What Is Parked Photography - An Interview With James Wilder

Glenrio on Route 66. By James Wilder, Parked Photography

This is an interview with James Wilder of Parked Photography, about the genre of parked photography.

What is Parked Photography

Parked Photography, a car photography genre that captures the soul of a car in its natural habitat: parked, waiting, stored, forgotten, honored, remembered, or abandoned.

Why Create a Genre For Parked Cars?

For many reasons! First, it is my favorite style of car photography. I see it as similar to street photography, but focused on cars in their natural setting.

Cars have character like people. They weren't designed to be static. They have energy to move, they make sounds, they have lights in order to see. They are almost alive. Somehow these characteristics come out when they are parked, resting and waiting.

A parked car tells a story. It stopped where it's at for a reason. Sometimes you don't know what that reason is, sometimes it's obvious. A parked car becomes part of the scenery. It might blend in, or it might stand out. The creative part is choosing how to compose the photo. What elements belong in the story?

Third, it is easy to participate. Cars are everywhere, even in rural areas. So there's no excuse for not getting into parked photography.

Fourth, you don't have to invest much in photography gear. A smartphone works fine. Many times you will see an opportunity and you won't have your camera with you. So it's good to have an every day carry camera. For most people that's a smart phone.

Fifth, there are many photographers that completely focus on parked cars in cities. You can find Instagram accounts that post nothing but parked cars. It's a thing! And it's an established genre. And now there is a unique name for this photographic style — Parked Photography.

I'm not that interested in just making a snapshot of a parked car. I'm interested in the art. I'm interested in finding the beauty. Parked photography is art. And it's art that is accessable to anyone with a camera in a location where there are cars. In the urban city, the small town, or the quiet country, there are cars everywhere.

When Did You Start Promoting The Parked Photography Genre?

The style has been around for decades (Eggleston, Metzker). It just didn't have a name.

For documentation purposes, I introduced the Parked Photography genre name with a "post on X" (twitter at the time) on 12-16-2020.

Is there a type of camera that is best suited for Parked Photography?

Yes! And No.

Every day carry compact cameras are the best for never missing an opportunity. I am a strong supporter of advanced compact cameras. Smartphones don't have the ergonomics of a camera and they never will, because they are phones and general purpose computers. What we need is a new comera company to create the camera of the future. We need a smart compact camera.

On the other hand, when I travel, I like to have more resolution and zoom lenses. When cars are on private property you need a zoom.

What is your goal in promoting the parked photography genre?

My goal is to promote the style by giving it a name and establishing the historical roots of the Parked Photography genre.

I am the primary user of the name because that is my favorite type of photography. Wherever it goes from there is up to universe.

What is your hope for parked photography?

I hope other photography enthusiasts will embrace the idea a parked photography genre and create a lifetime of work. I hope some parked photography books are published.

I would liove to see a book of curated parked photography photos by photographer William Eggleston. Or a book that features the parked photography of multiple photographers such as Eggleston, Metzker, Herzog, and more.

Ultimately, Parked photography serves as art and cultural documentation of the automobile. That's a good thing.

Find more information about Parked Photography and find your photos

Parked Photography Genre Home
www.parked.photography/genre

You can also follow James Wilder on his wordpress blog at:
jameswilder.blog