Sunday, February 27, 2011

Forget the Oscars...the Impala's the thing


Red hoodie
Delray Beach, FL, December 2010
Click all photos to enlarge
About this photo: We're sharing letters this week as part of our latest Thematic theme. You can get involved, too, by following your mouse this way.
The scene: My wife had taken the kids into the pharmacy to get the stuff kids always need when they're on vacation. For reasons that still make no sense to me, I lagged beyond for a few minutes so I could take pictures in the darkened parking lot. In retrospect, it may not have been the smartest move, but at the time it seemed like a good call.

And why was I shooting alone in a nearly deserted South Florida parking lot that was barely lit by the fluorescent light spilling out of the adjacent pharmacy? Because I somehow got it into my head that I could make our rental car - a bright red Chevrolet Impala that anyone's fedora-wearing grandpa would have been proud to own and drive - look sexy. I've done this before - indeed, the first Thematic ever featured a Toyota Yaris - and I wanted to give it a shot here, too. I'm ridiculous that way.

I grabbed a few reflective snaps before I packed the camera away and rejoined my brood inside the Walgreens. Where I promptly cracked the camera back out and resumed shooting. But that's a story for another day.

Your turn: How do you make the ordinary - in photography as well as in life - seem extraordinary?

6 comments:

that guy said...

for me it is all about perspective. with digital you can crop and enhance, so your original idea has to translate imediately.

the trouble is that i have become very complacent, thining i can just take a few more...

most weeks i take 100's of shots to get the 5 or 10 i use in my blog.

i really need to get my old film camera out again...

that took talent...

Chibi Janine said...

You certainly make your car look very sleek and the reflective lettering is super. How to make the ordinary seem less so, I had a son he transformed the world for me.

21 Wits said...

Okay these great night Impala shots (I'm kinda a car freak) are tremendous and mysterious, like what could it be (if we didn't already know) BUT also you mentioned the Oscars I usually only watch the end lately, the Academy (I think) picks for other reasons than best this or that... and is it me or why does the best picture always have to be the same movie where the best actor or best actress was in? They could in fact with the millions of movies made each year have more selections...(end of rant) this got way too long answer to your question next comment from me. Have a exciting/& snapshot week!

21 Wits said...

I think usually when that happens (4 me) it's by accident. It's like a woman doing her hair the more you fuss is not always the best solution...so the shots I really work for usually fail. It's surprising too when you have something you are not so proud of, don't say a word...cuz you might be wrong. I've had people go nuts well maybe not nuts but really like a photo or something I thought was..not worthy...and they love it....so for me the unexpected jewel arrives secretly!

Anonymous said...

I love that first picture! I had to click through and see this one for myself, since the first car I ever drove was a 1973 Chevy Impala wagon.

I've been most creative with photography when I follow a theme, given or imagined. Lately I've been fascinated with water towers. I feel a blog post coming on...

Unknown said...

Carmi: I love Del Ray Beach! Bostons is a great place to have a meal and people-watch. A nice downtown area too!