Photo: Warren Winstanley Warren Winstanley.... My Favorite Photographer in Detroit.
Mr. Warren Winstanley’s love for Automotive Photography
By:Robert Tate & John Winstanley In memory of John Winstanley’s father, Mr. Warren Winstanley, who passed away on September 8, 1974.
Mr. Warren Winstanley was a man who loved photography and left the world a gift of carefully created craftsmanship of fine automotive art. Warren began this fascinating journey in the United States Army when he received his training and was stationed in Virginia as a photographer in OSS. Before entering the Army, Mr. Winstanley married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ellen, and had four children; Warren, Sue Ellen, John and Mari Beth. Later on, Warren’s son, John Winstanley, followed in his footsteps which created a self made relationship that every son and father should experience in their life time.
When the war ended, Warren returned home and started working for a commercial photographic automotive studio in Detroit, Michigan. In the late 1950's, Warren took $8,000 and opened his own studio on Whittier Ave. in Detroit called, "Warren Winstanley Inc.”. Warren always had new ideas and different ways to be creative. He was a well read man and a visionary artist. He loved world history and was an old movie buff. On many occasions, Mr. Winstanley would incorporate what he saw during a movie into his photography. He believed that by creating the perfect lighting or casting a shadow, he added a special flare and touch of believability to his photography. Mr.Mickey Meguire, photographer at Boulevard Photographic and rival of Mr. Winstanley, once said, "Mr. Warren Winstanley is the only one that can make automotive photography glamorous". Warren repeatedly and respectfully commented, "It’s not the camera that takes the shot; it’s the person behind the camera that takes the picture".
Warren’s automotive photography was taken with his Bruk & James field camera on 8 x 10 film, which was the standard format for shooting ads and brochures. He never used a light meter and received his light readings from a Kodak type 55 Polaroid, which was the speed of the film. He was the master of detail and when everything would collectively come together, he’d called it the “Golden Light”. For Warren, the automobile painting became a live portrait of art and the vehicle reflected a wet look. Warren traveled all over the world shooting for many automotive manufacturers such as Campbell Ewald, Darcy, Mc Manus, and Young & Rubicam. The 1960's generated muscle and power among automotive designs and Warren was the first photographer to shoot the Ford Mustang for the J. Walter Thompson Ad agency that handled the Ford Motor Company accounts. Winstanley established himself as one of the best automotive photographers in the country. His office was located in Universal Studios in California.
One of the most famous ads created by Winstanley was the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 model. The concept was to place a red lighting under the hood to glow bright red on the pavement. The final results were fantastic, and the engine was so hot and powerful that it glowed. This is one photograph that is still very popular today among collectors and muscle car fans. For Mr. Winstanley, a working day consisted of 18 hours, where he would wait to set up during the dark before sunrise. Setting up for a car shoot would involve permits, models, and getting the vehicle, or several models, to the location on time……
By:Robert Tate & John Winstanley In 1969, John Winstanley was a senior in high school while his father, Mr. Warren Winstanley, was photographing the 1969 Camaro SS 396 from Chevrolet. For this particular photo shoot, the art director wanted an everyday high school image. Sure enough, John Winstanley and seven of his close buddies volunteered and were used in the advertising piece that was photographed at Metro Beach located in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Till this day, John has fond memories of when this photograph was taken.
The 1969 Camaro SS 396 model was a very popular muscle car and was among the top sellers for Chevrolet. Mr. Winstanley was not afraid of the competition and would note, “Don't worry about your competition, let your competition worry about you". Jim Bernardin, a close friend of Mr. Winstanley, worked at the Campbell-Ewald advertising agency for 35 years. The two of them worked on many projects together for Chevrolet. One popular assignment was to hold down the ropes on the Chevelle SS 396 model during a photograph taken in California. Jim Bernardin commented, “The image showed a slice of real American life. I wanted pictures with ideals in them".
Other images included direct mail pieces that involved traveling to places like New Orleans to get that right shot and several Corvair pieces of direct mail that were well received by Chevrolet. The 1970's were beginning to explore power, imagination, and change automobile designs were changing and the automotive designers were developing new creative ideas within the car industry. Mr. Winstanley was considered one of the best photographers in the world. Unfortunately, the time was cut short when Mr. Winstanley died on September 8, 1974 in Los Angles California. One of the great pleasures of life consists of great talents like Mr. Winstanley, who was a gifted photographer and showed the world stunning images of his work. Automotive photography is generally reviewed as a way of expression or to reflect reality and sometimes a mirror with a memory. I wish to express my gratitude and thanks to John Winstanley for speaking to me about his father's great talent and the love he had for automotive photography.
Quote: From Jerry Balosky...
I remember in my day that I always wanted to work for and with him. His name always showed me a thought of class and took my breath away. Seeing Warren in the lobbies of the big agencies when I was a growing artist really put me in ahhh!
I would have to wait for hours and he'd walk right in to offices of important art directors. The sight of this man...tall, slender, longish wavy grey hair, well dressed but not gaudy. smile to melt walls, the blue eyes of a genius and I witnessed it all. How lucky I was to have a image to stear my directions toward. Bless You Mr. Warren Winstanley wherever you may be!
