When it debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG drew enthusiasm as the first car AMG designed and built entirely in-house, not a modified existing platform. The design leaned directly on the 300SL from the 1950s, the original Gullwing: long hood, front-mid engine layout, and, most obviously, the doors themselves.

It’s been 8 months since I self-published my second book, and the first on photography technique and process. I was thinking about how long I have been doing it. I don’t get a ton of questions about my photography, but when I do, they usually revolve around light painting. It’s a technique that, for the unaware, looks magical.

It’s been almost three years since I shot a similar model, a 2023 Genesis G90, and although not much has changed on the outside, three years of tech advancements can be substantial. I had a short window with this G90, a custom order in Savile Silver, as the owner was due for delivery on Monday.

A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Light Painting is finalized, and the eBook version will be released on Tuesday, January 20th. And the cost is only $18 CA! A print book is being considered; however, if I choose to produce a print version, it will take some time to prepare the files for physical book production. A physical book with production costs will cost more than the eBook.

I’ve been using light painting in my automotive photography for over 10 years now, and it’s still an exhilarating opportunity when presented. The process is an excellent option for automotive photographers to add to their repertoire, if they haven’t already, as it offers a very unique way to showcase vehicles and can be very enticing to clients.

The purpose of car photography is to showcase a vehicle in a way that best represents everything it offers. Location is key, as well as lighting. Both of those go hand in hand with your subject. When on location, finding a spectacular location at just the right time is immensely satisfying.

It’s not very often I get the opportunity to photograph classic cars, and even more rare that I get an entire afternoon with two classic Ferraris. The automotive season for me was slim this year, with only a few photoshoots in 2025, and that’s fine. Even though the opportunities were minimal, I wasn’t pursuing automotive shoots myself.

Light painting requires careful consideration of what you are capturing and how you capture it. Checking your exposures to ensure you have the intended portions of the vehicle lit as intended is essential to the success and impact of your final composition.

I’ve been working with Genesis here in Halifax for a few years now, and I’ve photographed almost their entire lineup over that time. This week, I had the opportunity to spend a few days with the 2026 Genesis GV70. The timing worked out perfectly, as the first evening I had it resulted in zero keepers, and I’m fortunate to have had another day with the GV70.

In the summer, Steele Mitsubishi, Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Mitsubishi dealership, asked me to photograph one of their vehicles for an upcoming billboard campaign. The only creative request I was provided for this shoot was to photograph the vehicle in a recognizable Halifax location, as the purpose was to advertise the Halifax dealership specifically.

There has been a continuing trend of taking the tried and true SUV design that has been around for decades and, with a bit of surgery, changing it into something less practical to create a “coupe” version. You can credit the BMW X6 for starting this trend back in 2007, but since then, more and more manufacturers have offered a sloped-roof version of many of their SUVs.

The MX-5/Miata was first introduced in 1989 and is now in its fourth generation, but it has not lost what has become so beloved. It is still a relatively affordable sports car that is a blast to drive with its near 50/50 weight distribution. This was my first time driving any iteration of the MX-5. Once dropping into the low seating position and organizing myself with the limited space provided, I remembered how fun such a small, agile car could be.