Pics of my BMW

[hatchd]

I just sold her today and got to snap a few quick shots before she went. Let me know the good(if there is any) and the bad(there will be a ton). Let's not get too detailed here as I am brand new at this. And yes I know I suck at post processing. All I am doing is adjusting the curves to give it a different look. I can still barely use the camera(had it for 2 weeks) so photoshop will have to wait.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff225/330iForSale/IMG_0783.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff225/330iForSale/IMG_0784.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff225/330iForSale/IMG_0787.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff225/330iForSale/IMG_0793.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff225/330iForSale/IMG_0796.jpg

[mattograph]

Are you looking for critique in composition or processing?

[PhotosGuy]

The car itself looks pretty good in 1, 2 & 5, but I'm not loving the crops & backgrounds. There are too many bad reflections in the others. Seen this?
A few Car Lighting Tips - Updated (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=70290)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Welcome-ChargerRT_020.gif

[VorteC]

clean e46 dude.

[hatchd]

Are you looking for critique in composition or processing?


Both. I basically found a spot to shoot and did the best with it. I have no knack for photography so the different lighting and recognition of a decent background arent burnt into my head yet. I'm new enough that I'm still learning the effects of aperture, iso, and shutter speed on my pics. As far as processing, i just need to a break from school so i can play around with photoshop. All i really know how to do to enhance a photo is adjust the curves. Everything else is greek to me now.

The car itself looks pretty good in 1, 2 & 5, but I'm not loving the crops & backgrounds. There are too many bad reflections in the others. Seen this?

The background was the best I could find. I had about 20 minutes to find somewhere, get there, and snap a few shots. Unfortunately I had to deal with the cars, gas station, and car wash in the background. As far as the heavy machinery....it was there and I couldnt resist lol. What is your good and bad about 1,2, & 5, and then 3 & 4?

Thanks for any opinions guys. I hope to spend a lot of time in here because I mainly bought my camera for shooting cars since thats what I like. So, the more critique (with tips on how to improve it) the better.

[wallybud]

i like the contrast in 2 id crop the whole sky and right side of the building out

[mattograph]

Its funny. I have about a dozen shots of my E46 taken under the same circumstances -- getting ready to deliver it to the buyer. I shot them in my driveway in about the worst lighting I could possibly find.

The only comment I have would be that the white balance feels off -- a little blue -- at least on my monitor. I think with your composition you made some good decisions -- just needed some more time to work out the particulars, which you unfortunately did not have.

Are you shooting in RAW yet? Start as soon as you can -- you won't regret it!

And finally I might suggest a good polarizer. They are invaluable for shooting cars. Actually, they are just pretty much invaluable.

[hatchd]

not shooting in raw yet. with all the shots I got the other day of the car i finally eclipsed the 100 picture mark with my camera so i'm still learning.

Is there a way to adjust the white balance? Or is that done before the picture is taken? Any recommendations on polarizers?

Thanks for the comments.

EDIT-

Here's a crop of #2 that a friend of mine did. Looks a ton better:

http://cardork.com/photo/d/93-1/bimmer.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

What is your good and bad about 1,2, & 5, Told you. Crop them. and then 3 & 4? 3: The building is reflected in the roof & hood.
4: The building is reflected in the roof & hood, & good side reflections are blocked by the building.
You really need to move the car each time you change your shooting angle for the best results.

[Caspita]

Best color BMW makes!!!!! for having your camera for only a couple of weeks these are not bad at all. The locations you have chosen are all good, except for the one with the crane in the background. Although photoshop can make a world of difference, do not even worry about that, aim your focus towards understanding your camera and what it is capable of doing. Great start and welcome to the forum.

[mattograph]

not shooting in raw yet. with all the shots I got the other day of the car i finally eclipsed the 100 picture mark with my camera so i'm still learning.

Is there a way to adjust the white balance? Or is that done before the picture is taken? Any recommendations on polarizers?

Thanks for the comments.



It just occurred to me that you are shooting an XT, so, in the immortal words of the soup **** -- NO RAW FOR YOU!!! I believe it shoots jpeg only.

Photoshop can't do alot with white balance. In RAW, you can totally screw it up and fix it later.

In the instance of these photos, the "blue" ones have so much of the same whitish tone in them that it would be hard to balance. Generally, if you leave the camera in auto, you should be fine. Try to contrast the backrounds against the sky (as you did with the backhoe pic) and your white balance challenges will be less obvious.

[hatchd]

Best color BMW makes!!!!! for having your camera for only a couple of weeks these are not bad at all. The locations you have chosen are all good, except for the one with the crane in the background. Although photoshop can make a world of difference, do not even worry about that, aim your focus towards understanding your camera and what it is capable of doing. Great start and welcome to the forum.

The color is the only reason I got what I was asking for out of the car. I had a guy look for a month trying to find a different bmw with that color and a 5spd and it just didnt exist (thankfully for me).

And the backhoe......I just had to do it lol. I figured the pics would be interesting. And I know what you're saying about learning the camera first. I'm still trying to figure out aperture and the relation to shutter speed and I havent even touched iso. I also need to figure out how to do long exposures without whiting out the image and how to focus on moving things....but all will come with time.

Keep the C&C coming, thanks guys