Using Reflectors Good Enough for Automotive Shots?

Been looking in to a few ways to improve my photography. I have been learning over the past week how to use strobes/flash and reading online...however I find myself more attracted to naturally lit shots.

Would it be beneficial to purchase a 42" Silver/White reflector and reflector boom stand to improve my automotive shots? Is there any examples/reading on this? I tried searching the threads here and didn't come up with much.

Here's an example of how I shoot, I'd like to add reflectors to these kinds of shots to improve them.

http://www.flickr.com …4/sizes/l/in/ph​otostream/

FYI - most high dollar ads for Autos Cars etc are done in studio and PP pasted into settings.

Re natural light ... the bigest problem is relections and time of day.
The ones we have done outdoors often require huge custom framed tents.
42 feet would be better than 42 inch and DIY builds are often more practicle.

Ok here is an example of a car using nothing but reflectors. yes, I did use photoshop to aid the light. I lit the car at different areas with two people holding hand held reflectors. Work them in layers and here is a final.

One last example. This was shot with a single strobe against the setting sun. Which ever route you take, you will always step up your game if you light up the darkened areas of a vehicle with artificial or natural light. Good luck!

Wow thank you for the examples? Care to share where the reflectors were positioned so I can get a better idea of what areas are being lit? I'm assuming the strobe was camera right directly facing the broad side of the truck?

You can also buy reflectors for not much more money than the foam core boards at Walmart. Do a search for 5 in 1 reflector on Ebay. You can get a 43" 5 in 1 for $17 shipped.

JMartel wrote in post #11936977
You can also buy reflectors for not much more money than the foam core boards at Walmart. Do a search for 5 in 1 reflector on Ebay. You can get a 43" 5 in 1 for $17 shipped.

I don't buy at Walmart. I get my foam core in large plywood sized sheets.

I would recommend Photoflex reflectors. They are durable and have lasted for the last 8 years in all types of harsh environments.

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11936874
Wow thank you for the examples? Care to share where the reflectors were positioned so I can get a better idea of what areas are being lit? I'm assuming the strobe was camera right directly facing the broad side of the truck?

The strobe on the truck was to the side and the back of the truck. You can notice a slight shadow on the salt in front of the truck.

Here are a couple of examples, hope they help.

I agree. But when starting out I'd rather spend $17 to figure out if I don't like dealing with a reflector than $115 on a Photoflex one. Once you figure out that you use reflectors a lot then you spring for the more expensive ones. Just a personal view.

Where do you buy your large foam core sheets?

Those shots at Bonneville? They look great.

See thats another thing I want to learn how to do. Shoot a few different exposures/shots to get the sky/background looking good and not blown out.

I assume you use layer masks to get that effect?

I don't see where you need a reflector for that shot?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #11939458
I don't see where you need a reflector for that shot?

I don't, I guess it wasn't really an example of why I need one more or less how I shoot. Here's one of my own car...I could have used one..

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11939579
I don't, I guess it wasn't really an example of why I need one more or less how I shoot. Here's one of my own car...I could have used one..

I think you could have also waited for the light to get softer on the black car (black is a tough color to shoot) and turned the headlights on to get contrast on the front. Also a circ polarizer would help kill reflection on the side of the car.

Your DOF is good, stance and position of the car and it's front wheel is good. Back ground is not exciting, but you have what looks to me a good eye about the stance.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback and the compliments!

I have only been shooting with a DSLR since January 2010, and 75% of my photography has been cars so I've had decent practice. That shot was of my own car...it was more of a "well i swapped on hoods so lets grab the 70-200 2.8 and grab a pic real quick" haha. When I do cars for others I put a lot more effort into positioning and back ground but I can see the flaw in this shot.

I guess I can just keep working with natural lighting.


Here's a natty light shot with my old lens set-up. Wish I would have cloned out the poles growing from the car. Taken at my brothers high school (taken tehre on purpose)

http://farm5.static.fl​ickr.com …58617387_e77d38​11d5_b.jpg

Softer light would have worked better for me, too. OTOH, there's detail in the shadows & this is how we expect a car to look in that lighting, so it's an OK shot. Look at the "Beast" No reflector or additional light was used for that shot.

What I would do with that last shot would be to crop a lot of that background out. That's why it's called "background" & I don't think it adds anything to the shot except distraction.