Stock Photography: Clint Clemens

Clint Clemens has long been dubbed the Father of modern Automotive Photography. His work is sleek, crisp, smooth and not unlike the subjects he photographs. One of his most famous shots is titled Kills Bugs Fast.  The story behind the image is that Porsche trust him only with the slogan and told him that he had to illustrate the idea himself. So he did. Thus landmark commercial stock photography was created.


Not satisfied with the fame for his astounding images, Clint went one step further to explore and figure out how he could photograph cars in his studio, creatively and with limited resources. He made the connection between car and road and realised that's where he belonged, out in the field rather than inside a studio. In 1980 he got the idea (a genius one!) to attach a camera to a car. His invented a system that would allow him to drive a car whilst looking at a video screen that showed him a real-time view through his viewfinder. Basically, live view. His rig up was famous, he became well known for it and his construction was used across the industry to create stock photography for magazines and clients over the world. It came to an abrupt end when he was photographed with his rig and others (who eventually would) found out how he achieved the shots he got.

Whilst the ever increasing popular past time of photography was closing in on Clint, he didn't give up on what he was doing and continued as a transport photographer providing stock across the world. He offers up this analogy - of how photography has developed over time...

Source of Information: www.ronmartblog.com/2009/06/to…