Reflecting my Hot Wheels Plymouth Barracuda

If you've ever watched car commercials, you've seen cars parked on mirror smooth floors that reflect every detail of the vehicle.  Amazingly, it's very easy to recreate that look when taking photographs of die-cast cars.  Here are a couple of photographs of my Hot Wheels Plymouth Barracuda hot rod.  The mirrored surface is reflects every detail of the Barracuda in this photo.

Hot Wheels Plymouth  Barracuda (front view)

Hot Wheels Photography Secret 

What's the secret?  It's water.  These photos were taken in a car wash bay.  The roof of my car provides a smooth surface with a sheen of  fresh water from the car wash.  While the car wash provides the shade, the  photography lighting is provided by the sun. 

Hot Wheels Plymouth Barracuda (profile view)

Collect this Hot Wheels Car

If you'd like to add a version of this car to your collection, there are several to choose from Hot Wheels Plymouth Barracuda on Amazon.

My Hot Wheels Volkswagen Käfer Racer

This is my Hot Wheels Volkswagen Käfer Racer.  In yellow, it's a fantastic little car that really stands out in any Hot Wheels collection.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Käfer Racer.

Amazingly, according to the Hot Wheels Fandom site, this car was inspired by real life race cars that competed in the Fun Cup, custom V-8 Volkswagens, and a Porsche race car.

In my night time photographs, I like the way this Hot Wheels combines whimsy and menace in one little package.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Käfer Racer.

Hot Wheels Photography Tip: 

If you want your car to look like it would in a well-lit parking lot, take your photo in a well-lit parking lot.  Streetlights provide awesome lighting for Hot Wheels photography.

Hot Wheels Chevy Corvette C7 Z06

Here's my mid-life crisis car--a Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06.  Against the backdrop of brilliant red, it looks like it's out on the town and racing towards excitement.  With a 650 horsepower V-8, this 'vette should get there plenty fast.

Of course, this Hot Wheels Corvette is a tad small to serve as a mid-life crisis car, but then I've always found real Corvettes to be a tight squeeze so it works out.

So where was this Corvette off too? What was its exciting destination? I'll reveal a Hot Wheels photography secret.  There was no fancy backdrop.


This little Corvette was headed to the drive thru window at my local Wendy's one evening when I took these shots.  The walls that serve as a backdrop are merely the exterior walls of a newly remodeled Wendy's fast food restaurant.  The lighting was from streetlights nearby.  When you hit a fast food joint with a $1 Hot Wheels car in your pocket, you don't have to worry about burger or fry grease.

Hot Wheels Chevy Nova

Here is a my rather bad ass looking Hot Wheels Chevy Nova.  It's a premium model car for sure.  I made this photo using a small chalk board as a surface and trying to scale the car to the real street in the background.

Hot Wheels VW Brasilia

I usually take my die-cast car photos outside.  I like using the sidewalk, or a picnic table, and natural light.  However, many people like to take up close photos inside.  Sometimes it is too blazing hot or too darn cold to be messing around with a camera and little cars outside.  I took these photos of three Hot Wheels Brasilia cars.  The one with the flame job looks really cool.

Hot Wheels Jaded Dragster Owns The Night

Here are a couple of shots of a Hot Wheels dragster called Jaded.  It really shows up well at night illuminated by street lights.  The first photo is edited only to crop out extraneous details.  Otherwise, the camera was set on auto and provided this image.  Without retouching, I think it captures the atmosphere and reality of night. 

Hot Wheels Jaded Hot Rod

This second photo was auto-adjusted and then adjusted to "pop" further.  It allows the viewer to see the Hot Wheels car more clearly, but the photo seems grainier.

Hot Wheels Jaded Hot Rod with adjustments to "pop"!

I think I like the first photo best.  But, the second one is interesting as well.

Hot Wheels Sting Rod II - Ready for Battle

The Hot Wheels Sting Rod II is ready for battle.  It has missiles on the top, guns, missiles on the side, and a saw blade slung under the rear!

Here my Hot Wheels Sting Rod II shows that it has the traction of a mountain goat as it clings to a rocky mountain side!

Let the ascent begin and check out the saw blade beneath the back bumper.  That's a cool detail!

Hot Wheels Photography Tip:  If you want your car to look big, don't include anything in the photo that will give away the size of your car.   I used a couple of big granite rocks for these pictures, but made sure not to show any surrounding plants.

Copo, Copo, Corvette!

The Hot Wheels 1969 Copo Corvette

The 1969 Copo Corvette was a race ready Chevrolet Corvette with power in spades!  In 2011, Hot Wheels introduced their own '69 Copo Corvette and it really looks ready to roll!

Hot Wheels 1969 Copo Corvette

Hot Wheels Photography Tip

If you have a series of lines in your photo running next to your die-cast car, it will give the illusion of motion and direction.  Even though this car is standing still, it looks like it is running fast.