Sunfish Photography {blog}: Boulder City Wurst Dam Car Show | Henderson Super Run Car Show

I have a love/ hate relationship with car shows.

I truly LOVE the cars. I love seeing so many incredible cars all together in one location. I love seeing so many other people with the same love (or at least appreciation) of old cars that I have always had. My dream job would be to photograph these beauties for a living. Seriously. I love them that much!

The "hate" part of my love/hate relationship comes from trying to get awesome photos while the cars are surrounded closely by other cars and the people appreciating their beauty. Not to mention trees, buildings, etc. It's very difficult to get a shot that doesn't have people or other things directly in the shot or reflected in the paint or the chrome. I don't love that the hoods are open on lots of them. As a woman married to a mechanic (who has restored cars and transformed them to a brand new state under the hood) I truly appreciate why the car owners want to show that off! Chances are they spent a pretty penny to get them to look so incredible under there! It just doesn't always work for me photographically. I also don't love the papers that are always in the windows of every car at every car show. I get why they are there, but again, they just don't help me photographically.

I still take photos of the whole car, but more so I like to get creative with my shots and just show a portion of the car, or some details I find interesting. That way I can crop out some of the distractions.

Although when I get closer to the cars, the one thing I can't always avoid showing is my own reflection! So, if you look closely enough, you will see me in many of my shots.

I would really love to get some of these cars on their own in some awesome environment (like maybe the dry lake bed), and really be able to take the photos I want. If you're reading this and you either own one of these beauties or know someone who does, please contact me. Seriously. Awesome photos of your baby free of charge and I get all the shots I've always wanted. It's a win/win! ;-)

We hit up two car shows last Saturday. First up, the Wurst Dam Car Show which was in conjunction with Wurstfest at Bicentennial Park in Boulder City. I really love Boulder City. To be honest, I have not been there too much since moving here, but every time I go there I love it a little more! One day, when I have the time, I plan to wander the city with my camera.

Here are some favorites from that show...

^ This one caught my husband's eye, since we also have a '40 Ford. Hopefully someday it will be car show material!

Another reason I like Boulder City...people are nice and actually talk to you! A man told me I was too young to like these old cars (told him I think I was born in the wrong time then!).

This ^ '67 Cougar interested me since I currently own my dad's '68. They are quite similar.
(Another one that we hope to someday be car show worthy!)

Some of these license plates are hilarious! And awesome!

After checking out all the cars in Boulder, we headed back to Henderson for the Super Run Car Show that we have gone to every year since we moved to town.

Here are some favorites from that car show...

^ this one wasn't part of the car show, but I walked by it on the way in and really liked it so had to photograph it too!

There are different works of art in the shape of hearts all over Water Street. ^ This one made me smile! :-)

A detour to the parts corral to look for parts for our project cars...

The lovely building that provided brief shade!

My son calls these "hippie" vans. This one definitely fits that description with the peace sign on the side. I've seen it (and photographed it) before, but it always makes me smile! :-)