Car/Auto Photographers in Tacoma/Seattle/Western WA

[Mike Bowen]

Just wondering if there are any people who are into shooting automotive stuff in the area? I have a rig and strobist setup, but I haven't really found any places I can go at night to shoot where I feel very secure with a bunch of gear. It would be great if there were others in the area who would like to go out shooting whenever with our cars or other cars you want to shoot.

I haven't really got to practice with the lighting at all, that is what I really want to play with. I have a 430ex and 2x Sunpak 383s with the cactus triggers and light stands.

Let me know or shoot me a PM or email mikebowen1@gmail.com

[Matt-641]

95% of the my pictures are of cars...are you looking to do a car meet up/photoshoot? Iv'e never shot with a strobist set up before, but I wouldn't mind doing a meet up if you wanted to get somethng figured out.

[Mike Bowen]

Yeah a meetup or just if you want to go out sometime somewhere and just shoot. I really just want to get out and use my stuff more, but like I said, I don't really feel comfortable going out by myself with all of my equipment.

[Matt-641]

Yeah, that'd be cool. I don't blame you for wanting to protect your gear, this hooby isn't cheap.

I'm up in Seattle, so somewhere not too far away would be good.Lmk.

[Mike Bowen]

Yeah I'm in tacoma but I would like to shoot in seattle too. What days/time you available?

[Matt-641]

I usually have two days off of work a week, which changes every schedule..but if I have a 2 week or more notice I can request a Saturday or Sunday off in advanced (almost the only way I can get one of the days durring the weekend off :/). Other than that, I'm pretty much free.

are you thinking of anywhere specific that would be good?

[Mike Bowen]

Not really sure as far as location. Maybe somewhere over by Alki or somewhere where we could get the skyline in the background?

[Matt-641]

Alki works, just need to be sure to get there early or sometime at night b/c that place gets pretty crowded durring the summer. Other than there, I only know of a few good places in the north end of Seattle that we could go to, but I'm not sure how far you're wanting to go up north.

[n1nj4 m0d3]

hmm, i always wanted to learn the strobist technique. i'm down for this :). i might not be taking pics, but i'll be there to learn and help out. i'm free any night of the week (9-5 hour work days rock!). downtown seattle is a scary place at night and i would not go there alone with my gear unless it's just a camera and a tripod.

here are some pics i took around seattle:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2613470253_748bee3b00_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2728751155_a1a1026bba_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2332970059_0b2737f497_o.jpg

there's also a location under the space needle that looks good when taken with a wide angle lens :)

[n1nj4 m0d3]

check out this flickr discussion:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/seattlemeetups/discuss/72157606395457159/?

[Mike Bowen]

Sweet, those 1st and 3rd pics would be great spots to check out.

I haven't even tried anything with my flashes yet, so this is all going to be new to me as well. The rig stuff I have worked with for a few shoots so I'm starting to get the hand of that.

[Matt-641]

Ninjamode, where'd you take those pictures from? Those look like some nice locations.

[n1nj4 m0d3]

#1 and #3 are from the alki beach boat launch, and #2 is between belltown and chinatown in seattle :)

[Mike Bowen]

Is there anywhere around there ninja with smooth section of pavement where we could use my rig?

[n1nj4 m0d3]

not in seattle. there are potholes even in parking lots in seattle, lol :(

southcenter has a pretty smooth parking garage that is awesome for rig shots

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2422776028_5cc8c1b361_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2422872960_0c716f1988_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2422873228_a1059a4309_o.jpg

[Matt-641]

should we go to Southcenter then..?

[Mike Bowen]

I would be down for that.

[Matt-641]

alright, as long as I have at least a few weeks notice, any weekend would work for me. (except the last weekend of this month) Now, let's get a date and time figured out.

[n1nj4 m0d3]

we could do southcenter. just name the time and date :)

[Matt-641]

How about mid-Sept sometime and in the morning/afternoon (unless you think a night shoot would be better)...?

[Matt-641]

Is this still going to happen?

[Mike Bowen]

mid september should work for me...we thinking weekend sometime?

[Matt-641]

That's fine with me.

[n1nj4 m0d3]

so...

[Matt-641]

I don't know what's going on with this...Is it still on? and what date?

[Mike Bowen]

I still want to get together, maybe Sunday afternoon/evening if the weather is OK?

[n1nj4 m0d3]

i'm suppose to meet a few of my buddies up at southcenter tomorrow around 8pm. you guys are welcome to come if you want. we will be at the sears parking garage (i think it's sears...)

here are some pics i took the other night in the same garage
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2904315534_fd399f8919_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2904315870_0dcc4477ee_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2903471403_d816802681_o.jpg

[Matt-641]

I work until 8pm tomorrow, so I might be able to come. Is this a car meet or just a few friends hanging out at the mall? Don't want to intrude if you guys just want to walk around the mall and hang out.

flapzap, do you mean this Sunday? or just A Sunday in general?

[n1nj4 m0d3]

it's a car meet. not a lot of nice cars but at least you get to practice i suppose. there's going to be around 8-10 cars there. i'm going to be there early to get a few rig shots in for a friend before the actual meet begins

[Mike Bowen]

I might try and make it up there, depends on how late the Huskies game goes. How long were you planning on being there?

[n1nj4 m0d3]

probably till 9:30 or so

[Matt-641]

I'll try an make it. I guess I'll just have to be on the look out for your car then since I wouldn't know who else to look for. Is it on a certain floor of the parking garage?

[n1nj4 m0d3]

we'll be on the 2nd floor. the garage isn't too big so you'll spot us with no prob. i'll probably be the only asian there, lol

[RedHotLama]

I am the one that started the thread on Flickr for the car shoot.

I am up in Lynnwood.

[n1nj4 m0d3]

yeah, you should stop by later :)

[RedHotLama]

This is happening tomorrow at 3 at northgate.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1608156

[10bmw10]

Hey if any of you guys/gals decide to shoot around Tacoma-Seattle Area feel free to PM me, Im a beginner but just bought the 50d and feel like getting some more experience. I sold my xt that I had for a few years got some basic practice but love taking pictures of cars.

Brian

[Mike Bowen]

thought i would try and revive this thread.

seeing if anyone is interested in meeting up soon in the next few weeks? i would like to put my rig to some more work and get it dialed in 100%