Planning a photography trip to Old Car City USA? After 25 days spent photographing the rusting classics hidden in the woods of White, Georgia, I’ve developed a simple way to approach a day there. Here’s how I plan my time, the gear I use, and the conditions that produce the best photos.
Last week I spent my 25th day at Old Car City USA. That’s 25 days over the last 12 years photographing antique cars quietly being reclaimed by nature.
People often ask how to approach a day, or better yet two days, photographing the rusty gems scattered through the pine forest of White, Georgia. In this post I’ll share how I typically spend my time there, along with a few photography tips gathered during those visits.
Consider this a loose ramble through how I approach a day photographing Old Car City.
The Basics: Rules and Safety
First off, follow the rules.
Don’t try to open the hoods or doors on the cars. Don’t climb on them. And I shouldn’t even have to say this, but don’t steal anything, like hood ornaments. Unfortunately some people do. Don’t be one of those low-life thieves.
Just as important as following the rules is protecting yourself.
I always wear long pants, comfortable shoes, and a hat. Be aware of trip hazards. They are everywhere. There is sharp, rusty metal waiting for you to make one wrong move and end up cut or scraped.
And what about snakes?
Good question. I’ve never seen one there, but I’ve also never visited in the middle of summer when you’re most likely to run into one. After I spend a day there in July or August, I might be singing a different tune.
How I Spend the Day
Old Car City opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. That gives you seven hours of photography time.
I like to divide the day into two sessions:
Morning Session
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Afternoon Session
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
From 12:00 to 1:00 PM, I usually head across the road for lunch at Wes-Man’s Café. One warning though: the road in front of Old Car City is State Highway 41, and it gets busy. Be careful crossing.
Breaking the Yard Into Areas
After many visits I’ve mentally divided the yard into sections. They probably wouldn’t make much sense to someone new, but for simplicity I think of them as:
- Up front
- The middle
- The way, way back
I usually give each session a theme.
For example:
- Hood ornaments and logos in the far back
- Taillight detail shots
- Full car compositions showing the decay in the woods
- Abstract rust and texture studies
Sometimes I’ll just take my phone and shoot with the Hipstamatic app. Other times I’ve brought a pinhole camera for something different.
If you only have one day—or worse, half a day— the best approach is simply to walk as many trails as possible and photograph whatever catches your eye.
At Old Car City, inspiration tends to happen car by car.
Ideal Shooting Conditions
In my mind, the perfect Old Car City day begins the night before with rain. A slow, steady soak that leaves the cars wet and deepens the rusty patina.
The next day, I hope for overcast skies.
Sun filtering through the trees creates harsh contrast and hot spots that can be difficult to work with. Overcast light keeps everything soft and even.
You could use artificial lighting if you’re skilled with it.
I’m not.
Tripod or No Tripod?
I’ve done both.
But it can get pretty dark under those trees. If you’re not comfortable shooting at high ISO, you’ll probably want a tripod.
Honestly, I’ve found that using one improves my work anyway. My compositions become more deliberate and I come home with more usable images.
Because the ground can be soft and squishy in places, I recommend using either a remote shutter release or the self-timer to avoid camera shake.
Lens Choices
This probably isn’t groundbreaking information, but here’s what I typically use.
24–70mm f/2.8
My main lens for most shots.
70–200mm
Great for isolating hood ornaments and compressing the background into a nice blur.
A tripod really helps here.
Wide angle lenses can be useful in tight spots between the cars.
And sometimes I’ll even shoot with my iPhone and a Moment fisheye lens to create some fun distortion.
Final Thoughts
Old Car City can be overwhelming the first time you visit. That’s one of the reasons I always recommend spending two days if you can.
Take your time. Explore the trails. Follow the rules. Watch your footing.
And most importantly, enjoy photographing one of the most fascinating automotive graveyards in the country.
If you’d like to see more work from other photographers, check out the Old Car City Photo Group on Facebook. You’ll find a wide range of images there, but remember the group is dedicated strictly to Old Car City photos.
Enjoy your visit.
