After a few weeks of packing up the house, I took a break to look through some old images and came across a photo of a classic car from a local museum. It’s a rainy Sunday in Rhode Island, and just about everything is cancelled or closed. As I sat enjoying the memories and the images, I thought, why not share the story to close out a stormy New England weekend?
Quick Answers
Can I purchase a physical print of these cars?
Yes. Every car on this page is part of my Newport Car Museum collection, printed on archival fine art paper or aluminum metal in sizes from 9×12 up to 40×60 inches. One heads-up: while Roni and I move to Florida, I’ve paused new print orders. You can still browse the whole collection, and I’ll post on Facebook the moment ordering opens back up.
What size print would go in my space?
A good rule of thumb is a print about two-thirds the width of the furniture below it. Over a typical 7-foot sofa, that points to a 30×45 or 40×60. Over a desk, bar or workbench, a 20×30 or 24×36 works well. Hallways and smaller walls love a 12×18 or 18×24. Hang it so the center sits around 57 to 60 inches off the floor. My guide on how to hang a fine art print walks through the rest.
Would these photos work in my husband’s man cave?
Absolutely. That might be their natural habitat. The dark, moody backgrounds look great against garage walls, wood paneling or a deep paint color. Metal prints are a smart pick for a garage or basement since they handle humidity well and wipe clean. A set of three, say a Cobra, the Camaro and a Corvette, makes a real statement over a bar or workbench. Bonus: it’s a gift he’ll actually hang.
Where is the Newport Car Museum, and can you take photos there?
The Newport Car Museum is at 1947 West Main Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a short drive north of downtown Newport. Still and video photography are welcome. Tripods are not, which is how I ended up on my tippy toes.
A Rainy Day, All to Myself
Funny enough, that day was a rainy one too. Roni was spending it crafting with her mom. If you’ve ever seen those two together, you know they can craft and gab for hours. Which meant I had plenty of time. So I grabbed my camera and headed up to the Newport Car Museum.
My music was in. It always is when I’m shooting. I can’t tell you exactly what was playing, but when I think cars, I think late-’60s muscle. So odds are good it was Boston, Bad Company, maybe a little Robert Cray.
Really, anything from about ’64 to ’74 gets my heart going. But since I was about 15, one car has held the top spot: a first-generation Firebird, ’67 to ’69, pearl white with a red interior. Still my dream car.
Treating Cars Like Portrait Subjects
Before I went, I spent some time looking at car photos online, and something jumped out at me. So many guys name their cars after women. That got me thinking. What if I treated this like a portrait session?
Not the bright, glossy showroom look. I wanted these to be a little different. A lot moody. Dark backgrounds, light sliding along a fender, a little mystery in the shadows. Maybe even a little boudoir, if a car can have a boudoir session. I think they can.
The Jaguar
My favorite shot of the day was, no doubt, the Jaguar. A 1956 XK140 Roadster in white with red leather interior. The same combination as my dream Firebird. Clearly, I have a type.
No tripods allowed, so I stood on my tippy toes, stretched my arms as high as they’d go, and worked the composition until it emphasized that long hood and accentuated every curve.
I was tempted to ask for a step stool. But I figured crawling across the lobby had probably already raised an eyebrow or two. See the Jaguar print.
Not long after that, the owner came out to introduce himself. We had a great conversation about our mutual love of the automobile. It’s always fun to meet someone who gets it.
Rooms I Could Have Stayed in All Day
The Corvette room was a highlight. Generation after generation lined up together, and I’d happily take a turn behind the wheel of just about every one of them. The Ford room was right up there too: the Mustang, the Cobra and the GT. Cars that made history, parked close enough to touch. (Don’t touch.)
I photographed a ton of great cars that day, from across the generations, and came home with images I’m really happy with. Here are some of my favorites.
Hover to pause. Tap any car to see it as a print.
Some of my favorite days start with rain and no plan at all.
Every car in this post is part of my Newport Car Museum collection. If one of them stirs up a memory of your first car, your dream car, or the one that got away, take a look through the full set. And if you’re making a day of it, the museum is a short drive from the coast. Here’s my guide to photographing Newport, Rhode Island. For another rainy-day museum adventure, read about the F6F Hellcat at the Quonset Air Museum.