (55 or 56 Bowtie), side trim or roof line.
Thanks for the reply.
Best regards,
Janko

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Your '57 looks great, Speedy! Those were the days! :thumbup:

An additional note on the polarizing filters: A clear sky, direct sunlight is maximum polarized light, therefor your filter can be most effective with it. An overcast, diffused light has a minimal polarizing effect, so other means of "reflection management" must be used. Sometimes you can put something in place to be reflected by the shiny object you're photographing. A black "gobo" of appropriate size could be reflected instead of a person, or other unwanted object. Obviously this may not be convenient in some situations. Although, even at a car show, if you have a wife, friend, or other willing person to hold your gobo in place, it could work! It wouldn't have to be very large if you're only photographing portions of the car; headlights, hood ornaments, wire-wheels, etc.

Here's a collapsible reflector/gobo that could be handy, there are many, many of these available:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/501357-REG/Westcott_301_5_in_1_Reflector_Disc.html