Woodward Dream Cruise

bmattock

bmattock

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Every year, the northern suburbs of Detroit host a 'Dream Cruise' for hot rods of years past, up and down Woodward Avenue, which runs in a NW direction from downtown Detroit to Pontiac. It's probably the biggest hot rod car cruise in the world, 40 or 50 thousand cars, hundreds of thousands of visitors. I've attended the past two years.

http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/

As some here have noted, I have a tendency to take standard documentarian type photos, and I've certainly done so the past several years:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/sets/72157606775207791/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/sets/72157601539466505/

So the Dream Cruise is this Saturday, and I'm planning to be there again most of the day, but I really don't know if I want to take the same kinds of photographs yet again.

I did some searches on Google and Flickr for 'different' kinds of takes on the event, but I didn't see anything that really jumped out at me. So I'm not sure how to approach it this time.

I was thinking of taking my Bessa R and a bunch of B&W film, but I am somewhat hesitant. I mean, the cars are the stars, as they say, and the cars are all about motion and color and excitement, so I'm not sure B&W is the way to go. And if I shoot color, I'll be shooting digital, I don't really shoot color print or reversal film anymore. But if I shoot digital, I'm not sure how I can represent the cars and the event in any way different than I've already done in the past - boring!

So, I'm open to suggestions. How would YOU take photos at this event if you were me?

Thanks!
 
Mutatis mutandis

Use the tools You think best for the job.
Use some slide film in the Bessa for a change.







Bobbie.
 
Take a wide angle lens to get the feel of the event and something that focuses close, the details on these old cars are awesome, like fine artwork. The fins, hood ornaments, etc. makes for nice shots.
 

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I like to try and include people in my shots too, as abstracts. BW always works well too.

good luck and have fun!

Todd
 

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Bobbie said:
Mutatis mutandis

Use the tools You think best for the job.
Use some slide film in the Bessa for a change.
Click to expand...

In the end of course, I will do whatever seems right to me at the time. However, I am soliciting opinions in case someone has a great idea that I have not thought of, because at the moment all I can think to do is what I've done before, and I want to try something new.

Slide film is a non-starter with me because I can get the same saturation with digital now. Nothing against film - if I shoot B&W, it will be film.
 
Bobbie said:
Sorry. I thought it was a "crop sensor/dof" sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Actually, that's a very good thought, thanks! I do have a very wide zoom I could use for a Pentax film SLR I happen to have (I don't have any really wide lenses for my rangefinders). Hmmm, thanks!
 
Cars with people. It'd be cool to get an old timer talking about his experiences with a particular car that is now one of the classics. Catch that glint in his eye, or wistful gaze. That and girls in bikinis. ;)
 
You need to be careful with people in the shots at this kind of event.
I like antique tractors and steam engines and used to go to a few "meetings" back in England.

It was great when the folks wore coveralls or normal farm/country/working clothes, but the tourists in shorts and adidas T shirts spoiled a lot of "atmosphere shots".






Bobbie.
 
Bobbie said:
You need to be careful with people in the shots at this kind of event.
I like antique tractors and steam engines and used to go to a few "meetings" back in England.
Click to expand...

It was great when the folks wore coveralls or normal farm/country/working clothes, but the tourists in shorts and adidas T shirts spoiled a lot of "atmosphere shots".

Yes, I know what you mean. I recently went to a steam train exhibition here in Michigan, and it was so crowded, it was nearly impossible to get any decent photographs.

I might be able to go very early and cut down on some of that, though.
 
Bobbie said:
You need to be careful with people in the shots at this kind of event.

Bobbie.
Click to expand...

One mans trash is another mans treasure

People add another dimension to the picture for me, they lift the shot from the mundane...
 

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Can anyone recognize the car on the right, name and year?

Can anyone recognize the car on the right, name and year?

Todd.Hanz said:
Take a wide angle lens to get the feel of the event and something that focuses close, the details on these old cars are awesome, like fine artwork. The fins, hood ornaments, etc. makes for nice shots.
Click to expand...

