a month ago
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Posted On: October 2nd 2026, 07:32 am
The Aston Martin Owners Club “Klemantaski-Parnell Photographic Competition” is a long-running category in the club's vast array of annual competitions. The number of trophies is frankly ridiculous, when seen lined up.
I was fortunate enough to win in 2024, so I thought I'd give it another go this year in earnest.
I had only a few unique event opportunities this year. Hampton Court's @concours_of_elegance never fails to produce the goods. In 2025, I snapped the fabulous yellow GT8 when driving behind it at low speed. And this year, the “Labora Collection”, which includes a light blue DB4 GT and the famous DB4 Zagato “1 VEV” obliged. It's always interesting to attempt automotive photos from less usual angles.
And there was nature's best lighting when I drove my Cosmopolitan Yellow V12 Vantage AMR into the city of Hereford. The sun was setting and the light hit the car like I've never witnessed before... or after. Not only did the sun shine directly down the historic street to reflect off the flank, but it also reflected off a large glass window pane to the left of the car to illuminate the tail.
But of all the photos I submitted that I'm most proud of, it's the only one I've held back and never posted before: very early pre-war Aston “Green Pea” driving up the very hill from which the brand's name was derived. The shot was taken from the back seat of a DBX 707 piloted by @hwm_astonmartin's Guy Jenner. It was a pot shot. It's noisy. The DBX's parcel shelf cuts into the photo. It's not centred. And for all that I love it the most and remains one of the photos I'm most proud of as you can see father and son in the moment, powering up the Aston Clinton hill.
Why do I prefer the “Green Pea” shot over the perfectly illuminated street scene? One big reason is that AI would never consider or be capable of creating the rougher shot. Whereas I am waiting for the first person to ask which AI model rendered the AMR photo 🙄
There are over 100 excellent entries to this year's competition. If you're a club member, you can see them all now over at https://www.amoc.org/klemantaski
#astonmartin #photography #competition
I was fortunate enough to win in 2024, so I thought I'd give it another go this year in earnest.
I had only a few unique event opportunities this year. Hampton Court's @concours_of_elegance never fails to produce the goods. In 2025, I snapped the fabulous yellow GT8 when driving behind it at low speed. And this year, the “Labora Collection”, which includes a light blue DB4 GT and the famous DB4 Zagato “1 VEV” obliged. It's always interesting to attempt automotive photos from less usual angles.
And there was nature's best lighting when I drove my Cosmopolitan Yellow V12 Vantage AMR into the city of Hereford. The sun was setting and the light hit the car like I've never witnessed before... or after. Not only did the sun shine directly down the historic street to reflect off the flank, but it also reflected off a large glass window pane to the left of the car to illuminate the tail.
But of all the photos I submitted that I'm most proud of, it's the only one I've held back and never posted before: very early pre-war Aston “Green Pea” driving up the very hill from which the brand's name was derived. The shot was taken from the back seat of a DBX 707 piloted by @hwm_astonmartin's Guy Jenner. It was a pot shot. It's noisy. The DBX's parcel shelf cuts into the photo. It's not centred. And for all that I love it the most and remains one of the photos I'm most proud of as you can see father and son in the moment, powering up the Aston Clinton hill.
Why do I prefer the “Green Pea” shot over the perfectly illuminated street scene? One big reason is that AI would never consider or be capable of creating the rougher shot. Whereas I am waiting for the first person to ask which AI model rendered the AMR photo 🙄
There are over 100 excellent entries to this year's competition. If you're a club member, you can see them all now over at https://www.amoc.org/klemantaski
#astonmartin #photography #competition
Comments (3)
a month ago444theretreat
When you took the shot of your car ready to leave the old unit I said to you that it had a certain 'je ne sais quois' it captured the car and the premises beautifully. All these shots you have shared have that special little something that make them look amazing but I do have to agree with your favourite, the rawness brings it to life! 👏 👏
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