Which pic do you like best

[Sohc_mshue]

The first pic is a little overexposed and the sky and the top half of the car came out too bright for my liking. In the second pic I didn't expose it as much and the sky came out much better, but the bottom half of the car seems a little too dark to me. How would I go about getting an equal balance of each when shooting these daytime shots so that the sky isn't too bright and the car isn't too dark?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/sohc_mshue/19000.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/sohc_mshue/20000.jpg

[imanewbie]

Maybe try a different time of day? Or different weather?

[Sohc_mshue]

damn so I guess there is nothing I could really do besides take it at a different time of day.

[skimmilk68]

nah, the bottom one is def better... even though im not a fan of the del-slo :D jk

[Flagpole]

G'day!

Well you can expose for both then blend them in PS (if done in camera usually it would be in bracketing controls) or shoot in raw then develop 2 exposures and blend them that way. You should easily find a lot of resources on blending digital exposures especially at Luminous Landscape website and many others. It also usually mentioned in many Photoshop books (e.g. Jack Davis and Ben Wilmore "HOW to WOW: Photoshop for Photography") or get Fred Mirandas DRI plug in http://www.fredmiranda.com/DRI I have his Velvia Vision and Web Presenter and they are very good software which works as advertised. I may consider DRI later as it may speed up some processing.

When asking for critique please state what feedback you are looking for. Usually most people want composition, exposure or lighting critiqued. Sometimes if you post-processed it you can ask for critique on post-processing. The reason you see lack of post here cause technically and creatively this is not a very diffucult subject to shoot and get exposure right. And the subject itself is not particularly interesting one (no offense but we all see car shots before).

Don't feel bad for lack of responses just try to think why people chose not to respond and go out and shoot some more. At the end of the day this is a very subjective hobby and what may seem appealing to you may no necessarily appeal to others. Another tip if posting for critique is maybe explain what drew you to the subject eg. mood, lighting, starnge elelmemts in the picture etc. It allows the rest of the people to try and see what you have seen as often pictures appear "out-of-context" which makes giving feedback much harder.

Regards,
Flagpole
Sydney Australia

[c0ntr0lz]

well i'd find an industrail part of town as a backdrop and not worry about the sky. then i'd take the same shot but put the back light right in the center of the pic and get lower so that you're kinda looking up at the car, and it'd be a great shot.
maybe find tall towers or buildings and have the towers come straight up from in front of the car.

[tim]

I agree - blending would be a good option. Also, you could use a polarising filter.

[Sohc_mshue]

thanx for the help guys. I'll probably try blending them in ps when i get back home. Sorry that its not much of an interesting subject to shoot, but i'm new at this stuff and figured that if I posted it in critique corner I would get some constructive criticism on how to eliminate that overexposed sky and still keep the car a little brighter.

Oh and skimmilk68 its not my del-slo..its actually a friends :p . It is however the cleanest del-sol I have ever personally seen. The car is in mint shape and is pretty quick for what little engine mods are done to it. Definantely a low 14 second car.

[BruceC]

I like the second better.

a good friend of mine one too.
http://www.pbase.com/demon440/image/38448999

[eosster]

I second that using a polarizer on different day.

[KO_300D]

I like the second and I don't think it's too underexposed on the lower half...

There's no loss of details there - in fact you can even see your reflection when you were taking the shot :D

[mvrekum]

Or you can try a contrast mask on the second image:


http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/contrast_masking.shtml

[VegasGeorge]

First thing I'd do is look at the composition. Your eye is drawn straight down to that stupid mailbox at the corner. I'm pretty sure you weren't trying to show us that. I also think the roof peak sticking up over the top of the car is a nice touch. Kinda like the car is wearing a party hat. Polarize the sky next time, and if possible wet down the asphalt.

[Radtech1]

Are those L Series tires? :rolleyes:

[Sohc_mshue]

they are some kind of nitto tires, but i'm not sure which. Its my friend's car.