It's my Style, a photo from Kerala, South

Photographer's Note

I guess that as photographers, we all have different subjects that are recurrent and that we spontaneously make series of. In my case, I have a whole series of bakers, lighthouses, taxis, old campers, bridges and bicycles, among others.

While in India, I was fascinated by Ambassador cars with their distinctive retro shape.

This model has been in production since 1958 with few modifications over the years. It is based on the Morris Oxford III model, first made by the Morris Motors LImited at Cowley, Oxford in the United Kingdom from 1956 to 1959. Despite its British origins, the Ambassador is considered as a definitive Indian car and is fondly called "The king of Indian roads".

You can see more Ambassador here, here and here.

The title isn't a statement, it's just an inscription that appears on the car, next to the license plate...

SnapRJW, sevy, tyro, Suppiluliuma has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SnapRJW (18784) 2012-07-30 20:08

Hello Andre - I like this. Because of the time of day, the artificial light and the composition with almost as much weight given to the façade as to the car, a lot of questions pop into my head. Who is the taxi waiting for? Why have they been visiting this place? A romantic assignation? An underhand transaction? The possibilities are endless, the shot has more going on than a picture of a car, there is a back-story. Very neat composition with the bumper lined up in the corner, forming a lead in line. The glossy paintwork with reflections has a good feeling of volume. Nice job. Warm regards rosemary

sevy (13273) 2012-07-31 1:02

Salut André,

Ca faisait un moment que tu ne nous avais pas proposé une photo d'Ambassador. J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance très cinématographique de cette photo, surement à cause de l'éclairage, mais aussi du cadrage qui fait se répondre le coffre et sa plaque avec la porte en arrière plan. Il ne reste plus qu'à attendre Orson Welles et Rita Hayworth. A moins que tu ne préfères Mr. Bogart?

Yves.

mjdundee (4657) 2012-08-01 5:20

Hi Robert,
I am glad to read that it is not your style and I really wonder what the car owner tries to express while driving the most popular car in India with millions of similar vehicles. The car looks shiny and clean - naybe this is his aim. Do you know if the numberplate has any special meaning?
TFS
Thomas

p.s.
very nice lowPOV and great exposure and framing.

Bartleby (12741) 2012-08-02 7:27

Salut André,
comme dit Yves, j'aime beaucoup le côté 'cinéma' de ta photo. Ca me fait penser aux vieux Colombos...

Philippe

tyro (13111) 2012-08-02 23:02

Hello André,

A a bit of a petrolhead myself, I love the subject matter, especially as I well remember Morris Oxford cars in Britain from my youth. But it really is the lighting and the composition which make this photograph so wonderful.

You have used the different sources of artificial light here very expertly to produce some lovely colours and contrasts and textures. The shiny paintwork of the rear of the car contrasts superbly well with the rough stonework and paintwork on the building behind it and the dark window balances the composition perfectly.

Gorgeous colours, perfect exposure, a composition full of impact from the use of a wide lens, and exquisite detail and sharpness.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

karacabeylis (1287) 2012-08-11 6:48

an artistic touch for re object. nice shot.

korbee (6301) 2012-08-17 12:02

Hallo Andre,
Your crop here is very subtle it shows the typical shape of the old Ambassador very well and the bg villa is also playing important part of the photo,lovel.

jan