The Long Winding Road........

[FRANKIE]

I was happy to see the winning photos. I had voted for two of them because I liked their content. During the day, when I wasn't busy at work, I reflected back on them. The top 3 photos all seemed to have something in common. They all contained a picture of a long winding and almost isolated road. I felt that the voting reflected the cumulative desires of our group. I couldn't help but think that the cars were almost secondary to that long piece of road. That we have beautiful pieces on machinery that can and will handle that road and allow us the wonderful freedom of adventure on these roads, sometimes unknown to us. Perhaps the first time we are ever on them. The pictures suggest no starting point or end. No Emerald City at the end of these yellow brick roads. The destination is secondary, to the long winding road...........................

 

[Rev]

I agree that many of the best pictures have the roads and are in remote places, but I expect thats because we head to those places with our cars, and when there it's easy to stop and take a picture. They are also where are dreams lie and what we think about when we purchase these machines.

The difficulties involved in urban picture taking are enormous though. I wanted to take a picture of my car outside Monte Carlo Casino, but could I get close? Not a chance. I do though think it would have been a stunning back drop for my car.

Heres a picture I took in France this year, and I really like it. The contrast of the shiny clean machine against a decaying wall works for me, but whether it's a winner of a competition I probably doubt. Maybe a little bland for most people, but it's one of my favourites from the trip.

 

[miller1098]

The trouble is rev your car makes any pic look great .for me the driving is the best part of owning theZ it gives me the reason to go down a diffrent road and find a new adventure .We've always taken photos and take great pleasure looking back over them .But sometimes I think I fall into the trap of driving a road because it's the "one to do"like Monroe bagging ,and take the photo as a trophy .

 

[GazHyde]

Your post made me think of this advert.

 

[FRANKIE]

I agree that many of the best pictures have the roads and are in remote places, but I expect thats because we head to those places with our cars, and when there it's easy to stop and take a picture. They are also where are dreams lie and what we think about when we purchase these machines.

The difficulties involved in urban picture taking are enormous though. I wanted to take a picture of my car outside Monte Carlo Casino, but could I get close? Not a chance. I do though think it would have been a stunning back drop for my car.

Heres a picture I took in France this year, and I really like it. The contrast of the shiny clean machine against a decaying wall works for me, but whether it's a winner of a competition I probably doubt. Maybe a little bland for most people, but it's one of my favourites from the trip.



View attachment 3004

I get up for work at 2:23 in the morning. Take a shower, dress, and then walk the dogs. If I don't waste too much time in the shower trying to wake up, I have a few extra minutes to check the computer for any response to what I've posted. I read your post and had to laugh a little because you made me think of trying to take a picture of the car on the northern part of the New Jersey turnpike which runs along the western side of the Hudson river near New York City. It is 12 lanes of screaming traffic. To try to pull to the side and take a picture would really be taking your life in your hands.

What you said about Monte Carlo made me promise myself that when I start driving my z, I'll take a picture of it in front of where I work, Caesars, and post it for you.

As far as the picture you posted, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I was almost late for work. I liked it very much but wasn't sure what attracted me to it. I had a lot of time to think about it at work as I was dealing single deck blackjack, and the table went dead during the slow time of the morning for about 3 hours. I kept thinking of your words: "The contrast of the shiny clean machine against a decaying wall..", and realized that you were right. I've seen many members post pictures of their cars with beautiful scenes or structures in the background The beautiful backgrounds draw your attention to them but there is no such background in your picture. The stark architecture of the antiquated building does nothing to draw your attention away from the car and serves to create an even greater contrast to the car juxtaposed to it. The building almost forces you to look at the car. Yet there seems to be a subliminal idea being projected also. While the walls of the building show some decay, there are no weeds growing between the cracks, no trash lying about, well secured windows and doors, and electrical wires on the walls updating the structure. Certainly no derelict building. In fact, a building, though antiquated, is still operating and in good use. It is the one thing the building has in common with the car, which is also in good condition and being used.

Your ability to see these relationships in contrast, to me, is quite a remarkable feat of composition. It is a talent not often seen in most photographs. I don't know what your line of work is, but you might have missed your calling. Anyone with an eye like yours is a rare person.

 

[FRANKIE]

Your post made me think of this advert.

View attachment 3005

I hope whomever wrote that ad, joins our forum. He's one of us. I thought of how well a short simple ad like this can make such a good point with such few words. It reminded me of one ad, though not along the same line, that was on the television about 40 years ago. It was of a man driving a VW beetle. There was snow on the ground where the car comes to a stop and the man gets out stepping into the deep snow. An announcer speaks only one sentence: "Did you ever wonder how the man who drives the snowplow gets to the snowplow?"

