C&C on picture of my car

[hollerz]

I originally went out tonight to shoot something completely different, but that was a dissapointment, so shot some of my car instead. Looking for tough C&C! :)

http://www.leeholliday.co.uk/IMG_2174.jpg

[RadAL]

very nice, good lighting, clear, nice car, and the angle isn't severe.... but a little different.

[PhotosGuy]

It's a pretty good shot under the conditions. Watch the reflections in the side & maybe start a bit earlier next time? ;)

A few Car Lighting Tips (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=70290)

[hollerz]

lol yeah, I drove an hour at night to shoot something else, which wasn't even lit up lol so wasn't gonna waste the journey! :P

Only lights were these purple-ish car park lights.

[asylumxl]

nice rover.. sorry, mg :p

nice photo to, i like the composure and the reflections are well managed. maybe a little dodging on the front wing area to bring out some detail and make the lighting look a bit more even :).

[hollerz]

nice rover.. sorry, mg :p



Thanks, I do love my Rover! Ooops, MG! :p

I have another picture that I'd like your comments on if you don't mind! I know the lens flare spoils the picture (will put the hood on next time, should help) was really just an experiment to see if it worked, what do you think?

http://www.leeholliday.co.uk/IMG_2196.jpg

[asylumxl]

the flare can be cloned out in photoshop no problem mate

[Jarvis]

I'm sorry but I haven't seen a new MG since before MTV. Do they make them still?

[sandpiper]

I'm sorry but I haven't seen a new MG since before MTV. Do they make them still?

MG / Rover went belly up earlier this year, but may not be out for the count just yet.

Back to the topic, I'm not keen on the second shot, the lighting isn't great and the car looks like a frumpy estate from that angle. The single headlight trail in the background isn't adding anything imho, but might work better if you could get a couple more trails, including one with brake lights. The fuzzy reg plate is also distracting, if you want to hide your number it's better to just remove the letters and replace with 'MG 160' or whatever model you have. The same problem isn't as evident in the first shot because it is a cleaner removal of the letters.

The first shot though, I really like. Nice lighting, good angle to add drama and it works well. As has been mentioned, removing some of the more distracting reflections from the side may make an improvement. I would also have liked to have seen some lights on at the front, although this might have resulted in them burning out in the image. I think I would have tried various combinations of side / head / foglights, using RAW, to see what I could make from it. The lights might need a bit of PS work to get them right, but could have added a lot of drama to the front end. That's just how I would have done it though, that doesn't make it 'right' as we all have our own ideas of what looks good in an image.

Keep up the good work

[hollerz]

MG / Rover went belly up earlier this year, but may not be out for the count just yet.


Hopefully not, they're decent cars, really! ;)

Back to the topic, I'm not keen on the second shot, the lighting isn't great and the car looks like a frumpy estate from that angle. The single headlight trail in the background isn't adding anything imho, but might work better if you could get a couple more trails, including one with brake lights. The fuzzy reg plate is also distracting, if you want to hide your number it's better to just remove the letters and replace with 'MG 160' or whatever model you have. The same problem isn't as evident in the first shot because it is a cleaner removal of the letters.


As I said, taking shots of my car wasn't planned, so was just looking for ideas on the spot. I actually really like the pic, although all the things you said are true (fuzzy reg plate, was late and couldn't be bothered to do it properly :P, single light trail, I did want more, but waited about 10 mins for this one car to come so it had to do ;), lighting isn't great at all, wish the back was more lit up, not sure how I could improve that though with the lights that were there. I actually really like the angle, I like the way the car looks, must just be me! :( ;)



The first shot though, I really like. Nice lighting, good angle to add drama and it works well. As has been mentioned, removing some of the more distracting reflections from the side may make an improvement. I would also have liked to have seen some lights on at the front, although this might have resulted in them burning out in the image. I think I would have tried various combinations of side / head / foglights, using RAW, to see what I could make from it. The lights might need a bit of PS work to get them right, but could have added a lot of drama to the front end. That's just how I would have done it though, that doesn't make it 'right' as we all have our own ideas of what looks good in an image.



I did try a couple with the lights on, but like you said were just burning out or had to underexpose a lot for them. Come to think of it I should of taken 2, one exposed for lights and one exposed for car with the lights off and combined in PS, will try that next time!


Thank you for taking the time to comment!! :D

[sandpiper]

I did try a couple with the lights on, but like you said were just burning out or had to underexpose a lot for them. Come to think of it I should of taken 2, one exposed for lights and one exposed for car with the lights off and combined in PS, will try that next time!


Thank you for taking the time to comment!! :D

If you take the shot in RAW, you can process two versions. One version where the car and background is correct, but with very bright lights, then another processed for the headlights, but with a very dark car & background. Then open them in two layers and blend to taste. This is the same as taking two shots at different exposures, but makes for a perfect alignment when combining them.

[PhotosGuy]

Come to think of it I should of taken 2, one exposed for lights and one exposed for car with the lights off and combined in PS, will try that next time! Easier to just turn the lights off for most of the exposure? ;)