Official Automotive Rigs - DIY Thread

Nice job for a first time .

Listen to me for a second though, you missed something very important. You spent your time and energy to make a rig, and have a cool car, but overlooked composition, which is the very most important thing. Next time, choose something interesting about the vehicle to focus on, and then choose an interesting angle, it will make all the difference! Also, help yourself out, shoot at sunset, no ND needed!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/d11Y​e9

Also, be sure to shoot at least 2 shots; a short 2-second shot for the car, wheels, and ground, it'll provide detail. And a longer 4-6 second shot for the background, it'll make the motion seem even faster.

Ahhhhhh dang, thanks so much for the feedback! I fully understand what you're saying about my shot, and looking back at my image I certainly agree it is quite ... boring. I can see it myself which is good, I know there are so many (aspiring or not) photog's out there who just post post post and never take feedback in. So, thanks so much for taking the time to give me some pointer! Your images are outstanding and very unique! I absolutely love the colors in the above shot!

I'm itching to get out and play around with more. Today is Thanksgiving up here in Canada so I think I'll miss the sunset tonight as I'm stuffing my face with turkey haha, but I gotta try again!!!

Thanks so much again!

I'm SO much happier with the outcome of this shot!!!! I could still certainly use some post production work, going to be watching more tutorials on this. I mostly used the cloning stamp and such - does anybody have any other suggestions? I haven't dipped into layering/ masking too much yet, any suggestions on editing techniques I should do some research on to help me?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pEcy​Gw

Much improved! You just really need a better angle for the car, something a bit more flattering!

Try something from above, where you can see the driver, anytime you can show the driver your stock will go up!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/fy91​QG

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/hd1F​vE

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/d8Jo​iu

You can do these photo's, they are easy, just spend more time on the exact angle of the car, and composition!

Kijho wrote in post #17206967
This actually came with that platform inside it! I'm very happy I went this route and got the magic arm. I'm on a budget, and can certainly upgrade my boom down the road. But, my thought on the magic arm was that I would have it forever and could also use it for different applications that just the rig. Spent the extra penny and got the entire kit and I'm glad I did. I just got back from a very short "test" of the rig. Went very well but I can say I'm glad I got the arm because it made it SO much easier to mount the camera. I think that was the easiest part really! Pics to come soon!! (hopefully I'm not cluttering this thread up too much haha!)

I've used the magic arm for a TON of things, many not even for photo-related uses. I forgot my tripod plate once, so I clamped the arm to one of the legs on my tripod and just used that. Alternatively, I've also used two clamps and the arm to hold my phone while I laid in bed and as a temporary pole for when I'm hanging clothes.

VisualEchos wrote in post #17211079
You can do these photo's, they are easy, just spend more time on the exact angle of the car, and composition!

Thank you Andrew! I really appreciate you taking the time to give me so many pointers! I will have to give a go at some higher angles! Oddly enough, I just forgot to sit in my car in that last photo since it's RHD!! Haha!
I will have to play around with my clamps, I'm not sure exactly how I can achieve a higher boom angle without the extenders and such..

steelbluesleepr wrote in post #17211082
I've used the magic arm for a TON of things, many not even for photo-related uses. I forgot my tripod plate once, so I clamped the arm to one of the legs on my tripod and just used that. Alternatively, I've also used two clamps and the arm to hold my phone while I laid in bed and as a temporary pole for when I'm hanging clothes.

Yes!! I'm so so glad I ended up getting the magic arm. I was trying to stick to my budget on everything, but when it came down to the magic arm, I was either gonna spend $60 on a tripod head, and $40 on a clamp ... or just a bit extra and get the arm with everything all in one that I can use for other applications too, not just the rig! So glad I did, it's fantastic!!!

I'm here to help you man, whatever questions you have, just shoot them my way, you'll be a rig master in no time!

The information on these pages is Golden!!

Good job Kijho!

Hi all

After a couple of years of being inspired by great images here and elsewhere on the net, and after a few months of floundering, trying to get all the parts, I finally got a rig together and tried it for the first time today.

This is a friend's car, quite a nice first subject, don't you think?

Feedback appreciated. I'm pretty happy with them for my very first attempts, but I'm sure they could be improved upon.

just checking in.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ppY4​vc

^ ^ Good one!

Andy - that second shot is fantastic, great vantage point!

Patrick - super sharp, money!