• Sometimes an up-close photo of a recognizable feature is a good idea for muscle car photography.Close up detail of a classic car at a car show image by Rob Hill from Fotolia.com
  
  Although the new trend in automobiles appears to be the hybrid and the electric models, there is still a huge amount of interest in the classic American muscle car. These vehicles are likely to always hold a special place in the hearts of car lovers. If you wish to preserve these powerful, rubber-burning and gas-guzzling cars in a photograph, you should do all you can to make sure the print comes out in a way deserving of this one-time symbol of American dominance in the auto industry.
  
  

Use Alternate Viewpoints

• The position of the camera lens when you shoot a photo of a muscle car can determine a lot about how the final product comes out. If you browse the online car ads, you probably will see a lot of photos taken from eye level because that's the easiest way to do it. But this doesn't make the photograph interesting.
  
  Drop to one knee and frame up the car from an angle just below the headlights. This will make the car dominant in the photo and help it to look big and powerful. This is how you usually want to represent a muscle car in a photo, so toy with the angle until you see something that really looks interesting in the viewfinder.
  
  You might also wish to get a ladder and shoot the car from above. This will help give an overall view of the car and all of its stylish lines.
  
  

Set The Scene

• If you ever have seen a photo of an absolutely beautiful car and then noticed it is sitting in front of an old garage with an overflowing trash barrel and the neighbor's kid picking his nose in the background, then you'll understand how setting a good scene makes a difference.
  
  If you are going to make the effort to set up a quality photo of a muscle car, take the time to park in a spot that will add to the photo instead of take away. Drive your old '57 Chevy to a 1950's diner somewhere nearby, or park it in front of the local drive-in theater's big screen. Maybe you just want to take your Shelby out to a remote spot on the highway where the snow-covered mountains are in the background. Just take time to think about all the great places nearby and use them to your advantage.
  
  

Highlight Unique Features

• Always highlight the unique features of your muscle car. If it has a blower protruding from the hood, get up close photos of it. If it has a dramatic fin on the back end, shoot it from the rear so the viewer's attention is drawn to it.
  
  

Use Polarizing Filters

• Always use a polarizing filter to shoot car photos. These inexpensive screw-on filters are a standard piece of equipment found in any camera shops, and they will improve your car photos dramatically. The polarizing effect will remove window reflections and will help your to more accurately capture colors in the sunlight.