Auto show tips? No pics and i searched.

[Colombia]

I hate to start up a topic on shooting at auto shows, but searching is producing scattered, conflicting tips. It would be greatly appreciated if i could just get a few tips for shooting at auto shows using an xt and the kit lens. Again i apologize for this thread but appreciate all responses! Oh, I also have a cp but am wondering if I should use it? :)

[siknis]

best tip for anyone shooting a show as the member of the public, be patient. you may have to wait quite a long time for a clear shot, people dont really seem to care that your taking photo's, so you need to wait for a moment when theres nobody arround snap your shot and move along. after ten minutes and no luck, go and come back.

[Valencia Photography]

best tip for anyone shooting a show as the member of the public, be patient. you may have to wait quite a long time for a clear shot, people dont really seem to care that your taking photo's, so you need to wait for a moment when theres nobody arround snap your shot and move along. after ten minutes and no luck, go and come back.


I second that one! So many times people have just walked right in front of me. I'll end up waiting by one car for 5 minutes for people to move. Most also have no concept of how much a wide angle lens actually "sees." So, while they think they're out of your shot, you have to tell them, and sometimes show them, they infact are, in the shot. lol.

[PhotosGuy]

So, while they think they're out of your shot, you have to tell them, and sometimes show them, they infact are, in the shot. lol. They'll show up reflected in the side of the car, too. For the last 2 years, I just don't go any more. (Which doesn't mean that the it's a total waste of time.)

Expect that the lighting will be crappy. If you can go during the day on the Friday before, there won't be as many people & you can use a tripod.
There are some notes on how I exposed just above the bike in this thread:
Gray card: Why your meter may be lying to you! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281)

Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

[poah]

best tip is don't expect anything more than snap shots. best to use tripod (assuming inside) and take your time so you don't get lots of crowds.

[asylumxl]

i'm not very good at photography in general but here are my tips.

find a balance. don't take all close ups, don't take all whole car shots, variation is the key, even when posting your 8 up on here.

when doing close ups, look for details on the cars that you think are nice, badges, vents, shapes, don't be afraid to be abstract. if it comes out badly, so what, delete it :).

for full car shots, try not to crop bits of it, if your going for a full car shot, make sure it is full car, don't take it at all if it isn't. use perspective, if its a 4x4, get down low, make it look tall and imposing. look for lines and things leading from the bottom of a picture to the car.

on the technical side, if its outside, use your cp, if its inside, don't bother. i'd recommend using flash inside, it saves you alot of time messing with camera shake and white balance problems. i think it is best to shoot raw, it gives alot more room for error and also will let you give them whatever look you want :).

people will probably disagree with me, but, i hope my advice helps you. situations are what you make of them, if you go in expecting nothing more than snapshots, your not going to get anything more than snapshots. be creative and enjoy yourself, thats my motto. :-D

[alan927]

Full car shots are hard at the public shows; it's best to look for unique features (taillights, wheels, doors, etc.). Also don't shoot "straight on" - angle the camera 30-45 degrees to emphasize the unique features even more. Full car shots are easiest for those that are up on displays (turntables, etc.) where people can't get too close.

My shots from the public show at Detroit are here: http://www.alan927.com/naias07/

I had my 580EX flash on as well to better control lighting (the spotlights are very patchy).

- Alan
http://www.alan927.com

[asylumxl]

Full car shots are hard at the public shows.

i went to the british motorshow last year - probably the largest public car show in britain - and had no problem getting a whole car in - like any form of photography, its all about timing. just go to the wide end of the kitlens and get in nice and close, people won't be able to get infront of you. hell, you can even use the people in your composition if your feeling adventurous.

[Colombia]

Thank you all very much. I truly appreciate all the tips and to be honest, was surprised at the numbers of responses for such a heavily discussed topic! Thanks!!!!!

[asylumxl]

i look foward to seeing the results :).

[wallisj]

When i went, i tended to try and use the widest lens i could so i could get as physically close to the cars

Get on the floor! I was laying on the floor at some points to get low slung shots....most people are lazy and just shoot stood up or knealt down....

Focus on details of the cars, most people have seen the overall car many times, focus on something unusual, an aspect of it....like a diffuser, or a light cluster

Take a friend....if you can "double team" ... i went with another photographer and he basically stopped people walking in front of a shot i was taking and vise-versa ... people are just in a daze when they're walking round shows and usually won't mind being told to walk around or just hang for a second while you get the shot you want

Patience, as others have said....wait for that shot..it'll come

Good luck ... post many shots on your return!

