I had two SLRs slung over my shoulders at the 2017 Carmel Artomobilia last month: my Pentax ME with wonderful Fujifilm Superia 100 inside, and my Pentax Spotmatic F with my last roll of Kodak Plus-X.
On this day, with this lens (55mm f/1.8 SMC Takumar), the Plus-X returned blacks you could just fall into.
And the grays and whites came out creamy.
I wished briefly that I had screwed in my 35mm f/3.5 SMC Takumar. The thick crowds made it difficult, at best, to back up far enough to get entire cars in the frame. The 35/3.5 would have made me back up a lot less.
But I’ve been exploring the 55/1.8’s considerable charms lately, and in retrospect am not disappointed I left it on the camera. It performed well, and it’s seldom a real problem to focus on an old car’s details.
Growing up in the 1970s as I did, when half or more of the cars on the road were from GM, it was easy to take their dominance for granted. Looking back, it’s clear just how good their designs were. How daring it was in 1970 that the second-generation Camaro and Firebird had no distinct rear passenger windows! The shape of this window opening is just smashing.
Packard’s Flying Lady hood ornaments are a favorite subject. I shoot them whenever I come across them at a car show.
This is the famous front end of the Studebaker I photographed from the rear here. The girl walking away was a happy coincidence as I framed this shot, so I made sure to include her.
The Citroën DS is funky from every angle and in every detail. Just check out how these headlights don’t both point forward. This is a later DS; earlier ones had uncovered headlights.
Plenty of American muscle was on display at the Artomobilia. I’m partial to the Mopars of the era for their no-nonsense styling.
Avantis were made in my hometown, South Bend. They were Studebakers at first, but after Studebaker shuttered a new company formed to keep Avanti production going. They used leftover Studebaker engines at first but eventually had to turn to Chevy to provide powerplants. Post-Studebaker Avantis were given the “Avanti II” name, probably for rights reasons.
As the show began to wrap up and the crowds thinned, I was able to get a few wider shots of the event and its cars.
It wasn’t all classics at the Artomobilia. Several owners of newer hi-po Ford Mustangs lined up their cars for inspection.
Here’s hoping I can find time for more car shows. I do love to photograph cars and I think I’ve become pretty good at it. They’re certainly the subject with which I am most confident.
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Last updated on 19 March 2020 by Jim Grey
Epic, intelligent photography, thank you.
Wow! What a nice thing to say!
I tried so hard to sell my father on an Avanti II around 1974. As with so many of my great adolescent ideas for cars my parents should buy it was a complete flameout.
If my family were of sufficient means, I’m pretty sure I could have talked my dad into one.
If you could’ve coaxed a bit more pure white (Zone X) out of these, they would be a great example of good use of The Zone System of exposure!
Pure coincidence! I let the SPF’s meter have its way.
A bear in his natural habitat. A Studebaker.
Loving all the Studes this week, both here and elsewhere. Like that Olds shot as well.
Yeah, I’ll photograph a Stude anytime, anywhere!
Gorgeous
Also, I know I already said this but getting in close makes for more interesting photographs! I really love these!
Nice shots Jim.. I used to own a classic back in the UK and so have shot many many car shows not to mention classic racing events and vintage. They are a great subject and there are a lot of options to play with.
I’ve always wanted to own a classic, but my inner cheapskate keeps saying no! Here’s hoping I can find more shows to shoot.
Very nice work Jim. I am not familiar with that lens, but I have noticed that a lot of pictures I see that I like were taken with it. You made it shine here.
Thank you! This lens is a winner.
Lovely shots!
Thanks Moni!
Fine compositions
Thank you Kevin!
I really should try to visit more car shows over here. Even though the cars are very different, they still, as a rule, tend to be far more interesting and curvaceous than modern cars.
This post is another example of why the amazing Takumar 55/1.8 (or the near identical 55/2) is the only 50/55mm lens any of us need… Fantastic work Jim!
It really is a lovely lens. I hear people praise the 50/1.4 Takumar and I’m sure it’s wonderful. But given how good the 55/1.8 is I see myself investing in other M42 glass before I turn my attention to that 50/1.4.
Yeh I’m in a similar boat. I had the 50/1.4, but sold it because it was an SMC version with the extra lugs at the rear, and it wouldn’t mount with my adapters at the time.
The 55/1.8 is a gem, and it’s hard to justify the 50/1.4. I also have the A series 50/1.4, which is also great, and is very fluid to use with my K10D.
Still, one day I would like another Tak 50/1.4!
I’d like to try a Tak 50/1.4, esp. the 8-blade version. But I’m not sure I need to own one!
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