cute tomato

went to the show at ruby's last night. waited until it cooled off, and the sun was starting to set. lots of people there.

saw this 1938 chevy early on. its really a deep deep maroon color that is spectacular in the sunlight. i'd seen it at the whittier uptown show, but then it had been crammed between two other cars and always had the split hood up. so i never got a shot of it that day. here it was, with the hoods up again...arrrggggh. passed it by several times.

after going off for some golden spoon yogurt, came back for one more pass through the cars. sun had set. they were beginning the raffle and trophy announcements. the crowds had moved over to the announcement area.

finally the hood was closed, not too many people around, which was good. at this point, the exposures on the camera were going to be long, and i didn't need people milling around arbitrarily; can't be helped. there are still some people ghosts in the background, but they aren't interfering with the car, which is the main focus anyway.

the owner was nearby. he came over and turned on the lights–which also illuminated the hood ornament, but i guess i wasn't at a good angle to capture that well. i liked the ornament, and tried to get a hand-held shot of it with my macro lens, but the exposure was too long, and all out of focus. hopefully i'll see this one again when its not so dark.

hot and pink

posting another picture tonight, because i already know i won't be able to tomorrow.

anyone notice that it's getting to be a little on the hot side this week? i gotta get something to wear besides blue jeans; they just hold the heat in and i'm just gonna have a heat stroke.

stopped by three shows this evening: one in anaheim (too early, hardly anything there yet), peris, and bob's big boy in downey (only stayed fifteen minutes). lots to choose from at the peris show, stayed about an hour.

this ford hot rod stood out from all the other hot rods there. probably because it was hot pink and had pinstriped flames. even had an airbrushed portrait of a hot rod and the tasmanian devil on the back.

anyway, it was neato. i've got a shower waiting for me now...gotta go.

bring on the fleet

on this day at fuddrucker's in el toro, there were a lot of cars, but not so many that i bothered to take a picture of; either i already have shots of them, the hoods were up, or they were newer models that i have no interest in.

this 1948 chevy fleetline was parked on the edge of the show. it is in fairly good shape, and the owner was nice enough to close it up and stand aside for me. told him i'd try to post it soon; i think it's been a couple of weeks. trying to get to all the pictures that owners have specifically asked about...finding several from months ago, and now i feel bad for not getting to them sooner.

anyway, this show seems to be quite busy this summer, with the mild weather, and still long evenings of light, i always seem to be leaving the parking lot, only to see something really interesting drive up. i resist the urge to turn around and get everything out again...i'd never get home if i didn't let them get away sometimes.

polished fire

yep, here it is again. and there he is again.

personal challenge to get a good shot of the damn ghosted flame job on this puppy. thought the overcast, early morning sky would help. and it did, but, the car as always, is so buffed to a high shine, it caught all the reflection of the buildings and trees nearby. it's like looking at a world within a world, and then when you're not focusing, you can catch sight of the flames. so frustrating.

walked by it several times during the day to see what the light might do with it, but never did like the shot after the morning. gonna end up catching this one in an empty field early in a morning or late in the evening, someday...ya, evening, make the friggin flames burn yellow-orange in the sunset light...hmmmm.

i got a couple decent shots; posting this one since it had a better chance at showing the flames on the hood. can't really go wrong with this car; i haven't found that it has a bad side.

i want candy

first up from this past weekend's whittier uptown show. i hope everyone got a chance to see the group of cars from the lifestyle club. they were parked up at philadelphia and bright. incredible candylicious colors, pinstriping and airbrushing. nothing like them in the whole show. just wow. this impala was simply stunning. i'll have to post the back of it sometime. apart from it's continuous curves, there's a mermaid airbrushed on the tire cover.

another thing i noticed that made me laugh, and one i just don't understand: i'm off with my tripod doing my thing early; there's another guy with a tripod, taking his pictures. i remember seeing him last year. i'm not really following him, i've just finished walking up and down the streets seeing what's there, and getting started actually shooting. just so happens i'm going in the same direction as he is, from car to car. i'm not taking everything, i'm getting pickier lately.

anyway, i notice i'm shooting the car next to the one he's shooting a few times. seriously, i'm not stalking him, i'm in my own world, but i notice as we get to an intersection, he turns to the right and practically runs. i decide to go the other way. i was at the show off and on for about 5 or 6 hours, and i never did see the guy again the whole day. am i really that threatening? a girl? my gear? what?

