21-Mustang salute..

[Pixel9ine]

With some planning and forethought, I was able to gather some 21 cars from my local Mustang club to a newly-paved parking lot and capture this pic:

1.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/1Fine89/CBPhotoday/Group_3536.jpg

2.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/1Fine89/CBPhotoday/Group_3544.jpg

Taken with my Sigma 10-20 from atop a 25' stepladder... I've started to consider insuring my equipment!

Comments?

[RCoulter]

Wow! I like it. Amazing shots :)

[PhotosGuy]

Very nice! How long did it take to get them all lined up? :D
Got PS? Take a look at this thread for how to use a Layer Mask to selectivly lighten/darken part of a pic:
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)

[Livinthalife]

outstanding! like the first one more. I'm curious too, as to how long to line them all up near perfect.

[Pixel9ine]

To be honest, parking didn't take all that long.. maybe 15 or 20 minutes. I stayed on the ladder, checking the view through the lens, as my assistant guided the owners to park/nudge/align their vehicles based on my hand signals.

In actuality, I'm very impressed with the owners' patience as we did all this, but then again, it has netted them a very decent picture of their cars. (I did the shoot for free... you guessed it, I'm a Mustang enthusiast too: mine's in the middle of the last row. That and the fact that I'd simply never attemtped something of this scale before.) There has been alot of local interest in purchasing prints.

Frank, I did a little PS work on the background, cloning and healing stray litter out of the grass (it's a football field) as well as an overall levels adjustment, but nothing selective. I'm happy with pic #1, though #2 (headlights on) I find could use some work.. I'm just not 100% happy with it. What did you have in mind? I've kept the RAW files in case I ever need to rework the pics...

[johnthebaptist]

You did a great job with these shots! I've still got a dream to own a Mustang. Some day . . .

[Ballen Photo]

A novel idea, and executed nicely. :D
-Bruce

[ajbalazic]

Fantastic. I like the colour arrangement you strived for- keeps the shot well balanced. Too bad you didn't leave a little extra space at the bottom (or top) to add the deatails of your car club- it would make a fantastic poster.

[Livinthalife]

So they want prints, nice! Maybe soon enough you will special requests :)

[PhotosGuy]

as well as an overall levels adjustment, but nothing selective. Did you look at the info in the link? You can easily, & selectivley adjust the wheels & headlights in #2 using a Layer Mask.

[Sittingshooter]

Great job! My wifes favorite car.....After 21 years of marriage, we finally got her a 2001 Bullitt last year.

[aaronmd]

Awesome shot!

[Pixel9ine]

Did you look at the info in the link? You can easily, & selectivley adjust the wheels & headlights in #2 using a Layer Mask.I'll try brigitening the headlights, and the wheels on the fastback... and yes, I looked at the link, and yes I've used a layer mask before.. :lol:

[peacock]

I'm curious as to how the classic at the front is a side view and not a head on ? was it planned this way or due to space or lens issues ?

[shelbygt]

Great shot! Another Mustang fan/owner here. The trees and part of the roadway in the back would be easy enough to clone out and the shot would be near perfect. Great attention to detail. What lens did you use for this shot? There seems to be a bit of barrel distortion at the corners, so I assume it was pretty wide.
Dave

[laq]

another owner here ( 02 gt trueblue 'vert ) wish mine was in there! very cool shot! looks like the cover of a calendar.

-tony

[Mike Reynolds]

good job I can imagine the effort to get them all lined up nice and neat like that. Commendable

[Pixel9ine]

Thanks all for your comments... peacock, the choice to put the Fastback in the middle going sideways was last-minute.. in fact most of the cars were set up on the spot; the layouts I had in mind weren't for this many vehicles-- I was very surprised with the turnout. (Rumor has it, now that the word is out there'll be even more for next year!)

Also, though there was another ten feet or so where we could've set the car straight-on and made a full fourth row, the cars in the very back row would've been compressed due to perspective. I was trying to be fair to everyone, and not emphasize the cars in the back more than anyone else's. Nevertheless, I thought no one would contest the fact that it belongs as the centerpiece. The green has turned out amazingly well in the prints I've had done so far.

Also, although I did use Photoshop for color and levels adjustment, I tried to limit the amount of cloning to removing pieces of trash here and there and maybe the odd seagull. Aside from that, I didn't want to "doctor" the images too much, although I can later on if I feel the need.

shelbygt: The shot was taken with my Sigma 10-20, at 20mm with a dRebel XT.

laq, the calendar idea is excellent.. I'd also taken tons individual car shots that day, so I might actually be able to work something out along those lines.. all I need is an affordable way to produce and sell two dozen calendars. I might start looking into that idea as we approach the new year...

[Pixel9ine]

Also, just to give everyone an idea of the quality of the cars, here are a few shots of the cars themselves:

Copper 1986 GT, back row, just right of centre
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/1Fine89/CBPhotoday/Speedfreak_3456.jpg

White V6 convertible, middle row, far right:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/1Fine89/CBPhotoday/1-1/Archer3579_3596.jpg

Black on grey 2006 GT, front row, left of centre
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/1Fine89/CBPhotoday/1-1/Netradioshow_3480.jpg

[peacock]

Thanks all for your comments... peacock, the choice to put the Fastback in the middle going sideways was last-minute.. in fact most of the cars were set up on the spot; the layouts I had in mind weren't for this many vehicles-- I was very surprised with the turnout. (Rumor has it, now that the word is out there'll be even more for next year!)

Also, though there was another ten feet or so where we could've set the car straight-on and made a full fourth row, the cars in the very back row would've been compressed due to perspective. I was trying to be fair to everyone, and not emphasize the cars in the back more than anyone else's. Nevertheless, I thought no one would contest the fact that it belongs as the centerpiece. The green has turned out amazingly well in the prints I've had done so far.

...

Thanks for that , appreciate the insight into the thought process , sounds like next year will be a challenge too with even more cars:eek: :D

[TXClark]

YES! thats perfect, I dislike alot of car club photos I've seen and you only see the front row. Like you I prefer getting pics from up above :) good job!

[SoaringUSAEagle]

VERY CREATIVE!!!!

I love this shot... Mustangs rock!

[asolie]

That's a lot of wild horses!