Car Boot Photography

Recently, I’ve been talking about this quite a bit, car boot photography.  It is something that I really enjoy doing, and something I have to thank Moose Peterson for introducing me to.  

It is an interesting idea and something that really suits the type of photography that I like to do.  So what is it?

I should also explain that in Australia the back part of the car where you put your luggage is called a boot, in other countries it is referred to as a trunk. So basically Car Boot Photography is taking photos from the boot of your car, well sort of.

When I used to go out and take photos I would take everything I needed in one bag, which meant that since I would have to carry the bag, I wouldn’t take too much stuff.  The downside to this is if you are out and realise that you could have done with a different lens, then too bad, you don’t have it with you.

I have two Tamrac camera bags, a big one, the Expedition 7x, and a smaller one, the Aero Speed Pack 75.  They are both great bags, but one is too big for carrying around all the time, the other too small.  So now I take most of my gear in the Expedition 7x, but I also take the Aero Pack.  I leave the larger bag with things that I’m not sure I will need in the boot, and take the smaller bag with camera, spare lens and any filters I might need.  If I am out taking a photo, then I know I don’t have to go far to get another lens, or something else from the bag.

When I went to the harbour in Apollo Bay, I was using my 24-70mm and then thought it would be nice to use the 80-200mm, but it was in the other bag, so I just went back to the car got it, and then continued taking photos with it.  A couple of months ago I would have stood at the harbour and been disappointed that I hadn’t brought it with me.

I think I really like car boot photography, it also means that you take photos that aren’t too far from the car.  So driving somewhere, stopping, taking photos, than driving somewhere else.  You can’t always get access past a public road, but you can take photos of things from the road.  In Australia you can take photos from public areas of private places, as long as you are on public land.  I think most of my photography is probably this sort.

Do you do any car boot photography?

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