I suck at taking interior car shots with off camera flash... HELP! ADVICE?!

[chabooky386]

EDIT: ADDED SOME PICS

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Well today I did a shoot on a 911 Turbo and the exterior shots were good. But, interior shots is where I struggle. I can't seem to fire the flash in the right place or diffuse the lighting inside. What can I do? Or where can I find my answer...

[RandyMN]

Do you have any samples? I'd be curious to see how you did because camera on flash seems too harsh for such a closed environmnet and if you used lights outside each open window I'd like to see what the results look like.

[chabooky386]

I bounced it off the ceiling inside the car. I can upload some later but, their super lame! Not even worth showing...

[RandyMN]

If you have the ability to put two strobes outside the windows with diffusers then my guess is this would look best if you can eliminate shadows.

Otherwise maybe get an omni bounce diffuser of some type mounted on your flash, at least that would be a better diffuesr and not cast color shifts from bouncing off the ceiling.

Of course I have never done this so what I say is just guessing on how I might try it.

[chabooky386]

If you have the ability to put two strobes outside the windows with diffusers then my guess is this would look best if you can eliminate shadows.

Otherwise maybe get an omni bounce diffuser of some type mounted on your flash, at least that would be a better diffuesr and not cast color shifts from bouncing off the ceiling.

Of course I have never done this so what I say is just guessing on how I might try it.

Doesnt sound like a bad idea but, I am sure the shadows wouldn't cancel out one another if there was two pointed inside. They would have to be lined up exactly the same.

[PhotosGuy]

Post an image. I bounced it off the ceiling inside the car. I'd start with that, too.

[chabooky386]

Post an image. I'd start with that, too.


Then where?

[PhotosGuy]

Maybe, depending on how it looks...
Put a white/gray card against the front seat to reflect in the dash.
Add black to it to reflect where I don't want the white to reflect.
Kick in a bit of side light to add depth.
Turn on the lights to light the dials.
Start the car to get the other lights that normally don't stay on long. The light in this one is only from a white wall outside the car:
2007 Chevy HHR (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=227752)
Whatever else you think the shot needs...

[dinanm3atl]

Need examples or we cannot really help :(

[EbbeJ]

I think I have a solution - I have used this a couple of times, and if you're willing to spend a little time on getting it right, I would say that it is a good technique.. Okay, so here we go:

Use extreme shutter time(were talking 20-30 seconds), in daylight mount a ND filter, set ISO to 100(or 50 if possible) and f./ around 18-20. Grab your hotshoe flash, an omni bounce diffuser would be great, and take it off your camera. Start taking your picture, and bounce it into the car’s interior a lot of times from a lot of different angles.. And there you go. I fired the flash about 1 time pr. second.

I went outside to try this 10 minutes ago, and OH GAWD it's so cold, to have something to show you.. I opened the window in the passengers on side a little, and fired it through there too(this is why there are some reflections on the head unit and the VW badge on the steering wheel). And, I didn't use an omni bounce diffuser. I only took this one picture - so, a lot more/better can be done.

I should also say, that this is unedited - exactly as the Raw file..
Exif:
Canon EOS 40D with EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM and 430ex:
F/18
30 sec.
ISO-100
17mm

http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq51/EbbeJ/DPP_016-X.jpg

Useful?

Kind regards,

Ebbe Jørgensen

[FA_Productions]

Thanks, what a great idea.