Today, we welcome Brayden Tomicic from Salt Lake City, Utah, whose deep-rooted passion for cars, inherited from his mechanic father, and a newfound love for photography converged, leading him from casual car meets to discovering a fulfilling career path in automotive photography.
In our interview, we'll explore Brayden Tomicic's unique style in automotive photography. We're eager to learn how he seamlessly combines technical skill with artistic expression in his photos. What triggers the start of his new ventures, and what hurdles does he navigate in the realm of automotive photography? Brayden will discuss his artistic journey and offer valuable guidance for those seeking to make their mark in the complex world of automotive photography.
Be sure to view Brayden Tomicic's impressive portfolio on his Instagram page and his website.
Growing up with a father who was a mechanic, my passion for the automotive world runs deep and as far back as I can remember. As I grew older, I found a love for capturing images much later in life, more so as a hobby, but never gave it a second thought. I carried on attending car meets, and events that allowed me to see some amazing cars and meet some amazing people.
One of those individuals became my friend, and he showed me the light on the other side when he hit me up to take photos of my car at the time. When I saw that there was a career to be had and that it would allow me to spend all my time on things that I genuinely loved, I knew this was what I wanted to do.
After doing this for over 8 years, I feel like a great image comes down to a couple items. One, a good composition. Utilizing the environment around you to create depth, really set the scene, and make the vehicle stand out. Then, with a little post-production, the color science and balance of tones evoke some emotional responses. To retouch the little details so your eye is only focused on what you, as the photographer, want them to see.
I see photography as the art of subtraction, and therefore, the things that are important and relevant to the piece should be in the photo. I don’t know how to describe my work other than hyper-realism with a twist!
The most challenging photoshoot I ever had was photographing a Liberty Walk Porsche Cayman in a mall. A black car in a white/grayscale mall in the middle of the day had its challenges. There were so many reflections and distracting elements that it made it difficult to frame up. Thank the Lord for polarizers, but unfortunately, the amount of time spent retouching areas to make them look as legit as possible was difficult. It was truly a photoshoot of a lifetime, but it did not come easy.
There are two pieces of gear I can’t live without. One being a CP filter (circular polarizer). It is one of the best pieces of gear for an automotive photographer. The second would be the SmallRig Multi-Tool. It’s the cheapest item I have in my bag, but it has helped me on multiple occasions. It has everything you need as far as tools go for your camera gear, mounts, etc.
Automotive photography is a very competitive field with a lot of talent out there. Things that keep me relevant are the continuous learning of new tools or methods on how to photograph the subject. I believe that the art of photography is 90% process and post-production. While the remaining 10% is content.
Now, while I try to use location, time of day, and everything else to capture the best image in camera as possible, most of my time is spent behind the computer screen applying those new techniques and ideas.
I personally believe that the photography and creative space should be an area for healthy competition as well as a collaborative community. Competition drives innovation, so we need it to keep pushing ourselves past our current limits. However, in a lot of ways, working together allows us to grow immensely.
I would not say that I have one favorite photo for a few reasons, and here’s why. Out of my own photos, I have constantly progressed and found imperfections as I have looked back. So my favorite photos are usually whatever my latest work is. One of my favorites, though, that I look back on the most is the Koenigsegg Agera photoshoot I did at the Ancillary Studios in Newport. It was a perfect situation, and I made a couple fine art-style images that still sit on my wall today.
There are many artists today that I still look up to and appreciate their creative style and take on photography. @PhpicsPhotography has been some of my favorite work to look at and emulate in my own work.
If I were to have a dream photoshoot, this is what it would look like. Lamborghini Veneno, alongside the ports of Monaco. I will leave it there!
We're thankful to Brayden Tomicic for opening up about his journey in automotive photography. Originating from a deep-seated love for cars and a talent for capturing images, his path is genuinely inspiring and filled with enriching experiences. Brayden's skill in portraying the allure and soul of automobiles is exceptional. We appreciate the knowledge he has shared about his craft and look forward to his future achievements as he continues to shape the landscape of automotive photography.
Check out more of Brayden's work and download the TCN app today and immerse yourself in a world where automotive beauty meets high-end technology. Stay tuned for our regular updates, and let's drive into the future of automotive enthusiasm together!
