Shooting cars

In a change from the type of car shots I have been known to take in the past, here are some automotive detail shots.

The subject of these shots is powered by a petrol-fuelled internal combustion engine (ICE), which, we are led to believe, is a dying breed, as we are shepherded to ditch them in favour of battery-powered vehicles. The ICE has been powering motor vehicles for over 130 years, ever since Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine” in 1886 and yet (suddenly, it seems) they are very ‘bad’ and must be replaced.

Battery-powered vehicles were actually developed at precisely the same time as their ICE counterparts, and yet, up to now, they have never been favoured (apart from niche applications such as milk floats) mainly due to their relatively short range and long recharging times. Of course, battery technology has advanced in recent years, particularly with the development of lithium-ion cells (although there are question marks over their environmental credentials and safety record), but the limitations of range and recharging times still apply.

This culture change being applied to motorists is being mirrored (excuse the pun) in the photography world as Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are being ditched in favour of mirrorless versions (which, coincidentally, rely heavily on a battery). The SLR camera has existed for 160 years, but the first commercial mirrorless camera was launched less than 20 years ago, and it has only recently gained huge popularity, probably due to some clever marketing.

In the case of car engines, we are being coerced into changing by the use of legislation – from electric vehicle (EV) targets issued to manufacturers to charges for using the roads (the recent ULEZ charge in London is a case in point). With cameras, the drive to change is from the manufacturers themselves and, it seems, from the photographic media. In both cases, the consumer (i.e., you and I) will make the ultimate decision by voting with our cash. Maybe this won’t be apparent in the short term, but it will be interesting to see how it pans out over the next few years and whether the tried-and-tested technology remains the people’s choice.