'03 Audi A6 2.7T

[ChasWG]

So these are my first real try at car photography. It was a gray and cloudy day and so I thought I might try shooting the car. It was recently washed and cleaned up. I need to really work over the wheels better, so no wheel shots for me this time. :( :p Though the BBs CH's are my favorite.
I lit the car with two speedlites set to a wide throw, not sure if it really worked, but it did light the car better than with no lights at all. My third trigger was out of batts in the trigger (I guess I left it on) so I didn't have use of it. Not really sure where I would have used it if it was working anyhow.

These were all shot with my 40D and 24-70 f2.8L, ISO 100 f8 at 1/125 to 1/160 if I remember right.

Well, pick my work apart please. I know these aren't super great and that silver cars are easier to shoot. I also don't care for the sky as it is too close to the color of the car, but that cloud cover also provided the huge soft source too.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4417839011_f389c3cb1e_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4418604854_7cc4492382_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4418605668_1f8f2bc3fc_b.jpg

[benfxtx]

Not bad...a little bland.

[ChasWG]

Thanks, I guess... but not really helpful. When you say, "a little bland." do you mean the car or the image? If it's the image, what should I do to decrease the blandness? If you mean the car, then your opinion doesn't matter to me.
I know the BG isn't great. Or does it have more to do with lighting?

[benfxtx]

I was speaking mostly on the BG...also there is no real DOF. The car doesn't really "pop", which it should being the subject of the picture. With some DOF, #1 & 2 would be much improvedl.

In #3 the angle of the car and the height of your shot don't seem to go together...and you should have also turned the wheel to the left to show some of the rim and give the car a little direction (you wouldn't be driving the car into the open field).

You have some hot spots on the car from your lighting (rear trunk in last shot; passenger headlight area in #2) ...should try to even that out a little. You also have some long shadows from the rear tire in #3.

Hope that is more helpful.

[ChasWG]

Thanks, that is much more helpful!

When you say DOF (Depth of Field?), what are you looking for, more of the BG in focus or less in focus? I actually de-focused (blurred) the BG a little.

I used the speedlite bare. Probably should have defused them some or spread them out more. Umbrellas or softboxes maybe?

Your thought about the wheel not being turned is a good one. I never thought of it that way. I wouldn't be driving off into the field. But I also didn't want to show off the nasty wheel dust on the rims. They need an acid bath after the winter is over.

[benfxtx]

DOF = Depth of Field, yes.

More focus on the car, less on the BG. With distance you can achieve blur in front of and behind the car...which can give a nice feel to the picture. Instead of the 24-70, use your 70-200, and shoot some shots at 200. Here is an example...see how the background kind of just fades softly in the distance, and the car pops in the forefront?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3975853486_a8b25950d3.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3975853486_a8b25950d3_b.jpg (larger image)

Your eye is drawn to the car right away...and while the background is pretty, it's visibly softer and works better in supporting the car as an accessory, rather then the meat and potatoes. In shots 1 and 2, the construction blockades are more distracting then helpful.

Just my opinion...everyone is entitled to their own...hope I was helpful.

[ChasWG]

Thanks, I understand what you are getting at now. Many people throw out terms and I sometime wonder if they really understand what they are saying.

That's a wonderful BG to support that car. Unfortunatly I have nothing as nice near by. Right now it is the dried out nasty, gray and brown time of the year. Spring is coming and I'm hoping to try again with better BG's. The images might have been better using the longer lens. I'm just still so in love with that 24-70L it's just hard sometimes to take it off the camera.

Thanks again for the honest feed back.

[PhotosGuy]

I might like the background in the first ones if they were in B&W. As they are, they take a lot attention away from the car.
In #3, why so much empty space around the car? I'd crop down to just above the skyline & take some off the left side. I'm on my laptop, so I don't guarantee the density, but this is what I'd do with it...

434650

[ChasWG]

I'll have a go at the B&W conversions Frank.

As for the large amount of open space. I think some trimming could be done, but there was something about the rolling hills and the rounded, rolling lines of the car that seemed to be very simular. Maybe I'll also have to revisit that and work it harder.

I think your reworked image is a bit on the dark side, at least on my screen, but that's probably the laptop screen.

Thanks for the insight!

[ChasWG]

Here's a try at a B&W conversion with a little more crop.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2796/4420432694_8881135143_b.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

Here's a try at a B&W conversion with a little more crop. Sorry, I meant "they", as in just the background, were B&W. I'd keep the car in color. I think your reworked image is a bit on the dark side, I did darken the background, but didn't touch the car.

[ChasWG]

Sorry, I meant "they", as in just the background, were B&W. I'd keep the car in color.

I did darken the background, but didn't touch the car.

Ahhhh... A skill I have yet to totally master. My attempts are usually heavy handed and clumsy at best. One of the biggest problems from that shoot, I think, was that the color of the sky was so close to the shade/color of the car. There was very little difference. Very much like the Nixon/Kennedy Debates of '59. My car being Nixon in this case. :rolleyes: :lol:


I tried to ask myself, "What would Frank say" before I posted these. I fixed power lines coming out of the top of the car or just didn't shoot with things growing out the top. I tried to fix the specular highlights tht will always happen on shiny, curved things when lit. And I tried, without much success, to slow down the hot spots. I think that had to do more with the way I lit the car. Next time maybe bust out the softbox or umbrellas. It was a bit breezy and I didn't have my sandbags, so I didn't want to have anything blow over and get ruined.

Car photography is really hard. I've challenged myself to do better. Or maybe I'll just go shoot some flowers... ;)

[PhotosGuy]

Ahhhh... A skill I have yet to totally master. Seen posts #3 & 5 in this?

For those needing help making selections in Photoshop (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=701268)

[pyrojim]

Looks like its time to trade in for the RS... :p

[F-117HWK]

1) Turn the wheel so the wheel face is pointing towards the camera more. Front of the car looks a little too bright where the speedlite is hitting. If you want the silver to be that color, than the side should have been lit this way as well but doesn't seem to be. Were both the lights in front of the car? Also the power lines are distracting and do nothing to add to the picture.

2) Turn the wheel so the wheel face is pointing towards the camera more. Front of the car looks a little too bright where the speedlite is hitting. Some people may like the hot spot, I personally don't. This also throws a shadow under the car from the tire and looks weird to me for this shot. To me this almost makes the car look pasted or somewhat cartoonish. The flash is also reflecting off the orange/white barriers due to their reflective coating and is distracting. Angle of the shot may be a tad extreme but seems to be extremely popular lately.

3) Best shot of the three. Get lower to the ground and more of the side of the car/front wheel. Show the road leading away from the car more, giving the car somewhere to "race off to". Were both lights behind and low? Possibly a shadow being thrown by the driver side rear wheel/tire? Or it may be the road. Easy to clone out either way I think. Again, the trunk looks a little hot for my taste.

Hopefully this helps some! Good job.

[nrowensby]

Nice C5... Mine's an 01, I somehow overlooked that part of your post when you posted on mine before. I agree with F117, I always like to shoot with the face of the wheel facing the camera, but understand if ou didn't want to shoot dirty wheels. Also, I love the CH's... I have RC's, but would take a set of CH's in a heartbeat!