Noob! Help needed please.

[Arun Nicklen]

I've been doing photography now for nearly two years and an opportunity has presented itself to do Auto photography. Glamour style car photo's for an automotive dealership. They know my situation and are willing to let me start anyway.

My main question is, what are the essencial lenses and equipment that I will need to perform this style of photography. I have a canon 450D and soon to upgrade to a 50D or a 5D.

- What lenses
- What lighting
- What other important equipment.

I don't have a big budget or anything like that, its not too small, its probably 5G at the most. I have basic equipment Ie. tripod, Camera, a couple of lenses, bags, flash unit.

Oh and the photography will be carpark, old warehouse, highway, and waterfront stuff.

Hope you can help me.
Cheers Arun

[A.C.]

As far as lighting is concerned, you'd probably be best off with a 580 EXII or a ST-E2 transmitter to act as the master units, and a few 430 EX II's as the slaves. Or you could shoot more towards the night-time and set your camera for a 10" exposure, then just flash your subject manually until you get the desired effect.

Monolights on location would most likely require you to use DC power, which you'd have to get a generator or two for those. Or battery packs...

For the body, I'd choose full-frame, so 5D.

Lenses: You might want a wide angle to get some unique angles, but a standard zoom would most likely be necessary. Something like a 24-70 f/2.8L or 24-105 f/4L IS. It all depends on the shot/location.

With 5 Grand, I'm sure you can get more than you need for the session.

[PhotosGuy]

This was taken with a Kit lens in a parking lot. See the link in my Sig & draw your own conclusions.
Blown '37 Willys - A Beauty with a Beast!

Some of these were in the shade of a building:
2007 Chevy HHR

[advaitin]

I suggest a polarizing filter for reducing reflections and adding saturation.

[PhotosGuy]

polarizing filter

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...66&postcount=6
Occasionally I take a CP with me. Usually I'll look at the car, rotate the filter, & then put it back in my pocket. For me, it's better to MOVE MY FEET!, than to use a CP because I want reflections to define the contour of the car & I find that when I remove the bad reflections, & also lose some of the good ones. Polarizers usually make the late model headlight plastic covers show a "rainbow", too.
And working with "late light" (see my Sig), a CP costs me two stops of exposure, which is only useful if I'm panning & need a slower shutter speed.