Sorry Bill to hijack your great thread momentarily but I've been trying to identify the car on the right since Todd posted it a month ago to no avail. I'm hoping someone knows thanks and sincere apologies again. It is post #4 above.
 
When working with cars I typically enjoy fairly low angle shots and if you can get to a point where they can pick up the pace an slr with a long lens will let you pan(which to me makes automotive shots interesting to me at least). If you can grab great detail shots on engine components and mechanicals that make the car what it is. I also agree that people will add dimenson especially if you can get them really staring in awe at a particular vehicle. Car people love to see that look on anothers face when they see the reaction to their pride and joy. I know this because I am a car guy myself and checking out a quality built ride still gets me everytime capturing that feel almost requires one to "get" it . I look forward to your shots as I have only read about this event in magazines
 
-doomed- said:
When working with cars I typically enjoy fairly low angle shots and if you can get to a point where they can pick up the pace an slr with a long lens will let you pan(which to me makes automotive shots interesting to me at least). If you can grab great detail shots on engine components and mechanicals that make the car what it is. I also agree that people will add dimenson especially if you can get them really staring in awe at a particular vehicle. Car people love to see that look on anothers face when they see the reaction to their pride and joy. I know this because I am a car guy myself and checking out a quality built ride still gets me everytime capturing that feel almost requires one to "get" it . I look forward to your shots as I have only read about this event in magazines
Click to expand...

They can't get up much speed on Woodward itself. It's very crowded with hot rods all day, and the cops will pull over anyone doing an exhibition of speed instantly. So they don't go too fast, except up north of the cruise, between Bloomfield and Pontiac, where they do the turn-around. Not much chance of getting photos there, though, because it's wider and not pedestrian-oriented.
 
leica M2 fan said:
Sorry Bill to hijack your great thread momentarily but I've been trying to identify the car on the right since Todd posted it a month ago to no avail. I'm hoping someone knows thanks and sincere apologies again. It is post #4 above.
Click to expand...

On the right? Looks like a Chevy pickup truck to me. A 1940 or so? Not sure.
 
Yeah!

Yeah!

FrankS said:
Cars with people. It'd be cool to get an old timer talking about his experiences with a particular car that is now one of the classics. Catch that glint in his eye, or wistful gaze. That and girls in bikinis. ;)
Click to expand...

There was this old couple you photgraphed in their convertible would be nice to have portraits of the owners at the place wher they start or stop!
Just to see if they will somehow resemble their cars! That also would be a good subject for BW
 
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You say you want a different approach, why not Kodachrome ? Last chance too use it. Get in close, concentrate on the details, the paint and art work, the old rodders, people in the crowd. Best of luck with it, just wish I could be there, looking forward too seeing the photos.
 
Leica M2
I think it's a Packard Super Eigh Sedan, 1938 maybe.

Todd
 
[FONT=&quot]Think perspective and technique. Opening a lens up to isolate is a fine idea but also think of using a wide angle lens, =>28mm and get in tight to get some picks of the people that own these rides. If at all possible, as they periodically slow down to a crawl or even stop I would walk up to the car and say hello and smile (engage the riders) as I took some close-up shots, most with not looking through the viewfinder, eye contact with the riders, hold the camera down around your chest, look for facial expressions and interesting compositional arrangements. Not a long lens zoomed in but a wide angle a couple feet away. This will eliminate background clutter and get you inside with a more intimate feel.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This scene has great potential but the perspective sucks.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/1167130912/in/set-72157601539466505/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I would have used a wide angle lens, up close, a couple/few feet away. I’d converse with the man and take pics while doing so, the majority of which I would not use the viewfinder as this signals you’re taking a picture, I would hold the camera higher then eye level pointing in a slightly downward angle to eliminate a distracting background. The frame would include the owner and the entire background would be his car. I might attempt a few low angle shots as well. Stand further back, squat down, hold the camera a foot or two from the ground, between your knees, (no viewfinder) angled up to include the owner the car and some sky.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Think perspective and technique; experiment. Completely change your normal way of looking and shooting for a portion of the pictures. Remember, these experiments could all turn out to be miserable shots. Shoot only color. [/FONT]
 
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