 

[FRANKIE]

The trouble is rev your car makes any pic look great .for me the driving is the best part of owning theZ it gives me the reason to go down a different road and find a new adventure .We've always taken photos and take great pleasure looking back over them .But sometimes I think I fall into the trap of driving a road because it's the "one to do"like Monroe bagging ,and take the photo as a trophy .

When explores first came to this country, if they landed along the coast of New Jersey they soon learned not to go inland. There are dense pine forests, insects, swamps, pine rattlers (rattlesnakes) and quick sand. They soon learned to go around the southern tip of New Jersey and up Delaware Bay where Philadelphia was soon located. As a result, much of southern New Jersey was left to itself. Very few inhabitants, who were mostly along the rivers or streams where fishing or clamming towns sprang up. The interior was so desolate, that in 1971, National Geographic magazine listed the Jersey Pine Barrens as one of the last true wilderness areas in the United States. Not something most people would think of in New Jersey, the most populated state in the nation. Almost all of the population was in northern Jersey across from New York. Yet there were isolated roads, mostly fire roads (forest fire), that cut across the pine barrens. There have been several times when I was driving down the Black or White Horse Pike and saw this tiny one lane road that seemed to go to nowhere, and just had to take it just to see where it led to. I can't imagine how much you would love driving through this area. If you ever get a chance, Google earth southern NJ and in most places you will only see forest. Frankie

 

[Rev]

The joy of life is we all see things in different ways.

All on this forum have similar cars. Some want them to go fast in, some get a buzz out of restoration, some like cruising and meeting up, but we all have common ground. Thats why it's a nice place to be.

With regard to the picture I've seen many over the years that use similar technique, but rather than just looking at the picture I've tried to understand what I like about them. It's not rocket science and I suspect you'll see things in a different light now than you did before. I'm still learning all the time.

If I did your job I'd be psychoanalysing the punters all the time. I've never got how people can spend so much money gambling. I do so enjoy watching them do it though.

A picture in front of Caesars would be soooo cool!

Another picture below, and this one has grass growing. I don't like it as much, but it's another building one.

Thank you for your comments Frankie, bring on that picture of Caesars!

 

[joey]

I think the building behind echo's the retro lines of the Z8, it's such a beautiful machine and has a lovely balance of old and new,

one of my other favourite cars of all time is the honda S800 http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/cars/1967-honda-s800-coupe-for-sale/

and the Z8 reminds me strongly of this which is why I like it so much ,my thought was that the S800 or a DB5 or TR3 would look equally good in this setting,

how many modern cars could share a setting with those classics and hold their own?, you will all have opinions on this but I think the Z3 and Z8 have an appeal similar to the aforementioned classics..something that BMW moved away from in the design of the Z4 and maybe even the Z1..

for the same reason I prefer the jaguar XK over the new F type which I think is gimmicky and predictable...

one of the things I ask myself when looking at a car is "would a premiership footballer buy one" and if the answer is a yes I steer well clear!

(I am aware beckham had an XK but there is always one exception to the rule!)

once again, Rev that car is special.

 

[Rev]

Thank you Joey. Nice words.

What a pretty car that Honda is. I don't think I've ever seen one. It's a minature cross between an Aston and an AC Aceca. Gorgeous.

A picture I'd like to see is a Z3 against a bright graffiti'd wall. I think that could really work. Or a graffiti'd underground train. I looked for one all summer to take a picture of my car against, but never found anything suitable. I live in a rural area and so no chance locally. I think railway tunnels and old industrial buildings are cool as well. Stark and hard Victorian. Most shots people take are of pretty backgrounds. They are nice, but the car competes for the focus.

It is funny though how cars that were once cutting edge modern take on a classic feel in time. I bought a Z3 new years ago and thought it was the most super cool cutting edge car. It will be a proper classic given a little time. You can see the prices beginning to harden now. A good one is getting to be as expensive as a Z4, which at the minute appear cheap. Every dog has it's day.

I like the XK8 as well, but my father owned a Jaguar in the 70's/80's and it was always breaking down. I've never wanted one since.

I like the premiership football annotation. It's not a bad rule of thumb. But I suspect if you wrote off all of Mr. Beckhams cars from your wish list there may not be a lot left! The bloke does though have style, even if he sounds like a squeaky toy.

