THE BEST PLACES IN SEATTLE FOR CAR PHOTOGRAPHY

So, I’m spilling the beans so to speak, although there are hundreds of other locations and geography near Seattle that will work just as well as those listed below.

Let me start out by saying backgrounds are very important, but so is the color of the car, as is the light, which IMO is the most important element of all.

Not all car colors work for photography or filmmaking on a sunny day. Fortunately (or unfortunately) Seattle is not that sunny except for a handful of weeks during the summer each year.

A mix of partial sun and clouds is usually ideal for making pictures of cars. You may need to use partial polarization and change your shooting position at times to reduce the car’s reflections of clouds or what’s around you. However, it’s easier to just spend your time finding the appropriate location up front so you can avoid lots of post-processing, especially with dark colored cars. Don’t forget to watch for your reflection, and for God’s sake straighten that steering wheel, after cranking it to the side for a dramatic low angle image.

For Seattle car photography (or any other city for that matter), my recommendation is to avoid the commonly found popular search results. These are often based on unrealistic postings by non-professionals and can be a waste of your time. Seattle locations, like Kerry Park, Discovery Park and other busy attractions will not always work, because it is often hard to place the car in a spot that creates successful images.

Here are five places that actually work for Seattle car photography:

1. Magnuson Park – I haven’t had an opportunity to shoot at this north Lake Washington locale very often, but when I have, it’s been ideal for providing interesting and clean backdrops.

2. Ballard’s Golden Garens Boat Launch – This spot can be good depending on Puget Sound boat trailer traffic and existing light. Think about using a flash to light the car at dawn or dusk.

3. West Seattle’s industrial backdrops and Don Armeni Boat Ramp work well for city views depending on the car’s style and the lighting.

3. So far, I’ve talked about lakeside and sound locations, and there’s a reason for that. Water is a great compositional element, along with clouds and foreground. However, so is the I-90 tunnel and bridge that traverses Lake Washington. Car to car photos and video can be stunning here.

4. On the Eastside, there is Marymoor Park and Lake Sammamish to think about, as well as other more editorial settings to reflect the interesting parts of PNW history, as seen in the Oscar nominated film Train Dreams. Mercer Island has some great roads with good foliage.

5. Driving or taking a ferry to the other nearby peninsulas and towns in Puget Sound will also reward you with less disruptions, more off-the-path opportunities and a slower pace.

Have Fun!