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Description
The National Automobile Museum
Reno, Nevada
October, 2013
This is a Rolls Royce with an all copper body.
I must admit I don't understand the attraction, much to the distress of the docent who seemed to think he was in charge of my education that day and who accosted me in the museum, unaware of the futility of his mission.
The museum is split up into rooms, each room containing a range of years. The first room goes up to about 1915 or so, the second from 1915 to 1930, and so on. I knew right away I was going to want to spend time in the second and third rooms, because I like deco styling. As Bill and I walked across the hallway, which is made to look like a street with cars parked along the curb, Bill headed for Room #1, and I headed for Room #2.
This docent waylaid me and told me I needed to start with Room #1 if I was going to see everything the right way! I told him I was interested in seeing deco details, and he allowed as how the second room had what I was looking for, but he was NOT best pleased!
As I was wandering around in the first of the two rooms I wanted to see, I came upon this copper body Rolls Royce. Such shiny, pretty reflections! I probably took a million pictures of that car. Maybe I'll dig more out and show them to you.
Anyway ... that same docent came back to talk to me one more time. I was busy taking pictures of all that copper, and he said, "I see you're interested in cars!" to which I replied, "No, not really. I'm interested in shapes and reflections and composition. I came with my husband. HE's interested in cars." Heck ... I even showed him the pictures I was taking through the view screen on the back of my camera so he could see what I was talking about! (That generally scares 'em off.)
He was not to be denied.
"Well, surely you at least drive a car!"
"No, I don't drive," I replied. (I do, but not much, and not recently.)
"Oh."
"I'm really not very interested in cars."
"Do you want to hear something fascinating about this car? Do you know how they dimmed the headlights? They only had one light bulb, so when they wanted to dim the lights they pointed them down toward the ground!"
He was so pleased with himself that I thought I'd show you the damned headlight and let you be interested or not, as it suits you.
I saw him several more times that day, but he didn't try again. I'm sure he was a very nice man, but people who volunteer as docents are so passionate about their subject matter that if I'd shown the least little bit of interest, just to be polite, I'd be there still.
Comments (27)
Faemike55
I look forward to more pictures of this museum and this beautiful and different car. It's a good thing I wasn't there.....
mbz2662
LOL :) I like the shiny copper and brass. I pretty much don't know much about cars. Recently I inherited an old old old Ford.... trying to figure out it's value and it's up for sale, because I have no where to store it and it needs to be indoors and have love from a car enthusiast. ...and that is what I know.
RodS Online Now!
HOLY FRAK!! At today's copper prices, that would be worth at least 3 Rolls's :-P But wow, it that gorgeous! Your story cracked me up, Tara! I can just visualize the whole encounter - and it gets me to giggling! Now, see..... If they ever open a museum for old insulators, quadcopters, or nekkid Faeries, I'll be the docent bugging people to death! LOL
wysiwig
A penny for your thoughts. This is a beauty but think of the maintenance. The Statue of Liberty was this color when the French sent it over. Everything I know about cars I learned from owning three British vehicles, cars made by sadists for masochists.
photosynthesis
A very funny story. Maybe one day you'll be a docent at the National Shapes & Reflections Museum & find yourself educating people who have no appreciation for those things. I tend to skip around a lot in museums (including automobile museums) & focus on those things which interest me & ignore things that others may consider essential, but I've never been called on it as you were. A great reflection shot with lights & colors bouncing off the metal in varied & fascinating ways...
bebopdlx
Wow, beautiful car.
rachris480907
Great shot! So much shiny metal! Beautiful!
durleybeachbum
Hilarious! The man is from a distinct race of humans one of whom rents a room in my house. However I LOVE the photo and I think that just for once I should like also to see the whole thing. I'm sure Bill will have that shot.
Juliette.Gribnau
very artistic photograph !
jayfar
I love your image and the story Tara, some people will just not get the message.
helanker
What a wonderful shot Tara. And I am chuggling about your story. Typical :-)))))
Krittermom
Ok. So the dude was full of hot air. I am glad you got the shot. It is really amazing to see what people think up. So, do you need me to sic some if my friends on him? Most of them wear mask so he would never identify them.................. Great shot anyway !
Adobe_One_Kenobi
What a sad man, and a total pest by the sound of it, I admire your composure, he'd have got a profanity to GO AWAY from me :) Excellent shot with the light and shapes and colours and light and shapes, did I mention the light?
Sea_Dog
I glad you were able to survive the ministrations of the docent and capture this fascinating shot. I haven't been to that museum but it has definitely been added to my list - I'll drive the docent crazy because I both like cars AND shapes, reflections and lighting.
MrsRatbag
I'd be right there with you, Tara; what a beauty in copper, so many cool curves and shiny bits! I love this shot!
ichtvan
Eblouissant !!!
Art_Ramos
I can almost see your reflection in the headlamp!
moochagoo
Really ecellent composition !
bmac62
The poor docent didn't know who he was up against. Don't these guys ever learn? Their training should go beyond details of the collection and get into reading people. It'd save them a lot of time:) Love the way you've pared this down to one headlight and one fender...look at the gorgeous reflections just in those two items! Well done Hon.
FredNunes
All about the framing and you nailed this. And yes - I second that on the reflections....
Wolfenshire
Having been a docent at several museums I well understand that one's passion for the subject overwhelms the guests sometimes. You will be assimilated! Resistance is futile!
whaleman
Your replies should have held hi8m off at the pass, LOL!
CavalierLady
Wow! Love this Tara...all the colors, shapes, reflections in the headlight, tones and details. Great story, also. I might have had a difficult time being polite to the rude gentleman. At least your replies silenced him and you could wander around at your own leisure. :)
kgb224
Superb capture Tara. God bless.
debbielove
Thats a real find inded, any chance of a full shot Tara? Great reflections here. Rob
dochtersions
A superb image, literally and figuratively, Tara. What a multitude of glitter effects it has. You always know to emphasize and to show in your photos special effects and highlights. Truly amazing, my dear. And oh my, I recognise such type of people, my friend. We have a neighbour which is like that, and often I see him out of our house, he walks up and down our street, to see if he can catch people, in order to keep his imagination stories with them. He is standing very close to them, so they can not run away. He also tries to overrule me, and I don't have the best trick yet to stop it. :P
junge1
Tara, I like this picture, but I like your opening comment and subsequent commentary even better. I have run across people like that. They seem to think that their way is the only way and they can't understand that somebody doesn't understand that or has the nerve to disagree. If it wouldn't be so expensive and would have gotten you in trouble, you could have shown him another way to dim the lights. Wack them with a bat lol. On a positive note, from all the people that went through there that day, he will remember you! Yes, I came back just before midnight Wednesday. I am still kind of out of sync. We did a lot of walking every day and saw a lot. London sure has shaped up. It is nice and clean and the weather was mostly nice - hell I got the tip of my nose burned. The airshow was nice, but some of the scheduled aircraft didn't show. With all the walking around I managed to gain three pounds.I will call in the near future, had to catch up with all recorded Tour de France episodes (they are usually 4 or 5 hrs long each) and this weekends Formula 1.