Photographing a motorcycle

[Gogu]

A friend asked me to come and take some shots of his newly purchased motorcycle(a sport bike) and i want it to look good! So can you give me some general guidlines as to how to make it look more interesting cause i haven't photographed motos up to now! And the pictures i've found on the net to get some ideas from are either from contests(which dont help me since the motorcycle i'll photograph wont be in movement) or just snaps that don't really say much!
thanks! ;)

[neil_r]

I designed and photographed for a good friends RC51 website, you may get sone ideas there.

http://www.ac688.dial.pipex.com/galleries.htm

Good luck

N

[Bitmap]

http://lichterphoto.com/m_pages/builder/b_lane/b_lane_main.html

[PhotosGuy]

If you're shooting outside, wait for an overcast day. The sky will provide an "overhead flat" & the light will be lower contrast. Then, PS to make everything nice!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57033
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57326&highlight=chopper

[Jon, The Elder]

As usual - Franks got it right on. He's a car/bike/anything on wheels/ kinda guy. Worth trying his methods.

He pays me thousands of dollars to follow him around and write stuff like this about him ! Right Frank?

[PhotosGuy]

He pays me thousands of dollars to follow him around and write stuff like this about him ! Right Frank? Are you asking for a raise from beer & pizza? :D

[cmM]

shoot from down low (get on your knees if you have to), maybe use a wide angle lens, take this bike to a large parking lot so you don't have a busy scene, and shoot away, try different angles and compositions.

http://www.cmuntean.net/images/oct10dudes/slides/oct10jt55.html
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/oct10dudes/slides/oct10jt59.html

http://www.cmuntean.net/images/oct10dudes/oct10jt61.jpg

By the way Gogu, I'm from your neck of the woods http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
(am crescut in Cluj-Napoca)

[Red]

Try to light the bike. I know that's not easy outside, but if you can, the difference in the lighting of the bike and background will make it "pop" a bit more

[Ballen Photo]

shoot from down low (get on your knees if you have to), maybe use a wide angle lens,

I agree with low angles for Bikes, and "PhotosGuy" is right on about overcast days being better. (Makes like a giant softbox in the sky.)

This is not the best example, but I was basically snapshooting at a local car show with my G5. I flipped the LCD out so I could compose from a low angle here. About axle height, If I was setting up to shoot this Bike for any specific use, would have wanted a wider lens, less clutter, and closer. :rolleyes:
BTW, Chris, Did your friend manage to get the Bike back down safely? :shock:
-Bruce
http://www.fototime.com/2EC07F929E1B731/standard.jpg

[cmM]

BTW, Chris, Did your friend manage to get the Bike back down safely? http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

...not quite (he dropped it). He wasn't moving very fast though. It was at a local car show:
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/oct10dudes

[Ballen Photo]

...not quite (he dropped it). He wasn't moving very fast though. It was at a local car show:
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/oct10dudes

LOL! I didn't want to say, but having been in the same position myself once, I was pretty sure of the end result. I learned that 30 degrees is about my limit, and if it wants to go higher without breaking the tire loose, I ease off the throttle. ;)
-Bruce

[Tundrasport]

How do you get the bike to have that look of no side stand, centerstand, chocks etc... removed in pp? I'm headed to the Vulcan Vice City Scooter Rally this weekend for some practice and fun!

I love reviving old threads!

[PhotosGuy]

How do you get the bike to have that look of no side stand, centerstand, chocks etc... removed in pp? If you're asking me...
Selecting areas in PS. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39994)

[Scuff]

Another way from me.... I used a long lens to in this shot give a flattened perspective. I agree with the overcast day for flat lighting................

http://k47.pbase.com/o4/83/482183/1/61051199.Harley2.jpg

[Tundrasport]

Thanks photosguy. I've read your material a few times and learned alot from it. I guess the bike was placed on a stand and it was cloned out or not selected. Looks like I'm gonna need to play around a bit! Sharp photo scuff!

[PhotosGuy]

That one looks great!

[Tundrasport]

Its not mine...Thats the style that Im trying to get. It was probably done in a studio. But how can I get that look without side stand, centerstand or chocks? Any ideas?

[ilovemycamera]

Another way from me.... I used a long lens to in this shot give a flattened perspective. I agree with the overcast day for flat lighting................

http://k47.pbase.com/o4/83/482183/1/61051199.Harley2.jpg


this is exactly what i'd like to do with my bike... find a nice background that isn't distracting and shoot it similar to this style. It's a white bike, so i'll really have to find something to make it pop!

Do you mind sharing your settings and lens used for this one?
Thanks, Fara

:confused:

[PhotosGuy]

Its not mine... Oh, well if you want to show something that you haven't personally shot, you can just post a link to it. (C) issues? But how can I get that look without side stand, centerstand or chocks? Any ideas? I'd just PS it.

[neil_r]

I quite like taking mine out of context, you expect them on a road or a track so I put them in a field.

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/HD_Day_One_N6H9830.jpg

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/Daytona_July_06_N6H9640.jpg

[Tundrasport]

Oh, well if you want to show something that you haven't personally shot, you can just post a link to it. (C) issues? .

Sorry about that....I will from now on!

[Scuff]

this is exactly what i'd like to do with my bike... find a nice background that isn't distracting and shoot it similar to this style. It's a white bike, so i'll really have to find something to make it pop!

Do you mind sharing your settings and lens used for this one?
Thanks, Fara

:confused:

http://k47.pbase.com/g4/83/482183/2/61051199.Harley2.jpg

Fara

Camera was the 1dsmkII with the 300mm f2.8L IS. Mounted on a Manfrotto tripod. 1/125@f5.6. Location was at the NRA at Bisley Surrey UK.

I rode the bike down there with the camera and lenses in a rucksack - and they were HEAVY, but I was pleased with the end result.

[Tundrasport]

Thanks scuff! I'm going to give a few thing a try this weekend and that will be one of them! Now if the weather will cooperate, overcast, but not too dark, not too sunny, no rain...

[ilovemycamera]

Scuff, i appreciate you sharing your settings... definitely gonna have to give it a try!

[Tundrasport]

I took a train to Okeechobee to pick up my new bike and stopped at the locks at Port Mayaka for a few shots. I'm actually pretty happy with this one.



And one where I tried removing the centerstand

[FZ1dave]

Well since this thread has been revived, why not. :)

Here's a couple shots of the FZ1. No PP just resized...