Help with Car Pictures

[LuckyJules]

I'm not looking for in depth criticism (meaning, someone with experience with editing), but just some general ideas for these pictures improvements. Thanks for all comments and critiques!

http://homepage.mac.com/staravengergirl/.Pictures/Cars/WRX/option1%20(1).jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/staravengergirl/.Pictures/Cars/WRX/option2%20(1).jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/staravengergirl/.Pictures/Cars/WRX/option3%20(1).jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/staravengergirl/.Pictures/Cars/WRX/DSC_0016%20(1).jpg

[Hinson]

Julie, If I understand you correctly, you're not looking for post processing improvements but rather improvements that you could have made at the time of the shoot. Is that correct?

[T&E Run]

I think there is too much background for the first two. For the third one, I think if you would have had the camera lower, and shooting more upwards, it would have been more interesting.

[LuckyJules]

Julie, If I understand you correctly, you're not looking for post processing improvements but rather improvements that you could have made at the time of the shoot. Is that correct?

Pretty much right now -- I'm still very new to Aperture and I need a lot of practice first getting the shot, then editing. I'm practicing my editing skills, but I don't have a lot of experience, so if there is something easy to fix, I can, but like I said, I have a lot of practice and reading to do.

Thanks!

[Hinson]

Ok, then you've definitely got the right attitude. Get it right in the camera and forget the PP other than for tweaking.
Ok, from the top:
First we'll get #4 out of the way: Nice shot of the wheel but nothing special.
Now for the other three:

Number two in my opinion is the best of the lot. I bit more room in front and back would help with cropping later.

All three have the horizon almost centered. Almost all images will benefit from a horizon in the top or bottom third of the image. And it should almost always be straight. The bridge in the background is distracting.

Exposure seems good throughout. Always better to underexpose by a stop than to overexpose especially where a white object is invoved.

If you plan on shooting a lot of car shots, get your self a 3' step ladder. You'll be surprised at the difference this perspective makes.

Hope this helps.

[24alpha]

Julie, in my opinion you need to focus on the car, and not the back ground. Like what you have done with the wheel shot, but get the whole car in. Car company's have spent a lot of money trying to find out which angle looks best to shoot a car, and almost all advertisments show a car from the front and jsut off to the side. (very close to your wheel shot). You have a very nice car there to shoot, make it look good!

[LuckyJules]

Thanks for all the comments -- I think you're right -- that I've concentrated too much on a background and not focusing on the car.

I've been looking at car pictures and trying to find different angles to try out. I like the ladder suggestion -- I will give that a try.

Thanks again for the help!

[Leonid Photography]

nice pictures julie. For the 1st one i Think you have a little too much head room if you crop the top a little I think it will look better. Also for the wheel shots try to angle it a little i think it gives a better more interesting feel to the image.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll219/lennylitvinyuk/santa%20cruz%20meet/_MG_2807copy.jpg

[gonzogolf]

Jules
Its a good start. Consider shooting at another time of day, either morning, or evening when the shadows arent so hard and you can make the sky blend into your shot rather than competing with it.

[DrFil]

agree that you should try shooting at another time, like sunset. the only picture that's really interesting, composition-wise, is the last one. the rest sorta look like snapshots.

[gconda]

I use a tripod to get lower so your shooting level with the car.