Just like everyone else on the planet, 2020 has been a year to remember for me. Thankfully, shooting cars is something that can be done safely outside, so there were still plenty of amazing vehicles to get a good look at through my lens. Here’s a 2020 recap!
1 – BMW M School
Yes, I did shoot there, but I also took the class. What’s it like? Find out here. More Performance Center stuff is coming in 2021!

2 – Dream Car
A Mitsubishi 3000GT in Brooklyn during a summer sunset. This was not only my favorite shoot of the year, but possibly all-time.

3- AMMO
Larry Kosilla built a garage, and fills it with the rarest of metal. I love it, and I never know what’s coming next. No doubt there will be plenty more in 2021.
- A tour of AMMO NYC’S New Garage
- Shooting the Audrain Museum’s Porsche 911
- The Glickenhaus Boot
- Shooting the Rimac Concept One
- Shooting the Saleen S7

4 – The 2020 M3 Fall Cruise
130 BMWs cruise on a fall morning. Enjoyment ensues. I’ll have some big news for this coming in 2021.

5 – MPACT
Thankfully, MPACT still happened this year, and it was as fun as it always is. Relive it here. Looking forward to next year’s event!

6- Beemer Believer
Speaking of which, I shot tons of BMWs this year. Hey, I do it for you guys.
- Austin Yellow M3
- Sunset Orange 340i
- Unveiling the new G80 BMW M3
- Detailer’s Domain M2
- The 700 lb-ft of torque BMW 3 Series Wagon
- The ultimate BMW E9X M3 review

7- Photo tips
Helping people offers its own kind of reward. Here are the tips from 2020.
- Top 5 reasons for using an ND filter
- Top 5 tips for shooting headlights
- 3 tips for how to get an automotive star burst
- What’s a LUT filter? And how do you use them?
- Three tips for lighting your car
- 5 quick tips for light painting a car
- Top 5 beginner tips for shooting cars in quarantine
- Top 5 tips for detailing your car for a photo shoot
- Five tips for pro automotive photos with your iPhone
- Capturing automotive detail
- Shooting Automotive daytime running lights
- Shooting a car with a prime lens
- How to shoot a car in the afternoon

8 – Retouching
Here’s the retouching tips from 2020.
- How to make an automotive 80s Background
- How to retouch automotive paint
- Automotive Retouching School, Part 1
- Automotive Retouching School, Part 2
- Retouching the BMW G80 M3
- Light painting a car without a light

Thank you
Someone recently said one of my images “moved” him. That’s the greatest compliment to my work, and what any artist should strive for. It means what I’m doing is working. It happens because the clients above have chosen to shoot with me. I thank them, and I thank you for reading!
Happy holidays, Happy New Year, and I’ll see you soon.
Full send into 2021!
Commissions may be received for product links on this site, so help out if you can. I only write about products I use and believe in.
I use Nikon camera bodies and lenses, a Westcott Ice Light 2, Manfrotto tripod, B + W filters and an iMac Pro to make the art you see here.
Email me at mike@machineswithsouls.com with any questions.
Follow along on Instagram @machineswithsouls
Legal
Due to factors beyond the control of Machines With Souls LLC and Mike D’Ambrosio, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Machines With Souls LLC and Mike D’Ambrosio assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this post. Use this information at your own risk. Machines With Souls LLC and Mike D’Ambrosio recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this post.
Due to factors beyond the control of Machines With Souls LLC and Mike D’Ambrosio, no information contained in this post shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this post is the sole responsibility of the user and not Machines With Souls LLC or Mike D’Ambrosio.