This week, Ritva hosts the challenge. She writes, “Consider slicing off parts of your subject or positioning it at the far edge of your shot. You might even depict only a hint of an object or an intriguing shadow or reflection.” You can read her entire challenge post here.
I’m starting with this image from a post several years ago. I once took the photo of a classic 1950s era Buick and cropped it into two images, put the two photos in campy plastic frames and set them on either side of a window just to fill the blank space on the wall.
Photo compositions while at a car show or auto auction like Barrett-Jackson requires creative cropping to avoid or lessen the impact of all the other beautiful cars in the viewfinder. Often, for me, that means I get some unusual crops and maybe unusual aspect ratios.
As a classic car nut, I’ve been to many auto shows, and I learned early on that photos of a car, even a beautiful classic, can get boring. I often focus on a small, distinctive feature, a hood ornament, a taillight, or another design element that visually defines the vehicle for those who know the shapes of the classics.
The headlight eyebrow on this 1957 Chevrolet shows how a small styling cue grew into a full‑blown statement. Early‑’50s cars played with modest fender peaks, but by mid‑decade designers were pushing the lines harder, tying those brows into the rising sweep of the fins. By 1957, the idea reached its boldest form: a chrome‑heavy overhang, a recessed lamp, and a fender line that carries the whole gesture rearward.
Sometimes the unusual crop is my choice of focusing on an unusual element. This 1960s-era Corvette is a resto-mod, (car restored, then modified with modern custom elements.) The people that created this automotive art were as proud of the underside as they were of the beautiful body. They put lights underneath the car and mirrors to show off the clean, crisp underside.
That’s all I have for this week’s challenge… oh, I could have included many more of my favorite car crops, but as of this writing, we are scheduled to board a cruise ship, and I won’t have much Internet access. I’ve scheduled this to post on Thursday as usual, but if I don’t immediately respond to comments, you can bet I’ll read them as I get the chance.
Thanks to Ritva for this week’s challenge. She allowed me to show off a couple of classic car photos from my private archive, and a couple from earlier posts. You can view the photos and metadata on my Flickr site here.
Last week, Beth hosted a unique and fun challenge, “What Astonishes You?” Next week, it’s Patti’s turn to host. Her challenge will go live on Saturday at noon Eastern Standard Time.
Finally, I am learning how to live without my laptop, writing on my iPad since luggage requirements kept my computer at home. It’s been a trip to use JetPack to write a complete post and struggle to find tools that are second-nature to me on my laptop.
If you’re joining the Lens‑Artists for the first time, welcome—we’d love to see your work. To participate, simply create your own post responding to this week’s theme and include a link to this page so we can find you. Be sure to add the Lens‑Artists tag so your post appears in the WordPress Reader for others to discover. You can find more detailed instructions on how the challenge works here.
Journeys with Johnbo 
Wow! Those classic cars are the perfect subject for special artistic photo crops. Love the red colors. Reminds me of a few episodes in a ‘57 Chevy station wagon ( Not too exciting — I would have been 9). Those cars were full of baby boomer kids in their day. Maybe not the Corvette…
Well, there’s that! Corvette were not known for spaciousness.
Happy cruising! I don’t have an IPad and have struggled to write posts on my phone. An imperfect art, in my case xx
It is more challenging on these smaller systems.
Classic beauties! I love the sleek red.
They are beautiful, indeed!
Greased Lightning vibes 😊
Indeed!
John, old cars are worth a great close-up and detailed crop. 1957 Ford taillight, and Classic Corvette are my favorites
Beautiful cars, John! And red–my favorite color. Enjoy your trip!
The automobiles of the 50s are certainly one of a kind. Lovely details 🙂
Thanks, Hammad!
I love your creative crops to highlight aspects on these classic cars. Well done John!
Thanks, Brad!
Thanks! They are great subjects!
Love these classic cars! I hope you are having fun!
We are, indeed! Thanks, Beth!
Thank you, John, for sharing. Eithnea.
John, it is a relief to read the troubles you go through in photographing cars. I face the same issues. I loved these photos and details you shared.
Thanks, Egidio! It can be a challenge. I haven’t yet tried background removal, but that may be useful at some point for a car show I recently photographed and haven’t yet edited.
Those car shots are fun! Great option for the theme!
Yesterday and today, I went through my spam folder after my two-week hiatus. Thanks, Pamela for your comment on the “Cropped” theme, somehow it got into my spam folder.
Great crops and very unusual John.
Thanks, Leanne!!
I could see this as an article in a car magazine John, what beautiful lines you’ve captured! Wonderful response.
Thanks, Tina!
I agree with Tina’s comment, John. These are fantastic!
Thanks, Sofia!
OK, a car magazine would surely buy these! Classical cars are so beautiful, and the details shiny and polished. I go to Corvette meetings if they are in my vicinity – love those cars.
Thanks for the compliment, Ann-Christine!