I recently headed over to South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to check out a classic car show sponsored by Speedway Charities Las Vegas. I arrived a little later than I planned, so I didn’t have nearly as much time as I wanted to explore and photograph all of the cars, but I still managed to capture some great images.
One of the best parts of photographing a classic car show is seeing how much personality each vehicle has. The shapes, chrome, paint, badges, headlights, and unique details can make each car feel like its own character.
The event was organized with the support of Speedway Charities Las Vegas, and after spending some time around the cars, I unexpectedly discovered another part of South Point that I hadn’t planned on photographing: the horse arena. At the South Point Arena, cowboys were working cattle in the arena, creating a completely different photographic opportunity. One minute I was photographing classic cars, and the next I was watching cowboys and horses working cattle. It was a pretty great Las Vegas photography side quest.
A Few Tips for Photographing Classic Cars
1. Get Low for a Dramatic Perspective
One of my favorite ways to photograph cars is from a low angle looking upward. This can help block out some of the background and make the vehicle feel larger and more imposing.
Many classic cars are already low to the ground, so photographing them from this perspective emphasizes that stance and can make them look aggressive, powerful, and fast. It also helps emphasize the silhouette and distinctive lines of the vehicle.
2. Try a High 3/4 Angle
The opposite approach can also work extremely well. Shooting from higher up at roughly a 3/4 angle allows you to showcase more of the entire vehicle.
You may capture some of the environment around the car, which can actually be a good thing. A little background can provide context and help tell the story of where the photograph was made.
3. Be Patient With Indoor Lighting and Crowds
Indoor car shows can be challenging. Flat artificial lighting can make an otherwise beautiful car look a little boring, and crowds of people can constantly appear in the background.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply wait. Look for a moment when fewer people are walking through your frame. You can also use a shallow depth of field to blur distracting backgrounds and keep attention on the vehicle.
4. Photograph the Details
You don’t always need to photograph the entire car.
Look for the things that make a particular vehicle unique: a logo, tailfin, grille, headlight, taillight, hood ornament, or even an interesting piece of chrome.
Getting in close can turn these details into almost abstract photographs, giving you a completely different interpretation of the car.
5. Make the Cars the Hero
Group photographs of multiple vehicles can be great, especially when the cars are arranged in an interesting way. But pay attention to everything else inside your frame.
Try to eliminate distracting objects and backgrounds whenever possible. Crop in closer, change your angle, or use a shallow depth of field to simplify the scene.
The goal is to make the vehicles the heroes of the photograph.
An Unexpected End to the Day
I went to South Point expecting to photograph classic cars, and I ended up getting a bonus opportunity to photograph something completely different. Discovering the arena and seeing the cowboys working cattle was a reminder of why I enjoy photography in the first place.
Sometimes the best photographs—and the most interesting stories—happen when you wander away from the original plan.
And in Las Vegas, you never really know what you’re going to find around the next corner.
Photography gear for today:
OM-System OM-3
12-40mm F2.8 Zuiko Zoom (Great walk-around lens)
