Old Memories - 1948 Fleetline

During the Los Angeles Bombs car show in Santa Fe Springs, California, I had the opportunity to photograph a remarkable 1948 Fleetline. The body style of the 1947-1948 Fleetline has always captivated me, and when I spotted this particular vehicle across the parking lot, I knew I had to capture its image before another car parked nearby, potentially obstructing the shot.

After completing my photography of the vehicle I was standing in front of, I made my way over to take this shot. I have always been drawn to the two-tone Fleetline paint schemes, as they impart a vintage and period-correct appearance to the car. It is uncertain whether these paint schemes were originally produced by the factory or if contemporary owners simply recognized their appeal and had them applied.

This particular car belongs to the Old Memories Car Club. I have attended several of their car shows, and they consistently showcase exceptional vehicles. As mentioned in my previous post, the car show took place on a pleasant, overcast day, which is ideal for photography. The lighting is exceptionally even, akin to using a very large soft box light. Additionally, it is more comfortable for the photographer to avoid standing outside on a hot asphalt parking lot, enduring heat waves and the potential for heat stroke. Car clubs have meticulously planned for such conditions, which is evident in the presence of pop-up tents in the background. These tents provide much needed shade and their well stocked ice chests provide hydration, ensuring the comfort of club members.

While we are typically pulling a rolling camera bag and a tripod with a camera mounted on top, we do keep some water in the car. Some car clubs offer us water on hot days, which is always appreciated.

Although we were not directly affected by the heat on this particular day, I could sense the approaching heat of summer. Consequently, attending car shows in July and August will require early morning arrivals, assuming that the cars have already arrived and we are permitted to enter the show early. The lighting is always superior at dawn, which is one of the reasons we arrive at the Pomona Auto Swap Meet so early.

 

Moises's '39

In June of this year, Kathy and I attended a car show hosted by the Los Angeles Bombs car club in Santa Fe Springs, California. We had previously previewed the club’s cars at the Rialto car show held earlier this year. At that event, the club members were courteous and inquired about our photography. They informed us of their upcoming car show and extended an invitation for us to attend.

We arrived at the show around 6:30 a.m. and discovered approximately 20 cars already in attendance, including 10 or so parked on the street in front of the industrial lot where the car show was held. We photographed the cars on the street first and then entered the show proper. By that time, there were likely 30 cars parked in the lot. So many impressive cars to photograph! The weather was pleasant and cool with overcast skies. It was essentially an ideal day for photography. We spent some time wandering around and capturing photographs. I alternated between the two cameras I brought and swapped lenses as well. I found a charming 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe tucked away in the front left corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the club’s popup tents where several club members were sitting. I took several sets of photographs of this car, moving my tripod from one location to another. The club members did not approach me but observed me closely. The 1938 and 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe is one of my favorite vehicles, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to capture this particularly fine example.

San Diego Bay Sunrise

One of the notable advantages of being an early riser is the opportunity to capture moments like the one depicted in this photograph. Kathy and I were staying on Shelter Island, located on the San Diego Bay. We hold Shelter Island in high regard. It is a mere 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego yet offers a serene escape, free from the prevalent urban challenges encountered across the bay. Fortunately, Shelter Island boasts three hotels that cater to our preferences and are reasonably priced.

On this exceptionally early morning, I awoke just before 4:00 AM and endeavored to dress discreetly, refraining from illuminating the room to avoid disturbing Kathy, who was still asleep. Once dressed, I fumbled in the darkness, searching for my cameras and lenses. Once located, I made my way to the door and exited the room. The darkness persisted outside as I proceeded to the parking lot, passing my car on my way.

Crossing the street, I headed towards the water’s edge. A faint pink hue was already emanating from the eastern sky, a harbinger of an exceptional sunrise that morning. I was determined not to miss this celestial spectacle. At this early hour, the streets were sparsely populated. I observed a few fishermen at the pier, their fishing lines already cast into the water.