 

[joey]

thanks rev, I suspect you are right about mr beckham, he is a very stylish fella,

i'm actually a big fan of old japanese sports cars, the Toyota GT 2000 is just a beauty...

http://media.caranddriver.com/image...000gt-convertible-photo-235396-s-1280x782.jpg


as is this Datsun roadster

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...969),_Dutch_licence_registration_AL-61-24.JPG

because the japanese took their cues from the great british manufacturers of the day they appeal to me visually ,but they also have a personality all of their own as well,and the build quality was really good,in most cases as good as or better than the european counterpart.

recently the chinese have been doing the same with scooters and motorbikes and have made some really decent cafe racers and scooters...taking their cues from vespa and lambretta, and triumph,ducati and enfield.

http://www.motorcyclesupermarket.co.../16962.1374335312.Ace_Modified_F2_Special.jpg

http://totaalzoeker.be/uploads/tx_m...c/neco-abruzzi-125cc-speciale-aanbieding.jpeg

I am about to order the Skyteam bike from my local dealer in Godalming who replaces some of the bits that are not quite up to scratch,and sells them for about £200 more than the internet price with a 2 year warranty..I should have that little bit of fun by summer!.

I digress, my point is the chinese are now doing what the japanese were doing in the 60's 70's and 80's and copying european cars and bikes, most of the cars are rubbish

but they are starting to get better at it, how long before we see a reasonably priced roadsters made in china?.

 

[badman gee]

The z8 is a great car, but like all the rest it's still a hair dressers car

 

[joey]

nah....

not the hairdresser

the owner of the salon.!

 

[Stormy_be]

WAW Rev, that is a great picture.
Maybe as it was said it's simplisity and the decade of the building that brings the car even more to live.

As you have taken it yourself, I suppose no copyright ot anything on it, right....Could you send me the full version. I want to set it as my background

Regards, Koen

 

[Rev]

The z8 is a great car, but like all the rest it's still a hair dressers car

I wouldn't know about either... I haven't owned a comb for the last 25 years!

It's the wind across the scalp for me!

 

[Rev]

WAW Rev, that is a great picture.
Maybe as it was said it's simplisity and the decade of the building that brings the car even more to live.

As you have taken it yourself, I suppose no copyright ot anything on it, right....Could you send me the full version. I want to set it as my background

Regards, Koen

Not a problem. Send me your email by PM.

 

[Rev]

thanks rev, I suspect you are right about mr beckham, he is a very stylish fella,

i'm actually a big fan of old japanese sports cars, the Toyota GT 2000 is just a beauty...

http://media.caranddriver.com/image...000gt-convertible-photo-235396-s-1280x782.jpg


as is this Datsun roadster

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...969),_Dutch_licence_registration_AL-61-24.JPG

because the japanese took their cues from the great british manufacturers of the day they appeal to me visually ,but they also have a personality all of their own as well,and the build quality was really good,in most cases as good as or better than the european counterpart.

recently the chinese have been doing the same with scooters and motorbikes and have made some really decent cafe racers and scooters...taking their cues from vespa and lambretta, and triumph,ducati and enfield.

http://www.motorcyclesupermarket.co.../16962.1374335312.Ace_Modified_F2_Special.jpg

http://totaalzoeker.be/uploads/tx_m...c/neco-abruzzi-125cc-speciale-aanbieding.jpeg

I am about to order the Skyteam bike from my local dealer in Godalming who replaces some of the bits that are not quite up to scratch,and sells them for about £200 more than the internet price with a 2 year warranty..I should have that little bit of fun by summer!.

I digress, my point is the chinese are now doing what the japanese were doing in the 60's 70's and 80's and copying european cars and bikes, most of the cars are rubbish

but they are starting to get better at it, how long before we see a reasonably priced roadsters made in china?.

I adore the 2000gt, but allegedly they've got a tiny cabin space. Gorgeous car though.

Not as keen on the Datsun.

I know absolutely nothing about Bikes. I've steered clear as I'd kill myself.... and that doesn't sound a lot of fun!

 

[Stormy_be]

I adore the 2000gt, but allegedly they've got a tiny cabin space. Gorgeous car though.

Not as keen on the Datsun.

I know absolutely nothing about Bikes. I've steered clear as I'd kill myself.... and that doesn't sound a lot of fun!

The 2000 has stolen some of it's looks from the (gorgeous) E-type for me.

 

[joey]

I agree on both counts

it is gorgeous

it is like an e-type,

prefer the front of the toyota though. and I would put money on it being the more reliable of the two.

 

[Rev]

The 2000 has stolen some of it's looks from the (gorgeous) E-type for me.

They say the Z8 stole it's rear view from the E type.

I suspect all designers look at what is best from the past to get a vision for the future. It's the way of the world.

The front of the Toyota reminds me of a Ferrari Daytona.

Lots of "Grand Auto Theft" going on!