Would love some constructive criticism! (2008 Audi S4)

Hey everyone,

Took some shots of my Car today after a quick wash. I'm looking for any kind of criticism possible! Be it actual composition of the shot, post processing, etc.

These were taken with a T2i 18-55 kit lens.

#1

IMAGE LINK: http://i.imgur.com/Q1P​ef.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://i.imgur.com/NRC​SI.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://i.imgur.com/FKh​L5.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://i.imgur.com/4Fp​jK.jpg

See the links in my Sig, give it another shot before it gets dirty, and...

use flickr so i can see them at work. thats all i got.

I don't mean to come off harsh, but I'm not going to try and fluff critiques up just so I don't sound like an ass.

1. Photography = painting with light, so go find some light and make sure it hits the car when taking the picture.

2. Those streetlights aren't doing you any favors in any regard. They're distracting in the background, they cast bad reflections in the paint and they have an awful orangey color hue.

3. Parking lots are rarely a decent location for photos. The backgrounds are very distracting. It honestly makes it seem like someone wanted to see pics of your car so you rushed out with your cell phone and snapped some to make him happy.

It's a beautiful car, it deserves an adequate location for a photoshoot. Try a parking garage (an empty one).

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15415107
See the links in my Sig, give it another shot before it gets dirty, and...

Thanks for the welcome! The car is already dirty from over salting the roads (And its black =X)!

Awesome tips, I'll have to look around for an empty garage soon! I will admit I was not proud of the orange hue put on the whole car. I also took these in a way to dark setting, wasn't thinking about lighting all to much. Glad to see that is a easy thing to fix now!

Thanks for all the help and a warm welcome to the forums. I look forward to more criticism and developing my skills with the community!

I wish you wouldn't.
Parking lot shot #1: http://img.photobucket​.com …ides/37-Willys_RT_013.jpg

Parking lot shot #2: http://img.photobucket​.com …rtQtr_25.jpg?t=​1274310768

Parking lot shot #3: http://img.photobucket​.com …_TreeBKG.jpg?t=​1270693892

Nadroj3636 wrote in post #15417816
I also took these in a way to dark setting, wasn't thinking about lighting all to much.

It's one of the hardest things about automotive photography. Without a decent light source, you can't get any detail in your pictures. You have it doubly tough with a black car. Light is a fickle thing. Too much and it will be too harsh. Too little and you can't get any detail.

You can get it done in a parking lot, but it's tough. Using a wide open aperture can help minimize the background if nothing else.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15418689
I wish you wouldn't.
Parking lot shot #1: http://img.photobucket​.com …ides/37-Willys_RT_013.jpg

Parking lot shot #2: http://img.photobucket​.com …rtQtr_25.jpg?t=​1274310768

Parking lot shot #3: http://img.photobucket​.com …_TreeBKG.jpg?t=​1270693892

I'm all for making the best out of the cards you're dealt, and if a parking lot is the best possible option you have then so be it. But completely deleting the actual background and putting a rather cheesy 1990's gradient colored background in a photo to get rid of the parking lot background isn't very good advice compared to simply finding a better location to shoot.

Photography is like real estate: location, location, location

This is about as bad as locations get...look through the threads on here for some better ideas, then cruise your town and look for a decent spot.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15418689
I wish you wouldn't.

Told this to you many times, IMO those all look horrible. The snapshots posted by the OP look better......even though they are nothing more than snapshots.

To the OP, take all of these tips into consideration below. Saved me typing. Just remember the background is as important as the subject, don't ever overlook it. You want the background to supplement your photos by actually not drawing attention. For instance, since this is a dark car......you want to find something with a lighter color background. If you decide to try a parking deck, find the one with the best lighting as possible. You can make it work and get great pics.

VicSkimmr wrote in post #15416819
I don't mean to come off harsh, but I'm not going to try and fluff critiques up just so I don't sound like an ass.

1. Photography = painting with light, so go find some light and make sure it hits the car when taking the picture.

2. Those streetlights aren't doing you any favors in any regard. They're distracting in the background, they cast bad reflections in the paint and they have an awful orangey color hue.

3. Parking lots are rarely a decent location for photos. The backgrounds are very distracting. It honestly makes it seem like someone wanted to see pics of your car so you rushed out with your cell phone and snapped some to make him happy.

It's a beautiful car, it deserves an adequate location for a photoshoot. Try a parking garage (an empty one).

2 E L O wrote in post #15462195
I'm all for making the best out of the cards you're dealt, and if a parking lot is the best possible option you have then so be it. But completely deleting the actual background and putting a rather cheesy 1990's gradient colored background in a photo to get rid of the parking lot background isn't very good advice compared to simply finding a better location to shoot.

The point of those links was that you can find good light & reflections in a parking lot if you look for it. And the "cheesy background" is what the owners wanted for their wall.

kit lens wrote in post #15464150
The snapshots posted by the OP look better......even though they are nothing more than snapshots.

Somehow, I don't see that statement as adding to your credibility? but if those shots float your boat, that's fine with me.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15464294
Somehow, I don't see that statement as adding to your credibility? but if those shots float your boat, that's fine with me.

I'm not concerned about credibility, not sure what that is supposed to mean.

The OP posted some pictures, obviously learning the ropes. Instead of offering CC you just replied with a short answer, and 3 horrible examples that are no where close to what the OP was trying to achieve. The credibility search was apparently yours.

If its not apparent that I'm not the only one who took your reply as bad CC or advice, I don't know what else to tell you. Then again this isn't new with you.