What lens/equip to shoot car leds in the dark?

[killagbear]

My car has leds, and wanted to ask the forum for help on a good setup to achieve a look like this:

http://brandsandfilms.com/wp-content...ht-546x300.jpg

Whenever I try and shoot, I can never get the look and always end up getting the tailights.

Is there a way to achieve a good balance or do I just need software?

[Tony_Stark]

2 Options:

1) take 2 different exposures, blend in post (1 exposing for headlights, 1 exposing for the rest of the scene
2) use lighting to balance the effect of the headlights (not 100% sure about this one)

[PhotosGuy]

...do I just need software?

Wouldn't it be helpful if you were to tell us what you already have?

Video: The Essential Approach to Masking in Photoshop

Look through Malibu in the snow. for some examples with a screenshot of the Layers Palette.

I removed the [IMG] tags because I suspect that it's not your image & IMAGE POSTING RULES don't allow you to post an image that's not yours without permission & proper attribution.

[killagbear]

Originally Posted by Tony_Stark

2 Options:

1) take 2 different exposures, blend in post (1 exposing for headlights, 1 exposing for the rest of the scene
2) use lighting to balance the effect of the headlights (not 100% sure about this one)

Ah I see... Hmm well I don't have much photoshop experience (I do have the software though)

Photosguy - thanks for the catch. Didn't know about that little Img rule lol.

Here what I have:
Manfrotoo Tripod
Preordered 5DIII
Maybe an 85mm 1.4 Sigma or Rokinon

The rest of my equipment is on my sig. Love your photos for your malibu, especially the first third and last one! Since I don't have much experience with software, would it still be possible for me to achieve something similar with a tripod and lightroom filters / adjustments?

[Tony_Stark]

Originally Posted by killagbear

Ah I see... Hmm well I don't have much photoshop experience (I do have the software though)

Photosguy - thanks for the catch. Didn't know about that little Img rule lol.

Here what I have:
Manfrotoo Tripod
Preordered 5DIII
Maybe an 85mm 1.4 Sigma or Rokinon

The rest of my equipment is on my sig. Love your photos for your malibu, especially the first third and last one! Since I don't have much experience with software, would it still be possible for me to achieve something similar with a tripod and lightroom filters / adjustments?

Try shooting really low ISO, and expose for the headlights, then bring back the exposure in Lightroom using the fill light slider (not sure what it is in LR4). Then use adjustment brushes to lower the exposure back of the headlights.

[PhotosGuy]

Hmm well I don't have much photoshop experience (I do have the software though)

OK, this refers to photoshop (PS), & not to Lightroom:

Since I don't have much experience with software, would it still be possible for me to achieve something similar with a tripod and lightroom filters / adjustments?

"something similar"? Yes, because there's more than one way to get to a similar result in PS.
But I used a blue gel & strobe to get the blue trees, & a separate exposure with a red gel for the taillight reflections in the snow, & blended those with the base exposure of the car.
Trust me on this, you really need to learn about Layer Masks & Adjustment Layers. I couldn't work without them, & it's really simpler than it looks. Look at Three pages on Layer Masks
&
Adjustment layer basics

More in post #8: Tough Exposure question

[killagbear]

Originally Posted by PhotosGuy

OK, this refers to photoshop (PS), & not to Lightroom:

"something similar"? Yes, because there's more than one way to get to a similar result in PS.
But I used a blue gel & strobe to get the blue trees, & a separate exposure with a red gel for the taillight reflections in the snow, & blended those with the base exposure of the car.
Trust me on this, you really need to learn about Layer Masks & Adjustment Layers. I couldn't work without them, & it's really simpler than it looks. Look at Three pages on Layer Masks
&
Adjustment layer basics

More in post #8: Tough Exposure question

Ah thanks for the links. I will now study them diligently

[Timmay]

One thing that you do need to be aware of when shooting LEDs like this is that LEDs have a cyclical flicker, just like a flourescent bulb does. It's at 60 or 120Hz, depending on the light. I don't remember off the top of my head what Audi uses, but I am fairly sure that they're rectified LEDs, which would mean a 120Hz flicker.

What that means is that if you use a fast shutter, you're not going to capture all of the LEDs illuminated at once, so be aware of that.

-Tim

[killagbear]

Originally Posted by Timmay

One thing that you do need to be aware of when shooting LEDs like this is that LEDs have a cyclical flicker, just like a flourescent bulb does. It's at 60 or 120Hz, depending on the light. I don't remember off the top of my head what Audi uses, but I am fairly sure that they're rectified LEDs, which would mean a 120Hz flicker.

What that means is that if you use a fast shutter, you're not going to capture all of the LEDs illuminated at once, so be aware of that.

-Tim

Wow.. did not realize that! Thanks for that tip Timmay! You probably just saved me a lot of frustration and confusion since I'm going to be shooting this weekend lol