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American classics at Rock n Ribs

Chrome and Smoke

Front of a blue Ford Mustang with white stripes and a Union Jack number plate

In July 2026, we spent the evening at Rock n Ribs, the three-day American-themed festival at the Bath & West Show Ground in Somerset. This wasn't a paid job. When there are American classic cars and bikes on show, we're always going to take a camera.

As a Somerset-based video and photography company, we use days like this to practise our skills away from client work and add fresh images to our portfolio.

  1. The Objective

    We went along for ourselves, with a clear aim for the evening. The goal was twofold:

    Practice – Sharpen our car and event photography at a busy show. Portfolio – Come away with new images of classic cars and bikes for our website and social media.

  2. Our Approach

    Photographing classic cars at a busy show takes patience. There are people everywhere, cars parked close together and reflections on every panel.

    We walked round each car before taking a shot, looking for the angle that showed off its lines without a crowd or a gazebo in the background. Getting low often helped, and so did coming back to a car once the crowd had moved on.

  3. Execution

    Photos of each car, framed to show its shape and paintwork. Close-up detail shots of badges, wheels and interiors. Chrome bumpers and grilles, shot from angles where the reflections worked for the picture. Bikes, picking out the engines, tanks and handlebars. Moving subjects, including the vehicle parade and the monster trucks.

  4. The Outcome

    We came home with a set of classic car and bike photos for our portfolio. They’re ready for use across:

    Our website. Our social media.

  5. Key Takeaway

    Busy shows need patience – walk round a car and wait for the crowd before you take the shot. Chrome reflects everything, so move until the reflections help the picture.

    Taking our cameras to events like Rock n Ribs keeps us sharp, and those skills carry straight into our paid car, event and business work. If you run a car show, festival or event, or have a classic car you’d like photographed, get in touch.

From the shoot

Selected frames

Rusty vintage pickup truck parked on grass at a car show
Black hot rod with an exposed engine at a car show
Batmobile-style car at a car show
Chrome engine on a blue hot rod at a car show
Yellow vintage car with flame paintwork parked on the grass
Red Dodge Charger with 01 on the door parked on dry grass
Chrome and Smoke — frame 7
Chrome and Smoke — frame 8
Blue and white American truck cab on the grass at a car show
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Tell us what you need filming.

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