I'm Getting Tired of Car Shows

"Raymundo" (raymundo) 12/05/2015 at 17:05 • Filed to: None

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This morning I went to a local car show. You know, a thing where a bunch of people go to a parking lot, pay the registration fee so the judges can tell them if their car is best car, then meander around for hours and wait for the trophies to be handed out. It’s a relaxed way for enthusiasts to gather around and pore over each others cars or for dreamers to come look at the cars they aspire to build, but today I just wasn’t feeling it.

I find it much more exciting to go to a motor sport event and take photos. In my opinion, a car looks the best when it’s in motion — at least it looks much more exciting. That is after all the primary purpose of a vehicle; to move. Sure, a car show provides the opportunity for people to get a closer look at things and I get that, but I think I’m going to take a looooong break from car shows. Unless I find a new interest in car shows...

Eventually I just got tired of taking pictures of cars and opted for taking pictures of people instead. A car show does offer one advantage for photography in that people don’t give you weird looks while you’re taking pictures in public. With a 250mm lens, you get even fewer looks because nobody even knows you’re photographing them. I think I have found entertainment now.

You may be wondering why I’m even there if I don’t want to poke around a parking lot and take pictures of cars. Well, I was asked by the organizer to come to the event, take some photos, and maybe write an article about it. “Okay, I can do that.” But I don’t think I’ll be doing this many more times. Instead I’ll just go as a lurker and photograph people doing people things.

Even standing around, people are weird interesting. I did have a lot of fun catching people looking real people-y; oblivious to the fact that someone is capturing their split second of awkwardness. I need a 500mm lens now. For the gooooood shots.

Caption this!

Caption this too!

I did get all the shots I need to write an article that the organizer would appreciate. I think maybe I’ll pass next time somebody wants photos of their car show and just go do things on my own accord. That’s way more fun. Car shows are cool and I understand their intended purpose, but I guess I’m just kind of bored with them. What do you think about car shows?

More for your time:

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:16

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If I sit here I can see all 72 Mustangs

Goggles Pizzano > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:19

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You’re telling me Oxi Clean will remove rust?!

Jack Does Cars > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:20

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shop-teacher > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:29

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I too have grown tired of car shows. You can never even get a good look at the cars, there’s so many dumb signs and props in the way.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:34

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Billy Mays here?

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:35

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I have a hard and fast rule. I will never pay for a car show. Charity Donations, fine, but even then, those are usually high end exotic shows.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:40

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I prefer cruise nights. Sounds like the same thing, but it's just a bunch of guys with cars chillin. I don't need to be told all the other similar cars there are better than mine, I know already. Cruise nights though, they're good.

Leon711 > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:40

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I get it, going to a show to look at some randoms car can be pretty boring, I only do Goodwood Breakfast Club because its a c&c type deal with great roads around it so I get to see great cars and go for a drive with friends.

Brickman > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:47

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I bet he owns the pink/black Scion :P

ttyymmnn > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 17:56

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I like that you took people pictures and not car pictures. Too many photogs just take a picture of the whole car, which does little more than document the fact that it was there. I haven’t done many car shows, but like static displays at air shows, I like to take detail shots of things the casual viewer might miss, or find interesting angles, particularly from down low. Shots taken while standing are boring. Everybody sees from that vantage point. I'm on my phone right now, but I'll try to link to a couple of galleries from air shows to show you what I mean.

E92M3 > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 18:44

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I don’t mind going to them, but I will never be IN one again. Sitting in a parking lot for 8 hrs with owners getting angry that some random kid touched their car is just a waste of my time.

Getting asked “what year is it?, AND did you do all the work yourself?” 100 times in a day gets old too.

traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 18:53

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People of Car-Mart

Spridget > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 18:53

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That’s why I like auctions. For part of the time, the car is sitting still, so you can go up to is and analyze it, but sometimes the cars are moving up to the block so you can really see them move and hear the engines. You’re also encouraged to open the hood and the doors because the auction people want you to analyze the car so you’ll pay for it.

Frenchlicker > Raymundo 12/05/2015 at 19:15

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More often than not I’ve noticed people are what makes a car interesting anyways. We’ve all seen a million Mustangs and Chevelles and other average hot rod fodder so there has to be a story to accompany it. Honestly, I was drawn more to a customized canyon at a recent car show than many other things there.

Raymundo > Brickman 12/06/2015 at 00:17

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Funny thing is he doesn’t. He was just perfectly placed in the photo.

Raymundo > Goggles Pizzano 12/06/2015 at 00:18

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HOLY SHIT. THE GUY NEXT TO HIM IS BILLY MAYS! AHHH!!!

Raymundo > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 12/06/2015 at 00:18

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BILLY MAYS!!!!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Raymundo 12/06/2015 at 04:35

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Agreed i’m bkred of them too. If i ever start a car show up it’ll be based around an event. Either a hillclimb competition, autocross or even a drag race. Just looking at cars lined up doesnt really draw me in any more...