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Today’s article on Caroline’s transformation into a “pinup girl” was one of the most popular things we’ve run in some time. (One of the most popular things that didn’t involve automatic-transmission technology, anyway.)
For those of you who want to see more of the cars and the girls, TTAC After Dark is here to serve. None of the photos are strictly NSFW, but you might not want to sit there and look at them in the company of your boss (or your wife). Click to continue:
Caroline:
Mandy Beth:
37 Comments on “TTAC After Dark: The Pinup Shots...”
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Jack, I’m glad to see that your recovery is progressing well and your priorities are realigning themselves as they should.
+1
Don’t come to Pacific Beach. There’s no going back.
Thanks for sharing these, JB! Much love to you and CMW.
A suggestion for the photo agency after a glance at these and the other pics: a bit more photoshop to smooth out the makeup & any lines on closer shots. Generally with these pics you want the cars to pop (ie sharp) and the model to be a bit dreamy (ie soft), which implies layers/filters. From the photo side they need more DoF to focus the subject(s). Some shots you can get the perfect background, but a classic pin-up implies subject isolation.
As for the modeling, a bit more arching & flirting, plus practice that distant dream expression. People like the girl next door look, but not the literal girl next door; IOW, you have to sell it. Also when shooting with something else (eg car) try to focus attention on it through yourself. It’s like you have a relationship with the car, like you’re caressing the panels a bit, like you want to go somewhere in it. It gives the viewer something to appeal to and puts life into an otherwise static photograph.
I too kept thinking ‘girl next door’ tbh. The excitement of being photographed really shines through. Not necessarily a bad thing as it adds some ‘cuteness’, but I think it’s obvious who is the more experienced model. And I really love Split Windows Vettes,’58 Impalas and ’69 Mustangs, so I would like the pictures anyway :)
The Grrl’s are pretty and primed for Viva Las Vegas.
Nice ‘Split’ and Fuelie.
Photographer …Sucked!… sorry JB
Lighting!
Edit; Looked at the ‘Transformation’ post, and I see that it wasn’t Jack doing the shots, but a pro? So what happened with the lighting(?), maybe not enough variation in lighting equipment? No Photoshop work? If I don’t have the lighting just right, I might take a shot, but I sure wouldn’t release it for viewing or publication if it couldn’t be fixed.
http://www.vivalasvegas.net/
The lighting is just natural, and IMO they did with it what they can. Not sure if these guys had the budget for a studio shoot.
If you go back and read the first article, you’ll see that we were really limited by the space of the museum. There is a lot of harsh fluorescent lighting there and the cars are parked nose to trail throughout. Kevin was endlessly frustrated by the lighting situation but he made the best of it.
And thanks for the modeling tips! I’m a total rookie obviously. I don’t think I will be doing anything like this again but you never know. :)
> And thanks for the modeling tips! I’m a total rookie obviously. I don’t think I will be doing anything like this again but you never know. :)
Also works in photos for the SO. :)
Very nice .
-Nate
I bat for the girl’s team but
*snooze*
We get it, you don’t like Caroline. Okay?
The reason nobody replied to your first (what you thought was subtle) post about being a lesbian is because nobody cares or is shocked. Or, to put it in language you might understand:
*snooze*
Thanks for checking for any additional comments for me. It’s not a big priority for me to keep track. I’m happy it is for you.
But no thank you for putting words in my mouth concerning my opinion concerning Ms. Ellis.
If anything I’m a bit weary of all the immature drooling over some mediocre automotive fan service.
Nice pictures, I fail to see what makes them NSFW or at least more NSFW than the original article.
Bared bellybuttons? Sacrilege!
I definitely think I saw some bared ankles from these blasphemers, but luckily I averted my eyes just in time.
Hey all, please feel free to let me know if you need someone to carry photography equipments next round.
Quit angling for my gig, bro! ;)
OMG, that split window stingray is gorgeous.
Nice photos, considering budgetary restraints.
Only thing I see is the makeup on the ladies is too much and unnatural.
However, if the gals were being showcased, good job. If the cars were – well, try, try again!
