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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/12/15 11:10 a.m.

I'm working on the next issue's Internet Hot Rod of the Month section and could use some help from you guys. Want to see your car in the magazine? Here's how.

Just send me an e-mail containing the following:

Link to your Readers' Ride page.

High-resolution photo of the car.

Your full name.

That's it.

Answers to questions.

What is the Readers' Ride section of the magazine? This: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/

What counts as "high resolution"? Figure 1280x960 pixels is our absolute minimum. Bigger than that is preferred. I just need one good exterior shot.

How do you reach me? I know people wig out if e-mail addresses are posted online, but mine is something like "my name" at "name of the magazine."

Thanks.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/15 11:26 a.m.

You have mail.

gamby
gamby UltimaDork
3/12/15 11:29 a.m.

One day I'll get a proper resolution photo of my car.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/12/15 11:55 a.m.

Got yours, Woody.

Any others?

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/15 2:03 p.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: Got yours, Woody. Any others?

Nope, looks like nobody else is interested.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce PowerDork
3/12/15 2:16 p.m.

Sent in the 911 mostly because I don't want Woody to win by default.
I wish this was high resolution enough. Probably my favorite car picture that I've taken. I need to use my proper camera more.

alfadriver
alfadriver UltimaDork
3/12/15 2:20 p.m.

I can put my cars in the "Ran when parked" area....

Ethnic Food-Wrap Aficionado
Ethnic Food-Wrap Aficionado HalfDork
3/12/15 2:25 p.m.

In reply to alfadriver:

And all my stuff belongs in the "Not so Hot Builds" section...

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
3/12/15 2:28 p.m.

Ummm... damn. Everything I have was taken with a phone. If I had a week to get the rest of the 2' of snow in front of my trailer melted and I'd send a nice pic of the E36 race car with official GRM sponsor stickers on it. Maybe a for sale sign too.

Duke
Duke MegaDork
3/12/15 3:42 p.m.
gamby wrote: One day I'll get a proper resolution photo of my car.

Do it. That's absolutely the primary reason the Manic Miata got in the magazine.

series8217
series8217 Reader
3/12/15 3:46 p.m.

I notice a lot of people need photos. If you are in Southern California and you need a HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO for your HOT ROD OF THE MONTH submission, I will shoot your car FOR FREE. You just have to be able to make the car appear at a location within a reasonable distance from Pasadena on a weeknight. I don't have time to shoot more than a few cars, so it needs to have something unique enough about it that it would likely get into the magazine, but it doesn't need to be anything crazy.

Just send me an e-mail if you're interested, and let's see if we can work out a time.

We can do something like these (the last one was already in the mag):

oldeskewltoy
oldeskewltoy SuperDork
3/12/15 5:16 p.m.

Sent in my entry..... can't have Woody win by default

Nitroracer
Nitroracer SuperDork
3/12/15 6:47 p.m.

Its worth a shot. I bet one of mine is the oldest entry. The other the other is at a fun track that may cease to exist this season.

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/15 7:27 p.m.

All my Malibu pictures were taken on a phone. Just as well, it probably wouldn't be as well received as the Cavalier.

qdseeker
qdseeker Reader
3/12/15 7:50 p.m.

Next month, David, lolol. Next month.

Seriously.

Gearheadotaku
Gearheadotaku GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
3/12/15 8:36 p.m.

another hat in the ring...

docwyte
docwyte Dork
3/12/15 9:20 p.m.

Sent you an email David, 383 LSx swapped 951...

Mazdax605
Mazdax605 SuperDork
3/12/15 10:02 p.m.

I would love to see my RX-7 in the magazine.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/12/15 10:21 p.m.

Thanks for the submissions, and keep them coming. I'd like to have some in the bank, too.

We should also talk photo composition, too, because if it's not a pretty picture, well, let's say that it doesn't go to the top of the pile.

What makes a pretty picture? Glad you asked.

Let's use this one as our example:

First, the light. Is the car half in the sun and half in the shadows? Is a telephone pole casting a shadow right across the car? If so, either wait for a cloud, wait for sunset, or find a different place. The light on this one is fairly consistent.

What does your background look like? This one doesn't compete with the car. The person tried and gets a gold star. If there is a lot of junk around the car, then that doesn't help. What counts as junk? Other cars, telephone poles, Dumpsters, porta-poties, trailers and stuff like that. People can help or hurt. If they're part of the scene, cool. If their heads are cut off, well, no.

Then there's composition. If the camera is 5 feet off the ground, then the photo is going to look a little boring. Get down a little or maybe shoot from high up. Create some excitement (or tension) in the photo and you're doing well. If you have a telephoto lens, walk away from the car and then zoom in. Don't forget to get the entire car in the shot, too.

Special effects: For the magazine, no, please. We want the jpg right as it came out of the camera. Please, no fake tilt-shift, etc.

Looking for inspiration? Check out Instagram. I'm looking at #E46 right now and seeing some cool stuff. Anything posted by Magnus Walker looks great, too.

And don't forget that they need to be high-res, too. Figure that our minimum spec is 1280x960 pixels.

The big thing is to have some fun with it.

Thanks!

(And don't forget to share your camera photos at #grmphoto, too.)

stanger_missle
stanger_missle GRM+ Memberand Dork
3/12/15 10:24 p.m.

In reply to Mazdax605:

We would love to see your Wagonvan in the magazine.

FTFE
Fixed That For Everyone

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
3/12/15 10:51 p.m.
series8217 wrote: I notice a lot of people need photos. If you are in Southern California and you need a HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO for your HOT ROD OF THE MONTH this purpose, I will shoot your car FOR FREE. You just have to be able to make the car appear at a location within a reasonable distance from Pasadena on a weeknight. I don't have time to shoot more than a few cars, so it needs to have something unique enough about it that it would likely get into the magazine, but it doesn't need to be anything crazy. Just send me an e-mail if you're interested, and let's see if we can work out a time. We can do something like these (the last one was already in the mag):

Quoted for just all around awesomeness and bumpitude. We have cool readers.

SkinnyG
SkinnyG Dork
3/12/15 11:49 p.m.

You guys have been so good to me - my last three projects have been in the magazine. Thanks so much!

(This means I have to keep building...)

Mazdax605
Mazdax605 SuperDork
3/13/15 3:49 p.m.
stanger_missle wrote: In reply to Mazdax605: We would love to see your Wagonvan in the magazine. FTFE Fixed That For Everyone

You mean the Delica? Nah the RX-7 is way cooler.

Mazdax605
Mazdax605 SuperDork
3/13/15 4:18 p.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: I'm working on the next issue's Internet Hot Rod of the Month section and could use some help from you guys. Want to see your car in the magazine? Here's how. Just send me an e-mail containing the following: Link to your Readers' Ride page. High-resolution photo of the car. Your full name. That's it. Answers to questions. What is the Readers' Ride section of the magazine? This: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/ What counts as "high resolution"? Figure 1280x960 pixels is our absolute minimum. Bigger than that is preferred. I just need one good exterior shot. How do you reach me? I know people wig out if e-mail addresses are posted online, but mine is something like "my name" at "name of the magazine." Thanks.

I used your full username at grassrootsmotorsports.com as an email address and it didn't work.

gamby
gamby UltimaDork
3/13/15 4:26 p.m.

In reply to Mazdax605:

I had issues with that and I think it comes down to sending files that are too large. Maybe send one pic at a time?

FWIW, my instagram pics of my car are pretty damn nice--just not high enough resolution for magazine publication. They look great on a phone screen!

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