How to shoot this photo?

[matrix311]

Hello I have a shoot this evening with a friend who recently did some custom work to his car. He forwarded me some photos of an example of how he wants me to do his car. Could anyone shed some light on how I could achieve this? My biggest question is, how did this person do the background? Do you think the pure black was photoshopped or did they simply find a pitch black area and use minimal light to bring out the subject?

Gear I own and plan to use:
Canon 7D
24-70mm f/2.8
70-200mm f/4 IS USM
Tripod
two 430EX II speedlights
two light stands
two 60" reflector umbrellas
snoot, grid, gobo card, softbox as modifiers to go on the strobes
cybersyncs for wireless control

Example photos of what my customer sent me that he wants done this evening:

[P a p oh]

:suscribed will like to know aswell.

[Doctor Sodways]

Light Painting? Looks like it could be...

[sigma pi]

I was thinking two bare strobes cut off at the A B and C pillar, but there are three reflections from light on the rear bumper in the first pic

So I would go with sodways


also OP they are pretty strict with the not posting some one elses photo up so you might want to link to that picture

[matrix311]

I was thinking two bare strobes cut off at the A B and C pillar, but there are three reflections from light on the rear bumper in the first pic

So I would go with sodways


also OP they are pretty strict with the not posting some one elses photo up so you might want to link to that picture

I have no idea where they came from. As mentioned in the OP these photos were sent to me from my client as examples of how he wanted is car photographed. My client emailed me these photos. I wasn't sure of the policy. I can easily remove them.

[P a p oh]

li9nk is from hellaflush.com

[sigma pi]

I have no idea where they came from. As mentioned in the OP these photos were sent to me from my client as examples of how he wanted is car photographed. My client emailed me these photos. I wasn't sure of the policy. I can easily remove them.
just trying to give you a heads up

[chainbreakr]

It's actually quite an easy shot!

Here's one I did:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4432572107_4cb14218d5_o.jpg

Here's the link for the metadata:

Both were shoot through umbrellas, but reflectors will work fine. The position and angle of your umbrellas/lights will have a dramatic effect on how it's lit, so you can decide yourself what angle looks best. I had quite a bit spilling onto the ground.

Find a very dark area/parking lot. Set your lights up and, as long as you have a slightly fast shutter speed (I ran a bit slower with light power around 1/2 to 1/4), you'll get results like that quickly. If you're still picking up background, bump up your shutter speed. Find an aperture you're happy with and go for it. Any light spill can always EASILY be brushed away in Pshop.

Good luck! :)

[Flores]

that affect could also be done by combining several shots, lit from different directions.

[Strattos]

I'm not an expert but shot something similar that needed a dark background. I simply put the car in the doorway of a large shed.

This is nowhere near as classy looking as your example, but you get the idea.

[Picturesports]

I use bumper high strobes with the top blanked and run through brollies. Shoot with a naturally dark background - car park of the shed mentioned above work well. Use a grad filter to darken the top of the image even more.

The original photographer looks to be doing something similar looking at the hot spot in the right rear light and the burst on the wing mirror.

The pool of light the car is standing in has be thinking. I can only do that in pshop without lighting the top of the car.

S curve the resulting image and add in tonal contrast.

Hope that helps

[sweeney208]

black background is probably just from the flash. maybe with some touching up. that picture could have used a little more light on the car though.

[anmracing]

The strobed umbrellas with a quick flash could black out the background. With a dark backdrop and a faster exposure rate I would think that would keep the background dark or black.

Here is one we did as a test with a longer exposure to get the city lights in the background. I relied on existing street light with a second curtain flash. Exposure time was 20 seconds with a quick 2 second burst of the parking and fog lights. F/5.6, ISO400, FL75mm, EOS Rebel XS with remote trigger.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/959422837_EcR4s-L.jpg

This one was done exactly the same except a different angle with ½ second burst of light from the parking and fog lights.
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/959422650_N9NyD-L.jpg

[dinanm3atl]

Dark background will make it easiest. Use either a bounce flash or shoot through an umbrella. If there is stuff in the background it is easy to clone out. Honestly in the pictures you linked it appears he shot directly onto the car and wasn't bouncing...

Here is some setup from my shots to give you an idea and some results...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4650696417_9382b6d4de_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4757070601_04ffa01946_z.jpg


And the effect you can get with the clone tool(removing background essentially)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4648757791_b71001c889_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4775955220_de22b2a1e6_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4775959030_ecce78e630_b.jpg

[mullski]

great info

[bluelight]

much thanks, i was reasearching for car shot ideas