Selecting a suitable location, I set up my cameras and prepared to await the arrival of the sunrise. A harbor police car slowly passed by, its driver likely observing my activities. There was no indication of any illegal or nefarious conduct here; I was merely a photography enthusiast attempting to capture a memorable moment.

As time elapsed, the eastern sky intensified in brightness, transitioning into a mesmerizing blend of reddish-orange hues. I commenced capturing images. After a while, convinced that I had captured the desired composition, I moved closer to the pier and captured additional shots from that elevated vantage point. 

Azteca Whirl

Kathy and I made the decision to attend the Dia Del Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival in Whittier, California last year. The festival features a car show showcasing the types of vehicles we enjoy photographing, making it an event we were eager to attend. As we were busily capturing as many cars as we could, the sound of drums abruptly commenced, emanating from a nearby location. The proximity of the drums was such that they could be felt physically. Instinctively, I turned around to identify the source of these sounds and discovered an individual in Aztec attire rapidly approaching me. I promptly switched cameras and made a poor attempt to capture an image as he swiftly passed by. He was nearly out of frame by the time I took the photograph below. Regrettably, and perhaps fortunately, my camera was not configured to capture rapidly moving subjects, resulting in a vibrant blur that retained the essence of motion while maintaining a pleasing visual quality. Upon reviewing the photographs taken that day, I recognized this particular image as a standout and hopefully worthy of being posted here.

1948 Pontiac Streamliner - Silver Streak

During an early April morning at the Pomona Auto Swap Meet, I encountered a remarkable automobile. Coincidentally, this discovery occurred just prior to the due date for taxes in the United States. Having filed my taxes several months earlier, I was able to devote my attention to this exquisite vehicle, which I believe to be a 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Silver Streak convertible. Notably, some early 1948 Pontiacs were equipped with engines and transmissions sourced from Italy. While I cannot ascertain whether this particular car possesses this type of engine or transmission, I surmise that convertibles were likely relatively uncommon. My research indicates that, in addition to the convertible model, buyers had the option of selecting a sport coupe with a rumble seat, a business coupe, or a touring sedan.

1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Kathy and I had a good time at the Pomona Auto Swap meet in late June. My nephew was in town and told me he and his significant other were planning to join us. Kathy and I arrived at the fairgrounds just after 5 am. It was a bit overcast and chilly, which was perfect for us. We usually steer clear of hot days when we’re out taking photos. We found a parking spot quickly and got our cameras out of the trunk. We made our way into the swap meet and even though it was still dark, we managed to spot around 20 cars of the type we’d like to take photos of. Many more cars arrived in the next two hours.

 I noticed this green 1951 Pontiac Chieftain right away. As always, classic Pontiacs are super attractive to me. At first, it was their beautiful hood ornaments that caught my eye, but as time went on, I started to appreciate the overall style of Pontiac vehicles. So, it’s no surprise that when my nephew arrived, I was taking photos of this stunning green Pontiac. In fact, I was just finishing up the 7th set of HDR images when he showed up. I had already taken over a dozen shots of the hood ornament alone!

 

1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe

Immediately preceding the United States’ entry into World War II, the automotive industry witnessed a surge in stylistic expression and fervor.

During the Pomona auto swap meet, I had the opportunity to encounter a remarkable 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe that epitomized this stylistic expression. This vehicle was exhibited at the show courtesy of the Memories of El Monte Car Club.

I was fortunate to locate this exceptional vehicle relatively early in the morning, before the parking area became excessively congested. Later that day, several additional members of the car club parked immediately adjacent to the coupe. I generally favor uncluttered backgrounds whenever feasible. 

