Need help with car photography

[Mike Kirchner]

I have just spent the last 4 hours reading on this site... first let me say... what a GREAT site!!



I currently have the Digital Rebel 300D with the lens kit that it comes with. I have had the camera for about two years now and have shot roughly 3000 pics. I know I am still an amateur at this but my pictures always seem to be missing something no matter how much I play with the picture.



I really like to take pictures of cars and my daylight pictures always seem to be extremely overexposed. I recently bought a polarized filter for the camera and it has helped some. I am looking for any additional feedback.



http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_010small.jpg



I used photoshop CS2, it REALLY helped out a lot. I used the auto levels feature and sharpen, that is really about it.



Thanks for ANY criticism!

-Mike

[KevC]

Be aware of your background. The posts, sign, and bridge are quite distracting. Otherwise, nice shot and hot car!

[ChP]

Polarizing filters are a must for car photography.
I recommend you play with angles more and either take action shots, or take stills and give them motion blur in Photoshop. The shot needs to be more dynamic.
I second the remarks on background. Pick an interesting spot, and use DOF to your advantage.
You should look into filters that make highlights star shaped flares. That can be done digitally too, 55mm has a decent set of Photoshop plug-ins with that effect.

[lostdoggy]

I don't find the photo to be over exposed. Other then what was already said about the poles I find the picture either underexposed or little soft. The car doesn't seem to pop out at you.

[intechpcx]

OK, a couple of things. First I think your exposure is fine, however if you are worried still try setting the exposure compensation down a third stop or two. As far as the shot, the background is a problem both because of the distracting items and the fact that it is too in focus. Wider aperture will help fix that. To add drama to the shot, get lower and if possible use a wider angle. Try setting the lens to the widest focal length (18mm) and then position yourself so you frame the shot properly. The slight distortion you'll get plus the change in perspective by being that close will give the care a more dominating feel. As someone else mentioned, play with angles. Take shots from a number of different angles working your way around the car.

One last thing, somwhat related to your background. If you're going to include the sky in your shot, you have to make sure you've got the right day. Wait for a day when you've got partly cloudy skies with plenty of deep blue in it. You'd be amazed how how much that can transform your shot.

[MattyB]

here's a few i tried yesterday and a few days before that :\ i dunno if they are anygood but.
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~bennell/Photos/LudeForWeb.jpg
i took it in black and white with my IXUS 30 on an overcast day, it was a bit bright so i adjusted the levels, and i blurred everything else to make the car stick out more, i do that to most of my shots lol

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~bennell/Photos/LudeForWeb2.jpg
i was thinking about desaturating the background in this one, but i thought it looked alright how it was. white cars are alot easier to photograph haha

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~bennell/Photos/LudeForWeb3.jpg
this one i'm not that happy with, i dunno why, i just don't like it..

please C&C

[lostdoggy]

Since we're showing pics here is mine. Before look just remember I have an injured knee and I can't bend down without sitting on the ground.

[Mike Kirchner]

Thanks for the tips, i will keep everything in mind when i take pictures of the car again.

I do agree that the background does take away from the car. I was concerned that the yellow poles would be too much. I did, however, take other angles:

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_002small.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_006small.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_009snall.jpg

The last picture has too much red in it, i have yet to fix that. I would also need to remove the handicap sign.

intechpcx,
I took the following picture the same day as the pictures above, as a matter of fact they location was only about a mile apart from each other. For some reason the sky in front ofmy parents house just came out SOOO much better.

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/saleen_shoot_044.jpg

I also tried some sunset shots, i thought there was still plenty of light but i guess i was wrong:

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_shoot_050.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_shoot_051.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_shoot_049.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_shoot_024.jpg

I didnt like them because most of them just came out too dark. Photoshop helped them bring the pictures to where they are now, but still appear to be a tad dark.

I also wish i would have played with the DOF in the next picture, so you cant see the ungly background. I guess photoshop could help with that ;)
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/saleen_038.jpg

Again, thanks everyone for the comments. I will have to do some reading so i know how to control the F stops that were mentioned.



MattyB,
I really like the second picture.

-Mike

[andygrif]

I really like the first waterfall shot....that's a keeper!

[DxHatchback]

let me be the first to say nice cars. my family is a big ford family.

i have a 93 cobra, my uncle has a 89 saleen w 500 hp, my mom has a 96 mystic with an s trim vortech and so on

check out my webpage under photography --> cars for pics

your pics look alright, but in the last few shots were you said there wasnt enough light:

there prolly was enough light but your driving lights were being picked up by the camera and the background wasnt

i really like this one

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/3243/cobra_006small.jpg

the angle is killer

[DxHatchback]

its really all in the editing

trial and error my man

i touched it up and hosted it for you to see

done using ps cs2

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/m/amr5015/stang.jpg

[Mike Kirchner]

let me be the first to say nice cars. my family is a big ford family.

i have a 93 cobra, my uncle has a 89 saleen w 500 hp, my mom has a 96 mystic with an s trim vortech and so on

check out my webpage under photography --> cars for pics

your pics look alright, but in the last few shots were you said there wasnt enough light:

there prolly was enough light but your driving lights were being picked up by the camera and the background wasnt

Glad to see another Ford fan on here. The Saleen is pretty weak at only 270 RWHP, even after i put new heads and a bunch of other stuff on (190 RWHP before mods). The cobra is a different story, it has the KB twin screw blower pushing 16.5 LBS of boost making 617 RWHP. Its a blast to drive. I was home on vacation for two weeks and bought it, that is when i took the pictures. Now i am back in Qatar (middle east) working. I will be back home again in october.

Back to the pictures... I took pictures with both the headlights on and off, it didnt help. I also took the polerizer on and off, tried to control shutter speed manually and i just kept getting the same result (or worse, it didnt come out at all). However, i was having a hard time getting the camera to like a spot to focus on, so i had to use the hood. As you can see there is plenty of light reflecting off the hood, that may be my problem.

Now let me go check out your website :)

-Mike

[DxHatchback]

yeah anytime its getting remotely dark out, i shoot in M instead of AV

night shots never come out well with AV

[ChP]

Your second shots are much better. I like the angle on the third one in your second post, but clone out the handicap sign.

[DxHatchback]

heres another i edited

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/DxHatchback/stanger.jpg

[Mike Kirchner]

heres another i edited

:( cant view photobucket, the military servers have it blocked :rolleyes:


ChP,
Thanks for the compliment, i will see what i can do.

[DxHatchback]

i posted one up from my school server

scroll up and check it out

[PhotosGuy]

Time to read some more! :D
A few Car Lighting Tips (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=70290)

[theflyingkiwi]

some nice photos there, I am not muvh of a ford fan so I wont comment on the car ;)

anyway here is a link that might be helpfull

http://popularhotrodding.com/features/0506phr_pix/index.html

just one other thing about the imges that you have posted, make them just a tad smaller in size. people don't like browsing left to right.

[d'homme]

Don't forget using a telephoto. Its a great image. Also taking some on a clear day. Clouds are white, sky is blue.

[Red73]

Be careful of the background. I need to retake the below picture. Notice the background in the first photo, trees, telephone wires, etc., I removed it in the second photo just so I had an idea how I want to take the picture next time.


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/photopost/direct_data/1068/medium/68272005_0512Image0038.JPG

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/photopost/direct_data/1068/medium/68272005_0512Image0038a.jpg

These photos were taken at sundown. I like to take my car photos either at sunup or sundown.