Role: Freelance Photographer / Consignment Manager
Joined: 2021
Location: Glasgow
Colin has a deep passion for cars and photography. He first picked up a camera around 2010 to take photos of his own car, and has since progressed from car-spotting to becoming a professional car photographer, who’s images have featured in Practical Performance Car, Supercar Driver Magazine, and Autocar.
Always dreaming of owning a garage full of supercars, Colin studied Games Software Development at Glasgow Caledonian University. Although he never ended up working in the games industry, his passion for cars never faded.
Enjoying taking photos of his own car, a Vauxhall Astra VXR Nürburgring Edition (No. 114 of 835; he knows someone will ask) — he began the hobby with a Panasonic Lumix G3 Micro Four Thirds camera. In 2014, he started a car-spotting page on Facebook to archive some of the cars he’d seen out in the wild.
Upgrading to a full-frame Canon 5D MkIII in 2015, he began attending car meets and joined Tartan Tarmac as their photographer in 2016. Later that year, he took part in the Modball Rally, starting in London and finishing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. He has been fortunate with timing, allowing him to experience things such as Tartan Tarmac sourcing cars for The Grand Tour, and even being backstage at Jeremy Clarkson’s birthday party in 2018, which featured in Series 3, Episode 7 of the show.
In 2020, he upgraded to his current setup: the mirrorless Canon R5 paired with a selection of prime lenses: 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and his favourite, the 85mm.
After passing his test in 2005, Colin borrowed his dad’s Vauxhall Corsa SXI (SC51 HSY) until 2008, when he bought his first (and only) car: the 2008 Vauxhall Astra VXR Nürburgring Edition mentioned earlier.
His favourite car of all time is the Pagani Zonda – specifically the Zonda Cinque (Coupe 3 of 5, the orange one that was converted to a manual). He visited the Pagani factory this summer, where Cinque Roadster 5 of 5 was on display in the museum.
Colin’s most memorable shoot with Trade Classics was the 2009 Aston Martin DBS in November 2024 – see listing. It was blowing a hoolie all day, with the occasional shower. Colin dried the car a few times, but as he headed out to do the beauty shots the sun was just setting, perfectly. Colin found a quiet straight where he jumped out and took his favourite shot of 2024, the one featured on the website header.
Colin’s very first shoot in November 2021 was also unforgettable: a little Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate Edition – see listing. He said he remembered being nervous about his first shoot. He took the car to St Abbs—also known as New Asgard in one of the Thor/Marvel films – a scenic harbour with houses perched on the cliff above.
From 2023, Colin joined us in the (Zoom) office as our Consignment Manager, helping to keep track of who is out consigning and keeping customers informed about what’s happening with their listings. This is when he’s not out on his own consignments or working on other photography projects.
You can follow Colin on Instagram @bashinator.
Here’s some images Colin is particularly proud of, together with some photos of him out on location.
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