Reflecting on a '39 Chevy

Kathy and I attended the 2025 Chino Corn Feed car show in Chino, California, in late April. We arrived around 6:15 AM and parked my car under stormy skies that appeared highly threatening. I estimate that there were already approximately 100 or more show cars parked on the main street, which is a significant number considering the imminent threat of rain. Show car owners typically invest considerable time in preparing their vehicles for display at a show, and experiencing rain would be undesirable. We commenced photographing the cars and proceeded down the main street. We were compelled to seek shelter on several occasions due to the intermittent rain. Our cameras and lenses are of high value and not waterproof, so it would not be prudent to damage our equipment. Therefore, when rain began, we placed them in our camera bags and sought shelter. Later in the day, we decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. The restaurant was approximately four blocks away, and as we were walking, rain began to fall again. By the time we arrived, the rain was coming down heavily. We attempted to eat slowly to wait out a change in the weather, but soon, there were other customers waiting to be seated. Consequently, we decided to depart. We donned our jackets and resumed our walk back to the show site.

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We first saw this 1939 Chevy in a local business’s parking lot. The recent heavy downpour had left big puddles on the ground near this car. Kathy and I both had the same idea. Let’s shoot some photos of the car from a low angle to capture not just the car but the reflection of the car in the water. We met the owner who had been following Kathy on social media. I asked if he would be willing to reposition the car and turn on his headlights and fog lights to better show up in the reflection. He readily agreed. We took quite a few photos. Kathy kept her camera mounted on her tripod and I took several shots by holding my camera about 1 inch above the water.

Light Show

About a month ago, one of my nephews mentioned that he was going to attend the Pomona Auto Swap Meet to be held on a Sunday in early April. I told him I intended to go as well so we made a plan to meet up. Generally speaking, he travels to Pomona from central California to look for car parts while I go to take photos of the classic cars. I let him know I intended to arrive at 5:00AM and that he would find me near the drag strip grandstands where the lowrider and Chevy bombs usually park. 

The day before the event, Kathy and I got our cameras and gear together, I cleaned my camera sensors and made sure the camera batteries I intended to use were fully charged. I was also going to be using a new 10” external monitor for the first time so I made sure the batteries for that were charged and also ensured I put any required cables in my rolling camera bag.

The day of the event, I got up at 3:00AM to take a shower before we left. Kathy was going to get up at 4:00AM and was already on the move when I walked downstairs. She wasn’t feeling well however and was vacillating on whether she should go or not. She ultimately decided to stay home and go back to bed. Once I was sure she would be OK, I left about 4:15AM. It was still very dark as I walked to my car, loaded up my camera gear and jacket. I didn’t see the sun until well after I arrived in Pomona about 36 miles away. While it didn’t rain during the event like it did last month, it was a foggy drive and when I arrived, there was enough moisture in the air to create the light beams from the headlights of the Chevy Fleetline pictured below. This is the same car I admired and photographed last month. I chatted with the owner who once again was kind enough to turn on his headlights for my photos. 

I had been taking photos for about 30 minutes when my nephew and his wife walked up to me. They were primarily dressed in black and seemed to materialize suddenly out of the darkness that surrounded me. As always, it was great to see them and we chatted for about 45 minutes before they departed to walk around the swap meet and look for stuff to buy. I got back to shooting more photos and had a great time.  

Wild Horses - The Mustang

This particular P-51 Mustang has been in the Chino California Planes of Fame Museum's collection for several decades. I remember seeing it in the mid 1990's. They seem to take very good care of it as it still flys quite regularly. My close up view of the aircraft reveals her glossy and smooth appearance.

One of the truly wonderful things about being newly retired is that I now have the long dreamed of freedom to visit these museums during the work week and avoid them during the weekends. This means I am typically visiting during slow times and I don't run the risk of getting in the way of other visitors and vice versa. I just setup my tripod and quietly take my shots. As usual I draw the attention of the museum docents who are curious about what I do with the photos I take. Not many visitors seem to show up with tripods and professional cameras. When I show them examples of the aviation photos on my blog they show a little sign of recognition but don't say much other than "Looks like you "Photoshopped" that photo". The truth is while I once used Photoshop extensively, I rarely open the application these days. I ingest and catalog the photos using Adobe Lightroom and use Luminar Neo to merge my exposures into one HDR image that I then occasionally lightly post process them back in Lightroom.