Help improving my car show picture technique

I don't really go to a whole lot of car shows, but I've been trying to make it to more and take my camera with me. Last weekend I went to a Goodguys show and was able to shoot a few hundred picture; and while I don't think they are bad, I think they could definitely be improved on. I see other photos around where people were able to get nice creamy backgrounds even in such close proximity to the cars. I shot all of these on my 7d with a Tamron 17-50. The two I am posting here were at f10 with exposure of 60. The lens for the coupe was at 35mm and the Camaro it was at 17. I do realize that shooting further away flattens the background some, but since there were so many people getting a shot at 50 seemed impossible. Do I need to look at picking up an ND filter so that I can shoot at a lower f stop?

And I apologize that it's such a noob question, I'm trying to soak in as much as I can and spend more time with my camera.

Were you shooting in Av, Tv, P, M or full auto? I'm assuming when you say "exposure of 60", you mean your shutter speed was 1/60. If so, you should've been able to open up your lens to a larger aperture with faster shutter speed.
What was your ISO for these images?

IntrstlarOvrdrve wrote in post #17573682
I don't really go to a whole lot of car shows, but I've been trying to make it to more and take my camera with me. Last weekend I went to a Goodguys show and was able to shoot a few hundred picture; and while I don't think they are bad, I think they could definitely be improved on. I see other photos around where people were able to get nice creamy backgrounds even in such close proximity to the cars. I shot all of these on my 7d with a Tamron 17-50. The two I am posting here were at f10 with exposure of 60. The lens for the coupe was at 35mm and the Camaro it was at 17. I do realize that shooting further away flattens the background some, but since there were so many people getting a shot at 50 seemed impossible. Do I need to look at picking up an ND filter so that I can shoot at a lower f stop?

And I apologize that it's such a noob question, I'm trying to soak in as much as I can and spend more time with my camera.

"Nice creamy backgrounds" can require long distances to the subjects, long focal lengths, long distances to the background, and large apertures.

Potentially useful examples from a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens set at f/2.8.

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …0903a0816_zps2s​8eqk6e.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …0903a0813_zpsc6​t948co.jpg

DGStinner wrote in post #17573708
Were you shooting in Av, Tv, P, M or full auto? I'm assuming when you say "exposure of 60", you mean your shutter speed was 1/60. If so, you should've been able to open up your lens to a larger aperture with faster shutter speed.
What was your ISO for these images?

I wondered about that, too.

When you're at a show, ask them where they meet during the week. Those shows are in the evening & the light gets better as the evening gets later. Look at the links in my Sig, & this thread: 'Cuda & Cobra

And...

IntrstlarOvrdrve wrote in post #17573682
Do I need to look at picking up an ND filter so that I can shoot at a lower f stop?

You should look to a polarizing filter as it will help reduce reflections from the car windows, chrome work etc.

The difficulty in getting an out of focus background is the balance between the distance to the subject (too far and some clown will always stand in your way, too close and you are then juggling dof, perspective distortion issues) and how much money you can afford to spend on wide aperture or zoom lens.

DGStinner wrote in post #17573708
Were you shooting in Av, Tv, P, M or full auto? I'm assuming when you say "exposure of 60", you mean your shutter speed was 1/60. If so, you should've been able to open up your lens to a larger aperture with faster shutter speed.
What was your ISO for these images?

Sorry, yes shutter speed was 1/60. ISO was 100.

DC Fan wrote in post #17573798
"Nice creamy backgrounds" can require long distances to the subjects, long focal lengths, long distances to the background, and large apertures.

Potentially useful examples from a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens set at f/2.8.

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …0903a0816_zps2s​8eqk6e.jpg on photobucket

IMAGE LINK: http://i1174.photobuck​et.com …0903a0813_zpsc6​t948co.jpg on photobucket

I do have a 70-200 f/4 but the problem I had was that the cars were so close together and there were too many people to back up and get a good shot from far away

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17574001
I wondered about that, too.
When you're at a show, ask them where they meet during the week. Those shows are in the evening & the light gets better as the evening gets later. Look at the links in my Sig, & this thread: 'Cuda & Cobra

And...

Hosted photo: posted by PhotosGuy in
./showthread.php?p=175​74001&i=i243338713
forum: Transportation

Thanks! I was able to get a handful of evening shots of the cars in the hotel parking lot where I stayed which did turn out better. I've been reading through the links in your sig. I specifically bought my camera so I could take pictures of cars but I'm just now spending time to learn the camera.

djr81 wrote in post #17574033
You should look to a polarizing filter as it will help reduce reflections from the car windows, chrome work etc.

The difficulty in getting an out of focus background is the balance between the distance to the subject (too far and some clown will always stand in your way, too close and you are then juggling dof, perspective distortion issues) and how much money you can afford to spend on wide aperture or zoom lens.

I'd thought of picking up an 85 f/1.8 for shows, but would it not affect the images negatively when I opened the aperture up that wide?

You've discovered one essential truth, car show pictures dont look like car portraits. You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear. You can document great cars at shows but if you want truly great car photos you need to make relationships with the owners and work with the car outside of the crowded car show environment.

I would play with your 17-50 at 2.8 a little in AV or manual and get a feel for the depth of field and sharpness you're wanting. I don't shoot cars normally, but I did a cruise-in back in 2009. All the shots in the following album are with an XSi and 17-55 or 11-16. Full EXIF info is attached to the pics in case you see something that interests you. Not a pro by any stretch, but there's a few shots in there I like:
Somernites Cruise - August 2009

Panning cars as they cruise in can help with making them pop a little as well. Some of these characters just add a lot to the car as well

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/6SfC​Ha

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/6SfB​Ja

Thanks! And I forgot to respond, the camera was in Manual the entire weekend.

The wide aperture will give you a shallow depth of field. Nice for bokeh but it can also mean, for example, the front of the car is in focus and the rear not. This is where being further from the car helps. You get the same blurred background but with more of the car in focus.

To answer (Actually to not answer) your question directly, I don't know but I suspect it might. Are there some car threads with the shot data that can give you a better idea? The attached is 24mm (so pretty close) and only 5.6.