[Colombia]

i look foward to seeing the results :).
Thanks! :)



Good luck ... post many shots on your return!
Thank you!

[Colombia]

Quick! Can anyone tell me in the next couple minutes if i should use a cp or not!?? :lol: Ahaha thanks.

[asylumxl]

is it inside or outside?

as i said - inside, no - outside, yes

[Pnoiz1]

Here's the link to my Flickr set of the pictures I took at Falken Showoff in Chinatown earlier this year. Hopefully this helps and gives you ideas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnoiz1/sets/72157594558486385/

[Colombia]

is it inside or outside?

as i said - inside, no - outside, yes
Thanks, well i used a cp at the show and it turned pretty good for the most part. Ill post some results later.

Here's the link to my Flickr set of the pictures I took at Falken Showoff in Chinatown earlier this year. Hopefully this helps and gives you ideas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnoiz1/sets/72157594558486385/
Nice shots and some very nice cars! :!:



Shows over, but i forgot to ask what iso to use, (i used 800 the whole show) but figured why not have someone say, so if others search all info will be here.

[Colombia]

So after all the tips this is what i came out with. One question first (and this is a noob question). Im using my notebook from that i use at school and when i uploaded the photos to photobucket they looked much darker on my desktop, they are much brighter and lively on my notebook then on my desktop in which they appear darker. Anyone have an answer for this??



So now to the photos, these are straight out of the camera, no post process as i do not have photoshop or know how to use it. C&C please.



http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/Colombia532/AutoShow06069.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/Colombia532/AutoShow06128.jpg



http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/Colombia532/AutoShow06096.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/Colombia532/auto130plate.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[asylumxl]

laptops and photo editing don't really mix :p tbh. chances are a) its not calibrated b) viewing angle changes the brightness, and that is why.

[PhotosGuy]

they are much brighter and lively on my notebook then on my desktop in which they appear darker. Anyone have an answer for this??
&
chances are a) its not calibrated b) viewing angle changes the brightness,
Monitor calibration and gamma Quick test:
http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/index.html

How do you calibrate your monitor?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=196318
Monitor Calibration
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158158

.

[Colombia]

laptops and photo editing don't really mix :p tbh. chances are a) its not calibrated b) viewing angle changes the brightness, and that is why.
Thats unfortunate news, but thanks. Do the photos above appear to be highly underexposed to you? To me and my notebook they appear to be exposed correctly for the most part.

Monitor calibration and gamma Quick test:
http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/index.html

How do you calibrate your monitor?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=196318
Monitor Calibration
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158158

.
Thanks, same question for you then, do the photos appear to be highly underexposed to you?

[PhotosGuy]

do the photos appear to be highly underexposed to you? No. In #1 the highlight above the grill is 252/256 & the tire tread has detail 26/256. Just about perfect, if just a tiny touch too much contrast. Not enough to even worry about.

[Colombia]

No. In #1 the highlight above the grill is 252/256 & the tire tread has detail 26/256. Just about perfect, if just a tiny touch too much contrast. Not enough to even worry about.
Thanks. I checked out that gamma test on the link you gave me, everything seemed to be in order concerning the monitor on my notebook (if it helps, the notebook is a Dell Inspiron E1505 with the true life screen). I still wonder what my pictures look like to others but cant do anything about that. Thanks for the comments.

[asylumxl]

Thanks. I checked out that gamma test on the link you gave me, everything seemed to be in order concerning the monitor on my notebook (if it helps, the notebook is a Dell Inspiron E1505 with the true life screen). I still wonder what my pictures look like to others but cant do anything about that. Thanks for the comments.

on my monitor thats calibrated ( i think ) properly, they look fine :) quit worrying.

[Colombia]

on my monitor thats calibrated ( i think ) properly, they look fine :) quit worrying.
:lol:Thanks!!! Ill stop worrying about it!

[Createsean]

The tips here look pretty solid and I'm actually going to a car show in about 4 hours with my 5 year old son. I'm not wanting to carry more than one lens and can't decide between my Tamron 17-50 (non-vc) f2.8 and my Tamon 10-24 f3.5/4.5 - I'm using a Canon 550D crop sensor.

Is the 17 wide enough? This is my first time to go to a car show and I'm going on a Wednesday morning at 10am so hopefully there won't be too many crowds. Also haven't decided on whether I should bring my 430 ex II flash or just use the onboard flash.

tips and advice appreciated.

[PhotosGuy]

How would we know how tight the cars will be? Bite the bullet & take both lenses. I never use a flash. Good luck.