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In recent years, science has confirmed what many already knew: autistic people often possess exceptional levels of creativity. In 2015, for example, researchers from the universities of Stirling and East Anglia in the United Kingdom conducted a study with 312 participants to analyse their ability to come up with alternative solutions to a range of problems. They found that those with high levels of autistic traits are more likely to come up with original ideas.
Studies like this may explain why people with these traits exhibit creative talents in some fields. Such is the case of Anthony Schmidt, a 16-year-old boy with autism who has gained international recognition thanks to his impressive talent for photography. The American artist stages highly detailed scenes with his model cars as if they were in real life, detailed settings.
The origins of a passion
Anthony’s fascination with classic cars began at a very young age, when he was around three years old. Since then, he has amassed an enormous collection of all types of miniature vehicles, which he stores in cupboards, drawers and shelves at home, meticulously ordered by era. He knows all the models by heart.
By the time he was six, Anthony was already picking up his mother’s mobile phone to photograph his prized collection. Ramona Schmidt posted the image of a miniature 1953 Chevy 3100 pickup truck to a neighbourhood Facebook group, and it quickly went viral. He now has more than 350,000 followers on Instagram and another 850,000 on TikTok.
Bestselling products from his website
His fans are the ones who made it possible for Anthony to publish his first book of photographs when he was just 12 years old through a crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter platform. “Small Cars, Big Inspiration” sold 1000 copies at the time. A second book, “Shifting Perspecctives”, completes – so far – his bibliography.
They are both for sale at the online store of the young photographer’s website, where you can also buy dozens of prints in different finishes and sizes. Models from Ford, Chevy, Duesenberg, Auburn, Cadillac, Corvette, Land Rover, Volkswagen, Jaguar and Mustang, among others, are realistically depicted in various scenarios. His calendars are also bestselling products, as evidenced by the fact that they sell out long before a new year begins. Postcards, and even a clothing line which currently consists of only T-shirts, complete the list of available products on his website.
The creative process
Since those early years when Anthony first played with his mother’s phone, his photography skills have gone from strength to strength. The creative process begins with a hunt for places that visually match the aesthetics of the era of the car or cars he wants to photograph that day. This involves researching historical sites and studying lighting conditions.
The next step is to modify the vehicles to “bring them to life” – adding a patina to give them a rust effect, for example. Finally, the photographer carefully plans the positioning and angles of the cars with his iPhone, studying their lines, curves and unique features.
The cars are arranged in a miniature setting, but the backdrop is life-sized. The originality of Anthony’s work lies in the fact that all these elements end up merging into a cohesive image, making the cars appear real to the viewer’s eyes. He now hopes to be able to organise photo shoots all over the country.
Despite the challenges that life with autism presents, to his mother Ramona, Anthony’s deep interest in vintage photography and cars is a reminder that autism, while often seen as a disability, is also (as proven by science) an incredible source of talent and creativity.
Videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/anthonyschmidt
“The boy who loves cars”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=S141eZcMS3Q&embeds_referring_euri=https://www.anthonyschmidtphotography.com/&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY