British Cars and German Glass

The website for the All British Field Meet will inform you it’s the longest-running and largest three-day, all-British car event in the Americas. Neither that description nor the images here will convey its magnitude. Interested in early series Land Rovers? Here’s a row of twenty. Curious about convertible roadsters? We could assemble a motorcade.

I first had an opportunity to shoot the Field Meet in 2016 on a Mamiya 7 and Nikon F2, and I’ve been itching to return. The smells of vintage tarpaulin, rubber, and petrol suffuse the fall air. A loudspeaker reminds attendees to join a musical performance by the Welsh Society of Oregon. It is perfection.

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

As a photographer looking for compositions, it has its challenges. No hero shots of the car alone will present themselves — this is a car show. I focused on details and kept my kit simple: a Leica SL2 with two adapted M lenses, the current models of 35mm and 50mm Summicron. Appropriately, the whole kit packed away into a British-made Billingham “Leica M Combination Bag.” Spot on!

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | 50mm Summicron-M f/2 (V5)

Leica SL2 | Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH II