Dressing to match your classic car at duPont Concours d'Elegance St. Petersburg Florida 2014 - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 1/125thThanks to a future car photography client, I had the opportunity to literally hitch a ride in his BMW into the duPont Concours d'Elegance in St. Petersburg, Florida. This 2014 show was in cooperation with the Museum of Fine Arts set in North Straub Park. Things started out very overcast, as has been the case many winter mornings this year, but after 9:30am the sun did break through and I of course had my camera with me. I asked the couple above if I could photograph them as they had dressed up to match the era of their car. They are in the classic car restoration business. Visit their website for more info.
A Ferrari California 30 at duPont Concours d'Elegance St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR tripod mounted with cable releaseFerrari of Tampa Bay brought three cars, including the F12berlinetta, which will be featured in its own post. Above is the latest Ferrari California 30, upgraded with more horsepower and a new suspension from the original model of a few years ago. It is for sale!
1957 Buick Caballero at duPont Concours d'Elegance St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR tripod mounted with cable releaseI talked for a while with the interesting owner of this very interesting 1957 Buick Caballera station wagon. He had original ads from the 50s showing that side view mirrors were only options back then! As you can see, this car has no side mirrors. If you can believe it, seatbelts were options too! This car does not have that option either. So with no seatbelts and bench seats front and back, you can have the fun of your sweetheart sliding into you around fast turns.
Classic BMWs at duPont Concours d'Elegance St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR tripod mounted with cable releaseI arrived in the white BMW 2002 pictured above, but only was in it for one block. Both BMWs are owned by a future client so I am hoping to have featured shoots of both of these cars coming up soon to share. There will be subsequent posts featuring specific cars from this car show, including my current favorite of them all, the Aston Martin Vanquish.
Seeing eye-to-eye with Kiki (left) and two friends. Shot from one knee at the same eye level as the dogs.One very easy way to start making photographs like a pro is to simply stop only shooting from your own eye level. Getting down to the same eye level as your subject immediately transform a photograph, for the better. I often see people in the dog park standing and shooting down on their dogs playing. That will just show you what you already see when looking at your dogs, so why would you want to see a photograph of that? Get down on one knee (or your stomach if you have a very small dog!) and suddenly you will see in photographs your dog from a very different perspective. 