which brings to mind a comment someone made to me the other day, about competition. another photographer at a show, peddling his wares. "here comes your competition." did not realize i was competing with anyone. i assume other photographers are doing the same thing i am, practicing photography. but i don't think they do it for the exercise, sheer enjoyment of the cars, of taking the pictures, or making something beautiful.

i don't try and force anyone to buy a print from me, but when they do, well, bingo, it keeps this website going another month. i assume people will buy what they like, and/or if you like something here, make a comment, let me know...don't be the silent majority.

hey, if you don't like my pictures, then thanks for stopping by, and be on your way.

dragon master

this hood ornament goes with this 1936 chevrolet that i saw again this past week at the show at alondra and the 605. maybe its not so much a dragon, as it is a phoenix, but i like it. it is a beautiful vehicle. i think it made the blue pop a little too much here; it's actually a bit darker blue – i'll try to restrain myself in the future. again, my monitor is a bit out of whack, so i'll have to check it on another computer somewhere.

the green truck is pretty nice too. both of the owners got out of the picture for me, but maybe i should have asked them to move that ratty chair too. lol. just kidding. you probably didn't realize i was framing up both cars anyway.

*************

everyone that had a good time at the whittier uptown car show today, raise your hands! saw a few people i knew, and a whole lot of wonderful cars. what a blast! total pictures for the day: 674. enough to keep me busy when the rain comes.

baby blue

the owner of this chevy was just getting in the car to leave from the back lot at bob's the other night. my husband asked the owner of this car if he could wait just two minutes so he could take a set of pictures. then he started talking to the owner about what he was doing and showing him stuff on his camera and ipad. i figured as long as they're being intrigued, i'd slip in a few pics myself. i liked this one best, but it still seems a little flat or something. does it seem ok to you? i adjusted my monitor a little, and i think i've thrown it off as far as color brightness and contrast.

so i'm going to try an experiment. wondering how many of you will whine that the picture is too small. 

anyone going to the whittier uptown show tomorrow? i'll be out early, as that rolling smorgasbord comes to my hood, and will get way too crowded as the morning progresses. maybe i'll even take a picture or two...

rebel yell

i only know fer sure that it has firestone tires. otherwise, i can't figure out what part came from what car. i also know that i could not leave without a picture of it, but there were always so many guys gathered around it, i almost did give up. i finally just walked over and set up my tripod, and just started shooting one side, then when i moved to this side, which was the side i really wanted, the group got a clue and moved back a bit. not sure if the owner was in that cluster of dudes, but if he was, someone tell him thanks for moving. i like these cars for no reason at all, but they do make for interesting images.

just home from a weekend in monterey. was taunted by the unloading of lots of classic cars for a car auction this week. public not allowed in, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. no real opportunity to get the shots i wanted, though there was one really nice buick skylark i should have taken, but just didn't. the driver was waiting for his signal to bring it into the fenced area. i figured i couldn't set up in time to get my shots, so kept walking. two blocks away, and i saw it still waiting...my husband is not letting me forget the one that got away.

fleeting moment

at bob's big boy in downey, you never know what will show up or not. hasn't been as interesting the last few weeks, as i think a lot of cars are heading to other shows. only advantage is that bob's runs their shows year round, and the others will end around october. i end up going to the other shows and also to bob's, so i'm not missing too much. but it does tend to have a different feel being there now than it did back in march. different crowd. whatever.

this 1948 chevy fleetline was immaculate. guy parked it in the corner of the front lot. don't know what his problem was, but he left right after i got my shots. seemed anxious to get going. said something snippy that i can't quite remember now, but i don't care, didn't seem to be about me.

for that guy that can never remember my better half's website, here's a link to big pixel pusher's version from the same night.

cantankerous

this 38 chevy truck reminds of an old coworker of mine. a bit worse for wear on the outside. didn't really care what time did to the outside, yet with an underlying style and way of carrying himself. a sense of grace, that you'd never, ever mention to his face, unless you figuratively wanted your guts ripped out and spewed back onto your feet. really a sensitive soul on the inside, but hides it well. he knew what was needed to make something work and get the job done.

he got the boot this past year. after so many years of service, was unceremoneously excused.
he's bored out of his gourd. never planned on being kicked to the curb, just liked to fill his days with work. he'll be all right, but his parts are getting rusty with idleness.

anyway, he'll be fine. last time i talked to him, he was still as pissy as ever.