Truck Show

[Sam W]

I took these photos earlier this year at a local truck show. I had never been to one. Hoodies seem to be the popular fashion. C&C welecome.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, compositions.

[Jeff Blakemore]

Very nice Sam. I've worked in trucking media for 16 years now and that second shot is as nice or better than a vast majority of what I see every day. My company holds an annual expo as well. For 2016 we've moved the show to Lexington. We're in negotiations to have one of the country's largest show truck organizations out there this year. If you were there shooting quality stuff like this, I wouldn't doubt if some of the trucking companies would purchase your images. There's a high demand for non-stock looking trucking photos because these companies use them in their driver recruiting advertising. Stock images work well for advertising sales, but for recruiting, they need images that are more "real" and can relate to the driver better. If they have good portraits of drivers with the trucks, then that's like platinum vs gold. Lol. I shoot at all our events of course, and anywhere else I can find a good rig to shoot, but I'm not shooting so much for that aspect, I shoot with the intent to composite finals for various other reasons. Mostly to use in media that my company produces, but also to license to the sales end of companies.

[IzzieK]

Sam...these are great shots, both of them. I like the idea of #1 and #2 is a very strong image...too strong...

[Sam W]

Very nice Sam. I've worked in trucking media for 16 years now and that second shot is as nice or better than a vast majority of what I see every day. My company holds an annual expo as well. For 2016 we've moved the show to Lexington. We're in negotiations to have one of the country's largest show truck organizations out there this year. If you were there shooting quality stuff like this, I wouldn't doubt if some of the trucking companies would purchase your images. There's a high demand for non-stock looking trucking photos because these companies use them in their driver recruiting advertising. Stock images work well for advertising sales, but for recruiting, they need images that are more "real" and can relate to the driver better. If they have good portraits of drivers with the trucks, then that's like platinum vs gold. Lol. I shoot at all our events of course, and anywhere else I can find a good rig to shoot, but I'm not shooting so much for that aspect, I shoot with the intent to composite finals for various other reasons. Mostly to use in media that my company produces, but also to license to the sales end of companies.

Hi Jeffrey - I recently moved to Lexington where these were taken. They were taken just after I bought my camera and started a more serious effort in photography. Well you made my day with your complements. I wanted to get these photos to someone who could use them. I would be happy just to see them used in some media. Perhaps we can talk about the 2016 show. It would be great to meet you in person.

I included a few more shots taken there. I've gotten a little better at PP but I left them the way I processed them months ago except I tweaked the vertical distortion on a couple. One question I do have for you. Do correct the vertical in wide shots or do you see the slant being more attractive?

Kenworth:



Peterbuilt:




Western:


Multiple choice question. The below is the

(a) truck driver
(b) photographer

[Sam W]

Sam...these are great shots, both of them. I like the idea of #1 and #2 is a very strong image...too strong...

Thank you so much Izzie. On image #2, it was one of my first B & W images. I think most people would prefer the color version (below) Best regards - Sam

[Dave A]

Enjoyed viewing this series. Not something you see every day.

Dave

[Donald]

Excellent photography, Sam. I hope you and Jeff are able to link up and I hope you can get an outlet for these sort of shots. They're certainly marketable, I would have thought.

[Manfred M]

Excellent shots Sam.

These guys really love their rigs and you can sure tell based on how they dress them up.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Sam,

At the risk of someone saying they can never find a moderator, then three come along at once ....

I have also enjoyed these, your rigs out there (in North America) are so vastly different to those in the European market.

As has been said; they're well photographed - I was immediately struck by #1, with the reflections - were they just attendees, or the owner/driver?

Not sure about the multiple choice question; tempted to say (b)
- or perhaps it is (c) - both?

Cheers, Dave

[Jeff Blakemore]

Excellent shots Sam.

These guys really love their rigs and you can sure tell based on how they dress them up.

