Some classic autos c&c please

[saiello]

Well I live in Detroit, and while I don't agree with every thing that the Big 3 has done it's sad to see them in such a bad shape. Over the past week or so I've tried to hit a few classic cars I've seen around and get some shots.

Set up:
Canon XS
18 - 50 mm Sigma DC
All Manual Settings
No Flash Natural Lighting
The Subject: 1956 Buick Special

Note: A few folks have made comments on my flow lines. I've never taken a photography class, I have a graphic design background so my photo's are a bit more edgy. Please do include comments on this because I have seen that sometimes depending on my subject this "edgy" style is not applicable.

Hoping to share what I know about Photoshop, some folks have said they liked the colors I use. Usually depending on the colors in the photo's I use a CS4 blend mode at a 25 to 50% transparency value. I also use (mostly) the liner contrast setting under contrast adjustments. Lastly a simple Unsharpen Mask, with some light dodge tool for highlights.

Summery:
One Additional Layer for Blend mode (usually over lay or soften) 25 to 50% transparency
Liner Contrast
Unsharpen Mask
Some Light Dodging and Burning


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3476090624_4dd4701e72_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3475282729_88d134cdb6_o.jpg

[DerekSimon]

#1 - Really not finding the angle behind this one too appealing. The DOF isn't that great, but I do like the idea.

#2 - I wish the colors on the side were more apparent. I seems as if the white on the body isn't balanced with the remainder of the car.

[saiello]

#1 - Really not finding the angle behind this one too appealing. The DOF isn't that great, but I do like the idea.

#2 - I wish the colors on the side were more apparent. I seems as if the white on the body isn't balanced with the remainder of the car.

Thank you very much for the feedback. I was trying to get close in on the car to eliminate background distractions.

For the first picture, would you make all of the car more in focus, or make the DoF even thinner? I wanted to focus on the steering wheel as the focal point. I really would have liked to get a bit more of the steering wheel in the picture but I was on a public lot and I didn't wana crawl up onto the back of the car to get a better angle on the wheel. I'm kind of short so I couldn't get up to high on it.

Second picture: How would you adjust the colors? They are a little darker then the original photo because it was an over cast day and the car is in rather poor shape.

Lucky for me they are in a lot right by where I work so I can keep practicing. = )

Keep the feedback coming!

Thank you so much.

[liannallama]

Oh, I love a good classic car shot! You did a good job of composition to make them look unusual and different than the standard 3/4 view. #1 is my favorite, but for some reason the car almost looks pink. Is there a color balance issue there or is the car really pink?

Wish you could photograph the gorgeous cars at my work. Our owner is a collector and has every "cherry" classic car you could imagine in a showroom at our office! I see them so much I start to ignore them so I like your different photographic perspective!

[saiello]

Oh, I love a good classic car shot! You did a good job of composition to make them look unusual and different than the standard 3/4 view. #1 is my favorite, but for some reason the car almost looks pink. Is there a color balance issue there or is the car really pink?

Wish you could photograph the gorgeous cars at my work. Our owner is a collector and has every "cherry" classic car you could imagine in a showroom at our office! I see them so much I start to ignore them so I like your different photographic perspective!

Thank you very much! In fact it was a VERY pink sky. The pictures where taken at about 7:30 - 8:00pm on a cloudy day. I just used the auto white balance, I haven't invested in grey cards yet.

Thank you for the feedback

Actually here is another one I really like:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3474447438_da8a339281_o.jpg

The shooting conditions where flipping ungodly in this place. It was so dark and there where different color neon lights hanging every where. On top of that the cars where stacked so closely on top of one another it was hard to isolate any thing. Over all though I'm really happy with how this shot came out.