Photographing Harley Davidson?

[dfuccillo]

My friend has asked me to photograph his Harley. Any one have any experience at this?

I plan to do it on an overcast day out on his lawn with woods in the background slightly blurred. I'm using Canon 28-105MM on a EOS 10D and will probably go between 50-80MM.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated..

Thank You!

[robertwgross]

Another option is the ground. Instead of ordinary pavement or dirt, consider finding a spot of very smooth blacktop. With a bucket, mix up a thick slurry of soap and water, and "slime" that over the blacktop so that it becomes a black, reflective surface.

---Bob Gross---

[Hatem Eldoronki]

Another option is the ground. Instead of ordinary pavement or dirt, consider finding a spot of very smooth blacktop. With a bucket, mix up a thick slurry of soap and water, and "slime" that over the blacktop so that it becomes a black, reflective surface.

---Bob Gross---

I love tips like these!
Maybe we should start a sticky for such techniques?
Thanks Bob.

[fortinaa]

Don't just take straight shots of the bike. Really take a look at the bike from all different angles. Take shots that only show a portion of the bike but really accentuate a unique curve/shape/custom part. Your buddy will appreciate the variety and something other than "the bike on the lawn" look. If he's patient, find an area with pavement and practice panning as he slowly motors by. Keep trying and using different shutter speeds until you get the effect of motion in the wheels and background.

[neil_r]

I photographed a friends HD V-Rod recently there are just so many ways to do this, have a look at http://www.neil-rice.com/gallery/list.php?exhibition=51 (http://www.neil-rice.com/gallery/list.php?exhibition=51)

Here is a taster..


http://www.neil-rice.com/gallery/photo/small/HD_LH_Apr05_N6H3840.jpg

[cactusclay]

Better yet, tell him to buy a Beemer

[Simon Spiers]

Or a Blackbird :D :oops:

[rdenney]

My friend has asked me to photograph his Harley. Any one have any experience at this?

I plan to do it on an overcast day out on his lawn with woods in the background slightly blurred. I'm using Canon 28-105MM on a EOS 10D and will probably go between 50-80MM.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated..

Thank You!

Don't be afraid to get close. I was at the airport in Wichita killing time, and there was a Big Dog motorcycle on display there. By getting close, I could get rid of the unhelpful background.

It's often the detailing of bikes that characterizes them, especially if they are really well made.

Rick "who entertained himself for two hours in that airport with his then-new 10D" Denney

[Moments]

The idea of making a blacktop surface look wet is nice but, still being a black surface, it might not help you. Take a look at the shot from Neil_r, the concrete surface not only helps fill the bike with light on the bottom, but it also helps in lighting the exhaust pipes. If the bike was on a dark surface, the tires would not separate off the surface as well, and the chrome parts could or would have dark reflections on the bottom sides. Shooting on grass will reflect green in the bike unless it is a black bike and the chrome on the bike could see the green grass and be in the image also. Alot of Harleys have alot of chrome on them. Most of my friends put as much chrome as the can afford, and it is usually a highlight of how they have customized the bikes. Before you take it out, give the bike a lookover and see what it sees, then pick a background that works.

[ron chappel]

Harleys do seem to look good with most kinds of styles.
Do the static lawn shots,the wide angle extreme perspective shots and the panning shot with the owner on board dressed in all his gear (that one could be a winner with the owner !)

Be sure to not blow highlights on the chrome and remember to see what's reflecting! You might get some great shots that have a nice reflection of a photographer in them,lol

[Bruce Hamilton]

You might get some great shots that have a nice reflection of a photographer in them,lol

Definitely not a good thing. ;)

[PhotosGuy]

Those are all good ideas. Here's an alternative:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57033