Chromefest 2024

 It was the annual Chromefest-'a celebration of American Hot Rods' -at The Entrance on the Central Coast of NSW last weekend.

It was the first Chromefest I had been to since back in 2019 and it certainly has grown in size-at least in crowd numbers- although the number of cars and bikes was well down. Also the cars this year were more 'straight' with very few rat cars and hearses and similar oddballs which is a real pity. A friend suggested to me this morning this may perhaps reflect demographics. The old enthusiasts are fading away and the next generation does not have same enthusiasm for the 50s and 60s.

Back in 2019 there were many more attendees in 'period' costume. This year there were few. However there were three stages and dance floors with groups and Elvis impersonators performing whilst primarily 'oldies' dusted off their 1950s/60s dance moves and showed off their period outfits.

I have only ever had a passing interest in hot rods and my reason for going to Chromefest has always been to take photos and this year was no exception. After 90 minutes and a lot of walking I headed back to my car for the 25 minute drive home with about 50 photos in the bag.

I have culled them down to this selection.

Why it's called Chromefest.

Restrained chrome on a superbly presented Cobra replica.

Intense discussion around a vintage speedway car

It's only rock and roll but they like it.

Hot and probably bored

American chrome

Silver tail

Reproduction 1950s/60s Drive- in -Movies kit. Note the total lack of any safety considerations in the interior of the car. If you crash if you are lucky you are kneecapped. If you are unlucky you die. When new the car would not have had  seatbelts.

Lost in the 50's indeed.

Riding with Elvis upfront

Not so mellow yellow

He bought the 'merch'-in 2017

Beautifully period dressed lady.

Photography notes

The photos were taken with my Leica SL2 camera using a Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens. It is not a lightweight combination. Walking with it for 90 mins on a warmish day is about the maximum I can handle. However the results are excellent. This same lens is also sold in a Leica version but, of course, at a much higher price. 

I shot all these photos except 'Not so mellow yellow' with the lens at the full open F2.8 aperture. I always try to follow the axiom-only use the aperture to control depth of field not to control the exposure-so my default aperture setting is wide open. What's the point of paying for a wide aperture lens and then stopping it down when you do not need to?

I also set the SL2 at minus 2/3rd EV. I find that at the normal EV setting the files are overexposed and the highlights can blow out. The same applies to my Q2.

Despite this adjustment the highlight on the ribbon on the woman's hat above is overexposed. I should have lowered the exposure further.

The photos were all DNG files processd in Lightroom Classic. As I was using the zoom I had to do very little cropping.