Auto Show shooting

[loopguru]

I have media credentials for a Custom / mod autoshow in Chicago this weekend. I need to take stunning photos. Problem is I have zero experience shooting autoshows. Any advice would be great. I am most likely going to arrive with a Nikon D50 with Speedlight 600.

I am looking for tips on how to best compose autoshots for maximum impact and attractiveness. There's got to be someone here who does automobile shots :mrgreen: I hope.

Ciao!

 

[Big Mike]

Will it be inside or outside? If it's inside, I might be concerned about mixed lighting. Check out this site for info about using gels to balance your flash with the ambient light.

 

[loopguru]

it is all inside. Similar setup to a traditional auto show.

 

[loopguru]

smack. now I need to find this stuff at a local shop for sunday.

Wonder if construction paper would work?

 

[hot shot]

right person preffrence go low (im normal laying on the floor) and have the camera on the front courner as it alows you to see both sides of the car if you can take a friend to clear the crowds cause people in the background dont work. rotating tables are a no no try to get them to stop it get the fried to create a distraction or a excuse to stop the turntable . hope this helps look forward to seeing the result

 

[hot shot]

need any help email me will be by computer all weekend till sunday

 

[loopguru]

Thanks.


How about settings? White balance I will have to play with because I am not 100% sure if it is incandecent or flourecent. Do you shoot in Auto?

 

[bytch_mynickname]

There is actually an article in August's digital photographer magazine. I just picked it up today for that article, haven't read it yet so don't know how it is but may be worth looking into. I got the magazine at Walmart, the front cover says "How to take cool photos at car shows" on bottom right corner above UPC code. Good luck

 

[loopguru]

August issue in June? Thanks for the heads up.

 

[bytch_mynickname]

August issue in June? Thanks for the heads up.

Yea, that is what I was wondering. I almost just typed this month but then I decided I better take a quick look and to my surprise it said August.

I skimmed over the article and the thing that stuck out the most to me was to "always use Farace's #5 law for photographing cars: overexpose white and light colored cars; underexpose black or dark colored ones."

 

[LWW]

Use a little higher ISO, a flash diffuser, and a CP filter.

Arrive early to avoid crowds.

I've done a gazillion from Detroit to Tokyo.

LWW

 

[loopguru]

Do you have a gallery with your shots?

 

[Digital Matt]

"always use Farace's #5 law for photographing cars: overexpose white and light colored cars; underexpose black or dark colored ones."

That's a bit of a vague definition. Your meter is trying to make things 18% grey, so yes, you would over and underexpose from what your meter reading is, but the shot itself should not be over or under exposed.

 

[loopguru]

So to adhere best to the law would be to set my AE bracket to 2 + - steps and that should give me at least two good shots per car.

 

[hot shot]

Thanks.


How about settings? White balance I will have to play with because I am not 100% sure if it is incandecent or flourecent. Do you shoot in Auto?

i normaly set it up for the genral light type then do a custom w/b for cars that are mainly white or have a lot of white in the frame but just personal haibit.

Dom