Getting the whole shot of a car
A car show is at times impossible due to the show's lineup. Sometimes the cars are so close together that all you can hope for is to capture the amazing mascot that graces the hood. Other times the car stands alone, but so many people surround it that the noise of the background distracts from the form of the car. Then there's the sun sending sparks of light off the chromed bullet front grille or the bright yellow custom colored paint job reflecting itself in the mirrored image of the black glossy body of the roadster hoping to be photographed. There are times when the reflections enhance the car photo with palm treed shadows drifting across the modified Caddy's sloped roof or the reflection of metalwork bouncing from car to car, giving a different tone to the paint finish. Finally, there are times when catching the photo is almost impossible, especially when the car show is inside and the lighting is so over-powering that the glare leaps into the camera, blinding the car's true image. So this is for the light, the shadows, and the image a car reflects when a camera takes the shot.
car-tografi
started out as photographs taken at car shows around California. At first, the lens just captured the car, but it started to notice bits and pieces that made the car something special. Sometimes it was dice hanging on the rear view mirror or the paint finish weathered by the wind.
It took time and many car shows before the idea for the car-tografi series took shape. The photos started out as a vehicle for the '65 website so that other car show enthusiasts could view pictures taken from the car shows. Then one day, there it was, pinstripes, stacked in a neat little folder. Soon the photographs began to tell a story of flames, rusted metal parts, beautifully engraved inlays, engines with whimsical details, and mascots from greyhounds to flying ladies.
It has been a long journey, sorting photos into groups to define this storyline. The goal of each book is to highlight the look of a car show broken down by the parts. From grilles with teeth to grilles with a rusted bent framework. Satin to matte black finishes. Winged tails and signatures that define the ride. Every book, once finished, will look at history through the lens of a car show.
Book Series (In Work)
LAYING DOWN THE LINE
FLAMES & PAINT
TYPECAST & EMBLEMS
ENGINES & GRILLES
INSIDE THE FRAMEWORK
MASCOTS FLYING LADIES
MASCOTS
BODYPARTS
RUSTED
FULL BODY SHOTS
65 RANCHERO & THE BLUE Q
laying down the line
Art is for the pinstriper. In the 1860s, pinstriping was used on wagons and carriages. However, it wasn't until the 1950's that the liners took to the ride, laying down the line on their hot rods with a hand-crafted brush made from squirrels hair dipped in a little bit of paint. This technique has evolved with the addition of rollers and airbrush pens, but it is still the liner that captures the artist's feel with the free-form design.
California Pinstripers
65bbq list a few of the pinstripes we have worked with.
A few of the lines showcase
All photographs are property of car-tografi & 65bbq.
For any information on Book Series or photographs.