Garage Blog

This topic is a cross between my two loves in life: Photography and my Jeep. It pains me inside every time I see someone showing off their great vehicle, modified or not, sitting lifeless in the driveway. Although every car, truck or motorcycle has their place, for the sake of the blog I will try to stick to trucks.

My Rubicon is my daily driver, as was my YJ previously. 90% of the time it explores the ‘urban jungle’, sticking to roads and highways and not trails and rocks. However that is where it shines. Lets face it at 13mpg and a ride that is about as smooth as a wooden roller coaster, it’s not a Cadillac. Put rocks, mud or a fallen tree in its path and you’ll be riding right. That is its “natural element.” That is where the Jeep belongs. That is where it should be photographed.

The environment where you choose to shoot a rig should also be influenced by its owner. Personally I tend to ride in the woods more than I do in the dessert or on rocks. When I choose a site for a photo shoot, I try to capture the essence of where I ride. And if what you are shooting happens to be a road hugging sportster, pavement may be your best friend. If shooting in an urban environment, try to make your surroundings older than your ride. Classic cars usually don’t look good in futuristic looking gas stations.

Now that we have selected our location, its time to decide if we want a glamor shot of our vehicle, shined up and glimmering in the sun, or perhaps a rough and ready, mud filled romp. Again these decisions should reflect the owner/driver. Don’t just pose yourself in a place you would never be. It’s almost like false advertising. Be proud of who you are, what you do, and what your 4×4 represents.

Now your choices are action shot, or a nice planned still shot. Both are great choices. We all love to see Ferrari’s racing around the turns in a blur, of a truck getting swallowed by a wall of mud, but how much of the parts and effort that you have put into your Jeep does that showcase? Sometimes a nice still shot will showcase those details we all know live on our vehicles, the body lines you worked so hard to gap right, that bumper that you bought instead of going to Aruba, or that sweet custom pin striping that boulder gave you last weekend. Badges of Honor.

Lastly, when shooting your vehicle of choice, do not stand directly in front/behind or to the side holding the camera at eye level. This is the shot we see a hundred times. Get creative. 3/4 shots (from one of the corners) give you ride some depth. Get low to make your truck look like it towers over everything, or zoom in to get some great detail. Don’t forget to sometimes throw in the family, yourself, or a pretty model to help accent the scene. Using some of these techniques will help you photos have a bit more kick. Don’t forget, even during daylight flash can be your friend to fill in those shadows.