Name: Trevor Howard
Company: Filtered Image Photography
Location: Tempe, Arizona
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Tell us about yourself.
My name is Trevor Howard and I am an automotive photographer. Been shooting for about 7 years now. Always had a passion for cars, derived from my father's love for them at a young age. This is honestly the perfect career choice for me... I have driven cars that I've dreamed about, and been taken for rides in some 1000 horsepower monsters! Doesn't get any better than that! I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work.. I do my best to make the image on screen look as close to the image that was in my head when I shot it.
Where are you from?
I was born in Phoenix, then moved to Yuma at a young age. Now I am currently back in Phoenix living in Tempe.
How did you into photography?
I actually didn't, I got a bachelors degree in nutrition... so about as far from photography as you can be. I taught myself everything... well that and watched about every tutorial possible.
How would you describe your style?
My style has changed a lot... I used to shoot and edit with a lot of post processing and possibly too much style, and I say too much because it's too much for editorial use. I've cleaned up my editing now into more of a "ready for magazine" style... very clean, but still managing to capture the essence of what the car is about. Although I do still love a nice, dark, post-processed image.
What equipment and software do you use? Why?
I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III... (why? because I don't have a PhaseOne.. haha) My go to lens would be my 16-35mm. I use AlienBees B1600 strobes, a few generators, a couple power packs... and way too many accessories to list!
I edit with photoshop CS6 on a custom build iMac and Cintiq 24HD Touch.
What is your favourite location to shoot pictures?
Never shot in a studio... although I would like to try it. To be honest it all depends on the car... I'm a huge fan of industrial looks but sometimes the car doesn't call for that. I shot a 1000 horsepower twin turbo 1964 GMC in the middle of a street in Apache Junction. Mountains in the background and empty road fit that truck perfectly... and now it's getting featured in Street Trucks Magazine... so I guess it all depends on what my subject is.
What has been your most memorable assignment?
That's tough... it's a toss up between the twin turbo GMC and a shoot I just did for a luxury broker.
The GMC because he took me for an insane ride (I have videos) and the owner is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.
And the luxury broker because I shot 13 of their cars and got to drive all of them, and then we took 4 of them for a nice long cruise. 2 Ferrari F430's... 1 of them a Scuderia, I drove the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and a Heffner twin turbo Audi R8.
What would you say to other enthusiast photographers out there who aspire to become a photographer?
Practice practice practice! Watch tutorials... shadow the photographers you want to be like, but don't lose your style... learn the process but keep your style. You've got to learn light falloff... that's a big one, strobes will transform any shot if you learn how to manipulate the light the way you want.
Any final words?
One day I just want to be walking through the magazine section at a Barnes & Noble and see multiple magazines in which I shot the covers... that's all I want in life.