WEEK 33 – Flashback August Challenge, 2010: Vehicles

Driving all the way back to August 2010 with a VEHICLE Photo Challenge by Trevor Carpenter. Before we get started, I invite you to take a look at the original Challenge.

August Challenge, 2010: Vehicles

Back then it was a month-long Photo Challenge with a Photo a Day throughout the month of August. Naturally we’re going to adapt this challenge to our 2018 10th Anniversary Challenge format and produce one fantastic image for WEEK 33.

One more little caveat, I’ll reduce the scope of this challenge to automotive vehicles as we’re shooting one great image in a limited timeframe.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: Auvergne &emdash; SOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE MATIÈRE AGRICOLE ET INDUSTRIEL - VIERZON

Just like in the original challenge, we’re not only looking for great images of entire vehicles. Cars are a little like buildings in architectural photography, just like we can choose to photograph an architectural detail on a building, we can photograph specific details of a vehicle. In the example above, the badge from an antique tractor I found in a field in Auvergne, France.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

Not all vehicles are created equal and for some automotive sports enthusiasts, a Ferrari is the apogee of their sport. This Ferrari 458 from Newport Beach Ferrari in California was a participant in the Ferrari Challenge race circles…

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

Not only are not all vehicles created equally, even some Ferraris will always have a special place in history that sets them apart from other Ferraris. For example, this 1980 Ferrari 312T5 F1 car driven by the late Gilles Villeneuve. A Montreal, Canada, F1 Pilot who lost his life in the 1982 Belgium Grand Prix Qualifying run.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

Some vehicle experiences are more about National Pride and Multinational Corporations than the cars themselves. This Red Bull F1 Team (Scuderia Toro Rosso), Italie’s Ferrari Powered and Italian Ran Stable with a Swiss Pilot, Sébastien Buemi.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

As mentioned, vehicle details can be extremely important in demonstrating a vehicle’s abilities and styling. In this case a mostly hidden feature, the front brake system of a Ferrari 458 Challenge Race Car.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

Infrared photography, false color rendering or a monochrome look can bring out a surreal feel to your vehicle photography. I always like to experiment in order to achieve a very unique look that sets a usually normal-looking  image apart from the rest.

Sometimes it’s all about showing off a vehicle in a Television Commercial as in this Lexus commercial I shot with Patrick Langlois in Ontario, Canada.

Steve Troletti Editorial, Nature and Wildlife Photographer: 2018-photochallenge-week-33 &emdash;

In the end, your vehicle experience may be all about an automotive repair like a busted windshield on a road trip in a foreign country.

RESOURCES TO COMPLETE YOUR CHALLENGE

None of the example images are ground breaking images, it’s a fairly standard challenge, but you can push yourself in the art of automotive photography. You can get a whole set of inspiring images by visiting UNSPLASH

There are also resources on automotive photography. One the harder parts of photographing a vehicle in a controlled environment is technically the size of the vehicle. We need a large space with controlled lighting. That’s something we don’t all have access to. This goes without mentioning the lighting equipment to realize a project of this size. However with a little ingenuity and some creative DIY lighting tricks you can go a long way.

CNET Article – How to photograph cars like a pro

Mark Delong Photography – The Distinctive Art of Automotive Photography

In a nutshell, this is all about having fun and tuning in your sense of observation on a specific vehicle that attracts your attention. From multiple vehicles to tiny specific details of a specific vehicle, it’s your choice for this Photo Challenge. The same goes for post processing and other visual techniques. You can choose to present a color, monochrome or IR processed image.

The important points remain the same in all of our challenges, especially when it comes to techniques we’ve covered in previous challenges. Balanced light and especially composition are extremely important when creating a photograph. Choose the right angle to boost the interest level of your subject.

 

About Steve Troletti

I'm a Location Scout, Editorial, Nature, Wildlife and Environmental Photographer based in Malibu, California. I specialize in Nature and Urban Nature photography including Infrared Landscapes. The Bulk of my work takes place in the Los Angeles, California area, Greater Montreal Region, Canada, Switzerland, France and Varese in Northern Italy. Ethical wildlife photography is the main priority and focus of my work. A minimum disturbance of the animals, their habitat and the environment is my top priority. This applies as much to total wilderness areas as it does to urban nature environments. Ongoing education of environmental issues and building awareness for the protection of wildlife and wilderness areas around the world is what drives me to document the beauty that surrounds us.