Automotive Shoot Locations? West / I-10 Area

[J. Evins]

Hello, everyone!

I've got an assignment to shoot a double feature, and both car owners are on the West Side of town nearby I-10. I'm not too familiar with this area, so any suggestions would be great.

The two cars are very classy. Large, high end luxury cars (VIP cars) so I'd like to show them in a very classy environment. Unfortunately, I know I can't be too picky because I need to get this shoot done, so anything thats pleasing to the eye other than industrial bay doors and parking garages will be considered.

Both cars are dark, so I'm planning to use the sun as a keylight, which may rule out some favorable locations unless I can shoot in the morning as well as in the evening.

I'm planning to scout the area a little more Sunday, and once or twice this week. Hopefully, I'll be ready by next weekend. Feedback, comments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!

[venchka]

I guess the Beltway at rush hour is out?

Town & Country Village early Sunday Morning before stores open. Just a guess-security may take offense.

Good luck!

[J. Evins]

Yeah, if I find a good enough spot I'll try and get approval beforehand.

[cooltouch]

Town and Country is a good idea, probably better than mine: the Gessner entrance to Memorial Hermann Hospital (at Gessner and I-10). The entrance has a drive area where one can pull up to offload/pick up passengers. The curved drive area would be a good spot. The buildings are new and nice looking, and the grounds are well maintained. You'd probably have to get permission and schedule the shoot at dawn or so (best light anyway, and the entrance faces east).

Across the street, at Memorial Mall, the main entrance (by the skating rink) also looks pretty nice. Same recommendation as Wayne's, time-wise. But that entrance faces west, so it will be in shadow during early morning hours, and likely busy during sunset hours.

If you're into off-beat, there's Captain Tom's seafood restaurant off Mason Road (I think). The place looks like a tug boat. Shoot before the place opens, because it's usually always crowded.

Rustic? Try in front of Good Company BBQ. It's on the freeway between Bingle and Campbell (I think).

There's also the Alamedas restaurant, on the freeway around the Bingle exit. It is now closed down, but the architecture is interesting, in a classic sort of way. Least you won't have to worry about crowds there.

If you want au-natural, al-fresco, whatever, there's Bear Creek Park. North of I-10, Eldridge Pkwy exit.

[Steelsun]

Also George Bush Park down by Hwy 6 & Westheimer - good nature backgrounds there - and if you go to the north side where the hike & nike is, there are some dead end roads there you could park across to get interesting shots with trees in the BG.

[venchka]

George Bush Park is a great idea. The parking area at the beginning of the hike/bike trail would be a good out of the way place. I'm not sure what times it is full versus more or less empty.

[J. Evins]

Thanks for all the help, guys! :) I'll write all this down and get to scouting tomorrow!

[richardsfault]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

Also George Bush Park down by Hwy 6 & Westheimer - good nature backgrounds there - and if you go to the north side where the hike & nike is, there are some dead end roads there you could park across to get interesting shots with trees in the BG.

Dead end of Barker-Clodine:



There's another good spot where Barker Cypress meets the equestrain parking lot, which is in essence at the opposite end of the trailhead pictured above.

richardsfault added 5 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Of course Cypress Top is also great:

[Brains]

The top of the parking garage at Taylor High School on Kingsland.
The trains in old Katy, right on Alt 90
Old yellow tin barn in old Katy, a block south of Alt 90 around Pin Oak.
Rustic building on the south side of Alt 90 farther out past old Katy (in front of Katy Butane)
There's a really nice driveway in front of an office tower on City West at Westheimer, but the building management can be iffy on allowing you access.

[richardsfault]

Originally Posted by Brains

The trains in old Katy, right on Alt 90

There's a usually empty brick paved lot right next to the display caboose.

[venchka]

The old gas station at old Cypress Park! Perfect!

[J. Evins]

So, I spent some time at most of these locations. George Bush Park is very nice, but not very fitting of this car, or the publication. Alot of the other places are very interesting, visually, but most of them are too busy for what I'm aiming for.

There are alot of nice buildings and areas around that side of town, but most are not going to be very accessible due to traffic.

I did find a really nice view on the top of a parking garage, but I'm trying to avoid parking garages. I found alot of nice offices and such that would be great for this car, since its a V.I.P Lexus. Unfortunately, I noticed security around most of them and alot of traffic, as well.

I may use this location, but its a little farther away from where I was planning to go

[jun0]

if you don't mind me asking.. where IS that location?

[J. Evins]

Thats under 59 not far from deerbrook

I did a quick shoot there once before, but definitely could improve upon it:

[angiem357]

If you do the overpasses thing, there's also one that runs under...oh, I don't know. 45, I think. If you take Dart Street east of Houston Avenue and keep going, past the old Jeff Davis Hospital, that street runs under the freeway. There's a real road there, but it's not frequently traveled. The downside is that there are a lot of random people just walking around - not bum-looking, just...weird - with no apparent destination. I've been down there before snapping and they've never bothered me.