Photography Project - Twelve of Twenty16

[JAMason]

Hi, first post on the forum for, I've been lurking around for a while but never really contributed. Anyway, I want to test the water and see if anyone would be interested in helping me with a project I want to run next year?

I am looking to find owners with interesting cars that have a story to tell. I want to come and meet you, find out about your car and the story behind it, how you came to own it and what made you buy it in the first place!

I want to spend a day photographing it and putting together a story for my blog. I would like to do 12 cars across the year, one per month. I am based in the north west of England (Cheshire) and I am willing to travel (within reason!) for the right car's but would ideally like to meet halfway if you're miles away!

This project is purely for my own love of cars and photography. In return for your time I can give you full high resolution images of your car.

I want to make it clear as well, that there is no cost incurred to yourselves (Unless you're willing to cover my travel expenses if you're miles away!?! ), I am not looking to do this for profit, I am wanting to do it because I love cars, I enjoy being part of the culture and I enjoy meeting owners who have a shared passion.

I posted an introduction Blog post on my website today regarding the project here: https://jamasonphotography.wordpress.com/2015/11/2...

And here are some of my pictures below to give you an idea of my style.

Eventa Barchetta compressed by Jack Mason, on Flickr

Gentlmen by Jack Mason, on Flickr

MacF1 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

Diablo-F40 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

Horizon by Jack Mason, on Flickr

Quattro Home by Jack Mason, on Flickr

IMG_1852 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

IMG_0104_1 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

If you're interested in helping me, please feel free to email me on: [e-mail]

I will get back to you and we can talk more about meeting up, locations and the style you're after to tell your cars story.

Looking forward to hearing from some of you soon!
Jack

[droopsnoot]

I might be interested in this sometime next year - and I only say "might" because I said the same to someone else a year or so ago and didn't carry it on any further. I'm also in Cheshire, so that's handy. I was about to say I might need to do some work on polishing until I saw the last one, but even so I'd want to. In fact it's something I've been thinking about recently, as someone with an old car and a bit of an interest in photography, how to go from the photos I take of my car, to the kind of stuff you're showing above. It's not just the location, I've found.

[JAMason]

droopsnoot said:

I might be interested in this sometime next year - and I only say "might" because I said the same to someone else a year or so ago and didn't carry it on any further. I'm also in Cheshire, so that's handy. I was about to say I might need to do some work on polishing until I saw the last one, but even so I'd want to. In fact it's something I've been thinking about recently, as someone with an old car and a bit of an interest in photography, how to go from the photos I take of my car, to the kind of stuff you're showing above. It's not just the location, I've found.

That will be OK as I am fairly booked up this side of the New Year with two other shoots (One being a re shoot of the white Audi 80 above, now its interior is 90% complete!) and then all that Christmas stuff!

That last one (the '76 Escort!) is actually the first car I have shot for this project. Its a young lad from London's daily driver and while it is several shades of green, its a very well loved motor and looks surprisingly well for the mileage its got under its belt!

As for the photos, a lot of it comes down to your own vision. You first need to have a decent understanding of your gear, how the camera and lens work (taking the same photo with an older and newer lens can make two very different photos in their look and feel for example) Once you know the sort of stuff your camera can create and what you have at your disposal its about having an idea of what you want the end product to look like and working with that. I am no pro, and don't pretend to be, I will admit that a good percentage of my finished article needs the use of Photoshop and lightroom to get to the end result as well. Post production can make an average photo loads better so I recommend taking a look at these software packages as well. (Some of the purist film photographers and even a few digital photographers will slate me the use of post production, but I actually started out using these programmes for other people and grew into photography from there, so I did it a bit backwards!!)

Anyway, I am waffling. If you're interested in meeting up and taking some photos and stuff in the new year. Let me know.

Cheers
Jack

[droopsnoot]

I think you're probably correct about the post-processing, it's something I haven't really got to grips with other than a bit of contrast boosting and sharpening after size reduction. Also having a silver car doesn't help - while it's great for not showing the dirt, it also doesn't stand out that much in the way that a darker colour might. The darker would also help with reflections and so on. Still, the project car is a much darker colour, so maybe that would be a more useful subject when it gets finished.

[JAMason]

droopsnoot said:

I think you're probably correct about the post-processing, it's something I haven't really got to grips with other than a bit of contrast boosting and sharpening after size reduction. Also having a silver car doesn't help - while it's great for not showing the dirt, it also doesn't stand out that much in the way that a darker colour might. The darker would also help with reflections and so on. Still, the project car is a much darker colour, so maybe that would be a more useful subject when it gets finished.

You can't blame the colour. I own a silver car and with the right location, you can still get some cracking shots.

IMG_0014 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

IMG_0015 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

IMG_0022 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

IMG_0028 by Jack Mason, on Flickr

[droopsnoot]

Fair enough, I struggle to put my finger on exactly what I'm missing out on. Largely I tend to just photograph mine by something I happen to be passing, so several nice buildings mainly. I'll try to remember to get in touch next year anyway as it would be nice to see what someone else can do, give me some ideas perhaps. Funny I'm always enthusiastic about these things when it's not really on for weather reasons.

[JAMason]

Hello again!!

Just thought I would share this here for a few of you to see how the Project is getting along!

https://jamasonphotography.wordpress.com/2016/01/1...

The car featured here is a young lad called Jake Matthews. Its his 76 Escort MK2 daily driver, I have also been to shoot a lovely 1974 Scimitar and that will be posted up in Feb.

I will PM everyone I spoke to before Christmas about organising some shoots for Mid March time as I have a couple of shoots to do for Silverstone Auctions this month and I might not have a car in February so getting to you will be a nightmare!

Again, PM me or email me at [e-mail] if you're interested in being one of my #TwelveOfTwent16

Cheers
Jack