By:Robert Tate & John Winstanley In memory of John Winstanley’s father, Mr. Warren Winstanley, who passed away on September 8, 1974.
Mr. Warren Winstanley was a man who loved photography and left the world a gift of carefully created craftsmanship of fine automotive art. Warren began this fascinating journey in the United States Army when he received his training and was stationed in Virginia as a photographer in OSS. Before entering the Army, Mr. Winstanley married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ellen, and had four children; Warren, Sue Ellen, John and Mari Beth. Later on, Warren’s son, John Winstanley, followed in his footsteps which created a self made relationship that every son and father should experience in their life time.
When the war ended, Warren returned home and started working for a commercial photographic automotive studio in Detroit, Michigan. In the late 1950's, Warren took $8,000 and opened his own studio on Whittier Ave. in Detroit called, "Warren Winstanley Inc.”. Warren always had new ideas and different ways to be creative. He was a well read man and a visionary artist. He loved world history and was an old movie buff. On many occasions, Mr. Winstanley would incorporate what he saw during a movie into his photography. He believed that by creating the perfect lighting or casting a shadow, he added a special flare and touch of believability to his photography. Mr.Mickey Meguire, photographer at Boulevard Photographic and rival of Mr. Winstanley, once said, "Mr. Warren Winstanley is the only one that can make automotive photography glamorous". Warren repeatedly and respectfully commented, "It’s not the camera that takes the shot; it’s the person behind the camera that takes the picture".
Warren’s automotive photography was taken with his Bruk & James field camera on 8 x 10 film, which was the standard format for shooting ads and brochures. He never used a light meter and received his light readings from a Kodak type 55 Polaroid, which was the speed of the film. He was the master of detail and when everything would collectively come together, he’d called it the “Golden Light”. For Warren, the automobile painting became a live portrait of art and the vehicle reflected a wet look. Warren traveled all over the world shooting for many automotive manufacturers such as Campbell Ewald, Darcy, Mc Manus, and Young & Rubicam. The 1960's generated muscle and power among automotive designs and Warren was the first photographer to shoot the Ford Mustang for the J. Walter Thompson Ad agency that handled the Ford Motor Company accounts. Winstanley established himself as one of the best automotive photographers in the country. His office was located in Universal Studios in California.
One of the most famous ads created by Winstanley was the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 model. The concept was to place a red lighting under the hood to glow bright red on the pavement. The final results were fantastic, and the engine was so hot and powerful that it glowed. This is one photograph that is still very popular today among collectors and muscle car fans. For Mr. Winstanley, a working day consisted of 18 hours, where he would wait to set up during the dark before sunrise. Setting up for a car shoot would involve permits, models, and getting the vehicle, or several models, to the location on time……
By:Robert Tate & John Winstanley In 1969, John Winstanley was a senior in high school while his father, Mr. Warren Winstanley, was photographing the 1969 Camaro SS 396 from Chevrolet. For this particular photo shoot, the art director wanted an everyday high school image. Sure enough, John Winstanley and seven of his close buddies volunteered and were used in the advertising piece that was photographed at Metro Beach located in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Till this day, John has fond memories of when this photograph was taken.
The 1969 Camaro SS 396 model was a very popular muscle car and was among the top sellers for Chevrolet. Mr. Winstanley was not afraid of the competition and would note, “Don't worry about your competition, let your competition worry about you". Jim Bernardin, a close friend of Mr. Winstanley, worked at the Campbell-Ewald advertising agency for 35 years. The two of them worked on many projects together for Chevrolet. One popular assignment was to hold down the ropes on the Chevelle SS 396 model during a photograph taken in California. Jim Bernardin commented, “The image showed a slice of real American life. I wanted pictures with ideals in them".
Other images included direct mail pieces that involved traveling to places like New Orleans to get that right shot and several Corvair pieces of direct mail that were well received by Chevrolet. The 1970's were beginning to explore power, imagination, and change automobile designs were changing and the automotive designers were developing new creative ideas within the car industry. Mr. Winstanley was considered one of the best photographers in the world. Unfortunately, the time was cut short when Mr. Winstanley died on September 8, 1974 in Los Angles California. One of the great pleasures of life consists of great talents like Mr. Winstanley, who was a gifted photographer and showed the world stunning images of his work. Automotive photography is generally reviewed as a way of expression or to reflect reality and sometimes a mirror with a memory. I wish to express my gratitude and thanks to John Winstanley for speaking to me about his father's great talent and the love he had for automotive photography.
Quote: From Jerry Balosky...
I remember in my day that I always wanted to work for and with him. His name always showed me a thought of class and took my breath away. Seeing Warren in the lobbies of the big agencies when I was a growing artist really put me in ahhh!
I would have to wait for hours and he'd walk right in to offices of important art directors. The sight of this man...tall, slender, longish wavy grey hair, well dressed but not gaudy. smile to melt walls, the blue eyes of a genius and I witnessed it all. How lucky I was to have a image to stear my directions toward. Bless You Mr. Warren Winstanley wherever you may be!
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