Manfred, you are 100% correct. I've seen some crazy stuff, and when you're out there you better be as excited about their rigs as they are or they get highly offended. LOL.

Sam, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that's you in the photo. LOL. But you could pass for a driver there.

Did you move to Lexington, KY? I failed to mention specifically that it's in Kentucky. My bad. If that's where you're at though... that's kinda crazy and cool!

Love the new shots you posted too. And the color version of that truck is wonderful. It does seem that you have much cleaner output than the older images. Very nice stuff.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series

[MrB]

Great shots of great trucks, Sam. I wish we had more of those over here - our flat-fronted tractor units are so boring.

Cheers.
Philip

[Dave Humphries]

Did you move to Lexington, KY? I failed to mention specifically that it's in Kentucky. My bad. If that's where you're at though... that's kinda crazy and cool!

You piqued my interest - and after a visit to Wikipedia, I discover there are over 20 Lexington's in as many different states!

It does say the Kentucky one is the largest.

Not sure why I'm surprised, but I am.

[Sam W]

Hi Sam,

At the risk of someone saying they can never find a moderator, then three come along at once ....

I have also enjoyed these, your rigs out there (in North America) are so vastly different to those in the European market.

As has been said; they're well photographed - I was immediately struck by #1, with the reflections - were they just attendees, or the owner/driver?

Not sure about the multiple choice question; tempted to say (b)
- or perhaps it is (c) - both?

Cheers, Dave

Hi Dave - Thanks for viewing and your comments. In regard to your question about the people in the reflections, I do not know. Also, (c) was not an option :-). Best regards - Sam

[Sam W]

Manfred, you are 100% correct. I've seen some crazy stuff, and when you're out there you better be as excited about their rigs as they are or they get highly offended. LOL.

Sam, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that's you in the photo. LOL. But you could pass for a driver there.

Did you move to Lexington, KY? I failed to mention specifically that it's in Kentucky. My bad. If that's where you're at though... that's kinda crazy and cool!

Love the new shots you posted too. And the color version of that truck is wonderful. It does seem that you have much cleaner output than the older images. Very nice stuff.

Jeffrey, I figured you would pass the multiple choice test having been in the truck driving environment for so long. It's Lexington, Virginia. Apparently, they have something next year too. Maybe I'll see you there. Thanks for the complements. Best regards - Sam

[Sam W]

You piqued my interest - and after a visit to Wikipedia, I discover there are over 20 Lexington's in as many different states!

It does say the Kentucky one is the largest.

Not sure why I'm surprised, but I am.

Hi Dave, The most beautiful is Lexington, VA. :-) - Sam

[Jeff Blakemore]

Hi Dave, The most beautiful is Lexington, VA. :-) - Sam

Don't you want to take a little weekend drive over to The Bluegrass State? It's only 5.5 hours away!

Seriously though, If you ever want to try to license some of your images, let me know. I can pass your name and portfolio around to some of the other publications. We would be interested too because we're always looking for fresh images. We would need some that had a more "working truck" feel than "show truck" feel, like the red Pete (the one you converted) and the Kenworth you're standing next to.

I've even toyed with the idea of starting my own trucking photo site to license stuff. If I ever do, I'd love to have other photographers join the mix.

[Jeff Blakemore]

You piqued my interest - and after a visit to Wikipedia, I discover there are over 20 Lexington's in as many different states!

It does say the Kentucky one is the largest.

Not sure why I'm surprised, but I am.

It does get confusing sometimes because all these states have so many city names that are the same. I grew up in Oxford, AL. I know I've heard that city name somewhere before...

[Sam W]

Don't you want to take a little weekend drive over to The Bluegrass State? It's only 5.5 hours away!

... and 5.5 hours back Thanks for the other info Jeffrey, sounds like an interesting assignment...to find the right "working truck" feel. I'll have to give that a try and get back to you. Apparently, I'm in a great location for that as Lexington has a famous truck stop close by (http://leehi.com/) which was where these pictures were taken.