I figured you would dig that Impala!
I did, but I’m too old and plug-ugly to pose!
Until I see a similar effort put forth to display a male body, I am going to continue maintaining that this joke of an “article” does nothing more but promote the deriding and stupid role that women play in the automotive culture. Drool on, my fellow teenage and married site visitors!
Oh yeah, also, let us know how she made out with that three-spoke wheel nut. Hey, look at the dumb woman trying to undo the wheel nut!
I’m sorry you didn’t like it. The original article talked a little more about pinup culture and the history behind it. I probably could have written another 2500 words about that subject alone.
At least I know you carefully examined the photos. :)
No, I stopped at the second or third photo where you are trying to undo the wheel nut by hand. First you had an interesting article about your admirable experience biking in FL. Then you had an article where you applied stereotypes about females, and promoted them. Something about what cars females like something. Now you are just going for the cheap meat-shots. Hey, those are your choices. All I can say is that, similar to Putin, you are going in the wrong direction toward the 19th Century.
Actually, the cycling article was written by another young lady, and I agree, it was excellent. I am sure that you realize that neither Amanda nor I were trying to remove the wheel—first of all, the car wasn’t jacked up, so that would have made our jobs even more difficult. It’s a common pinup pose, which, again, if you knew the history if the genre, you might have realized.
I find it interesting when well-intentioned men feel they know what’s better for us poor womenfolk than we do ourselves. I assure you, this experience was empowering, not degrading. And Putin isn’t the world leader headed in the wrong direction, my friend.
Posing for pictures with your clothes on, invading the Ukraine; what’s the frickin’ difference? I don’t think you need to lose much sleep over this guy’s judgement.
I knew it! I knew that you were going to bring the “empowering” word in this discussion.
Sorry to have confused you with the other lady.
“I find it interesting when well-intentioned men feel they know what’s better for us poor womenfolk than we do ourselves”
In case you hadn’t noticed “well-intentioned” men feel they know what’s best for *everyone* and not just women. Why do you think they’re always trying to rule the world?
> Oh yeah, also, let us know how she made out with that three-spoke wheel nut. Hey, look at the dumb woman trying to undo the wheel nut!
What’s sort of funny is that this was one of the stronger shots. Interacting w/ the other subject and brings some action into the scene. A little too wide-eyed into the camera for “pin-up” per se, but projects a sense of innocence that’s not too shabby.
Your problem is that you’re reading way too much into it. Men like to look at women just as they like to look at pretty cars. It’s simply one aspect of appreciation. Sure that’s bad if the argument is it’s the *only* thing women are good for, same as if someone upon seeing another appreciate a guy fixing his own car argued men are *only* good for fixing cars. However that isn’t necessarily the case here so this raging strawman you’ve built hardly stands on its own.
Amazing how many Men are frightened by a Woman who’s strong and not afraid to try new things .
The whole pinup thing isn’t my bag but I am pleased to see the young folks embracing it , I also realize (unlike some here) that _how_ the Models are photographed has changed .
So many grumpy men here , I’m old and set in my ways sure enough but you GO Caroline ! .
Don’t waste time and thoughts on the trolls , they feed on your replies .
-Nate
Thanks! It’s cool to get such amazing support from 99% of the TTAC community.
The praise is well deserved. This overall pinup piece is well written, especially detailed, and an extremely interesting original concept.
My future wife would be impressed with the fashion, hair, and cars. My boss would just be impressed. HIS wife, on the other hand…
Pic 8028bw is the kind of photo that could have been snapped by a guy before he had to leave for Vietnam. He’d look at it every day and renew his vow that he’d get back home.
“Girl next door.” That’s who the guys wind up marrying.
I actually LOVE that one. I made the color version my facebook profile pic :)
Just saw this now and really enjoyed it.
I’ve had an interest in pin-up art since I saw some pasted inside my father’s Korean War trunk.
Own three Fritz Willis originals today and would like to thank the models for embracing this challenge in a fun way.
However, and as always a detail man, I did notice that the stockings were stay-ups and not period correct hosiery. Maybe something for the next time.