Today was the annual muster and rally at the Quinn Fire Academy in Chicago. One of the highlights was a 1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine from the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago.
![1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6490.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
When I photograph an antique rig, I grab some overall shots of the rig and then I concentrate on some detail closeups.
![1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6554.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
One of the most important aspects of the closeup is a shallow depth of field. You want to isolate the detail from everything else to increase be sure you draw the viewer right into the image.
![1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6568.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
I choose different areas, especially the name or data plates which are of interest.
![1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6571.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
The older plates are classic … much nicer in many cases than those on new apparatus today.
![1923 Ahrens Fox fire engine](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6566.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
Just another image … because the engine so cool!
Additionally, I look for the human interest aspects of any event that I photograph. Here, a young boy sat on top of an engine … presumably with his father … and helped direct a master stream from one of the engines on display.
![young boy helps father on fire truck](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140614_muster-6515.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)