I've been reading up on taking professional style car pictures, so I took my car out today for a photo shoot. I'm also learning that of the many pictures you take, only a few are worth keeping. What do you think?

 

Nice pictures, however I think you should be a little closer to the car. The scenery looks great but it is larger than the car.

BTW NICE car!!!!

 

When the photo gets cropped/edited, some of the background will be lost. I need to use a different lens, also. I was probably 30-40' from the car when the full car shots were taken. The closeups of the front were probably 15' away. I notice the lens distortion isn't visible at these distances.

 

one word of advice you gotta turn your wheel for a more aggresive lookin stance. whats up with the different shade nose

 

I think they look great. What kind of camera are you using?

 

Meh

 

Still learning....first try after reading some tips. I'm using a Nikon D50 with a Tamron 18-200mm macro lens and Qantray UV filter. I probably should've used a lens shade and the optional flash. Next time round, I'll take 'em while the sun goes down and the tires turned more.

The differece in color is the factory paint process. The urethane pieces were painted in a different location, so the lot colors are different.

 

NICE! good job scott. ....where have you been reading about photography? I've wanted to look into some car photography as well, but HDR currently has my attention!

 

Here's a good contest that was done regarding photo quality; http://www.popularhotrodding.com/hot...est/index.html. There's a boat'load of good information in there that talk about tips for car photography, I recommend you check it out if your interested.

Maybe then your's'll turn out similar to this...

 

I think I'll stick to Scott's source.

 

No offense, but I'm not so sure that any of your photos follow the proper steps to good automotive photography. In the first picture, you're showing us the tire tread which is dark because you took the picture on the shadow side of the car. The second pic shows telephone poles rising from the roof of the car. The side of the car is washed out in the 3rd pic because you took the picture into the sun, which also cast a shadow on the front of the car. The last photo is just too dark and needs a flash to enhance the character of the car in dark environments. Again, no offense, but I'll stick with my sources for automotive photography if that's what I'd get from PHRs advice.

 

I'm all about learning, so if you got better tips, please let me in on the secrets. I know the sun kills pictures and don't know why I took those in the afternoon. What is PHR?

 

Wow, bold words for such awful pics. That first one is hideous!
I know you're trying......

but keep trying.

 

WOW! I thought those words may have been taken the wrong way. I'll sit the &*$% down now and listen.

 

PHR - Popular Hot Rodding

I just did a google search for automotive photography tips or secrets. I have also read tips in magazines.

 

Nice pics Scott....almost looks like dealer brochures!

 

Iroc444, don't take offense to any comments. So many of the pics posted here on TGO aren't "professional" looking. -and your pics would be just fine in any other thread. Scott specifically mentioned "professional techniques", so maybe in this thread alone, your pics come up a little short. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's all about learning.

.....I'm gonna do some reading myself. I get lucky every now and then, but I'd like my pics to look better too.

 

No offense man, I figured you just worded it wrong.

I'm hardly a great photographer but I can tell a good picture from a bad one and your post just rubbed me the wrong way.

Maybe I'll go take some today and post em here so you can bash me back!

 

lol

No offense taken, just need to word my posts a little better. Scott, that is a beautiful ride you got there.

 

scott...this is a great start...youll wanna invest in a cp filter...that will help with the color issues youre also having with the front bumper....also...something really nice to have is a few things of poster board to reflect light in spots that are dark...its a cheaper alternative than reflecters....also...dont use a flash!!


dont worry about the lens you have....its very decent for what youre doing...
----------
underexposed
distracting reflection
background is blah
bad angles

 

I don't know much about photography, but how will a CP filter fix what the factory messed up with the bumper covers? It's not the lighting that makes it look that way, it really does look like that! The drivers' side is the worst. I don't post pics of the drivers side much because you can also see the metal flake spray from the paint booth every foot and an angle. In the below pic, look to the front edge of the fuel door and then about a foot behind that. Certain pics show this banding down the whole car. Look carefully and you will see it on the door also. Gotta love that Van Nuys quality paint!

 

grab a cp filter and try it out...its a must have anyhow ....one thing is does is it enriches colors...so im thinking it may help with that.......it will really being your paint out too...especially on this color!

 

Polarizerers certainly help. Of course, a photoshop ninja like myself can do it digitally! ....but in reality, there's not many car shots where you would NOT want one, so software or not, it's a good idea.

NO! ALWAYS use a fill flash outdoors!!!!!!!!!!! If you meter light, set F stop and aperture, and KNOW exactly what you're trying to do, then yes, sometime you don't want a flash. ....my old photography teacher used to say ONLY turn it off if you know WHY you're turning off! Otherwise, 9 out of 10 shots will be better with fill flash.

 

Here's a pic of the striping I mentioned earlier (And another shot of the car). The driver side front bumper looks so far off color because of the banding right at the bumper edge. I will get me one of those CP filters.

 

Not the best shot, but....

 

Yea but you know, it adds to what makes your car awesome. This may sound funny, but there's something cool about good quality bad paint!

 

see...all that glare would be mostly taken away with a cp filter!...in thinking it will really help that bumper cover some too


abuduca...the thing about a fill flash is right on when you work with people...youre filling in shady under the chins, eyes and so on...with cars its alot different...i have a $500 580 ex flash head that can be set up a 1000 or so ways.............
that will never come out for automotive because the flake in paint will reflect that and bounce....if you have issues with shadows and stuff on autos its ALWAYS best to use reflectors or if your want cheap...poster board and tightly crop the shot...if my car was running id do a bunch of test shots to show what i explain...damn 305 hates me again:P



another thing that can be used is in photoshop...if you go into the menu where you can use the shaow highlight...you can control alot of the crap shadows and get rid of them

 

See, but YOU are clearly avoiding the flash, and compensating with better methods. Like I said, use it, unless you know why you're not. You know WHY you're not using it. ...but as a rule of thumb for Joe photographer, I think it's a good idea. That being said, I'm only a hobbyist, so I'm not gonna over step my level of knowledge here.

 

my car is a damn mirror...i could never get away with it..lol

 

Nice looking car.........