car photos c&c

[matt hkd]

hey guys, I'm pretty new to photography. I got a Nikon d3000 for christmas and have since been using it as much as I can. Here are a couple shots of my car an another random one that I like. I'm looking to improve, so any insight you guys can give me would be much appreciated. I haven't really done much editing other than playing with basic tools in iPhoto.

 

[WesternGuy]

Nice start. My comments and a question or two:

#1: Nice image, but watch the backgrounds, the R/R sign and the yellow posts are a bit distracting.
#2. I am not a fan of the OOF imaging, but then that is just me - 'nuf said.
#3. Not sure what you were trying to do here, but it might have been better if the background was also in focus. Are the posts really that dark? Composition is not really that bad - fence line and pathway(?) help carry the viewers eye through the image.

Anyway, my 0.02¢. Please take these comments as they are meant to help, rather than be only criticism.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[BIG PAPPA]

#1 Could use a panoramic crop
#3 try not to park the car in a hay field where the grass is taller then the car.

 

[KmH]

Two things.

1. OCF (Off Camera Flash)
2. Circular Polarizing (CPL) filter.

In #1 the front of the car is somewhat dark and needed fill lighting. OCF can accomplish that. Over all the car is under exposed. Visit www.strobist.com and start reading his Lighting 101 archives: Strobist: Lighting 101 Both foreground and background are important considerations for setting up a shot.

A CPL filter will help control reflections in the glass. Reflections off of metal surfaces is not polarized so a CPL will not help as much as it does on the glass.

Consider adding light behind (rim lighting), underneath, and even inside the car.

#2 just does not work if you intended the car to be the main subject and not the in focus yellow centerline.

For some general tips visit: http://www.ehow.com/list_6612519_car-photo-tips.html

 

[KmH]

I did some editing using ACR 6 and CS5:

 

[tyler_h]

Actually dont mind the processing on that shot; but the front of the car seems to be blown now... note how the creases in the bonnet aren't visible any more...
Definitely like the new crop a lot better.

The composition in two seems borrowed from a car magazine, but I'd be trying for all in focus rather than the shallow dof.

Three doesn't do a lot for me; not a fan of 2/3 of the frame being the grass close up.

 

[matt hkd]

thanks for the comments guys. I'll check out that link on lighting. I don't have an off camera flash I can use at this point.

It sounds like the general consensus is that the shots are a little underexposed and needs a tighter crop.

 

[lyonsroar]

Dem Volks?

Tried HDR yet? Get a circular polarizer! Best investment in automotive photography I ever made...

 

[matt hkd]

yup, te37s.

no I haven't done HDR yet, not really sure how that works. I just got a new computer and haven't yet installed photoshop elements or cs5 yet.

I do have a circular polarizer, but forgot to bring it with me for this shoot.

 

[thebutler4]

I did some editing using ACR 6 and CS5:

Damn Keith you beat me to the punch .. lol ..

anyhow I like mine better .. hahaha

 

[chaosrealm93]

cool rims. i think if the car wasn't centered on the yellow lines, it would make for a better shot. just me, but i think the front bumper looks kinda... ehh.

 

[lyonsroar]

yup, te37s.

no I haven't done HDR yet, not really sure how that works. I just got a new computer and haven't yet installed photoshop elements or cs5 yet.

I do have a circular polarizer, but forgot to bring it with me for this shoot.

Nice!

HDR basically is this:

You take a series of pictures of the same scene, some underexposed, some overexposed and then you mush them all together and it comes out as (supposedly) a perfectly exposed scene. Well that's my rinky-dink description. Here's a better one: High dynamic range imaging - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And an example. One of my favorites! (don't mind the cherry red light hue. Stupid lights...)

IMG_3188 by Lyonsroar91, on Flickr

 

[KmH]

You cannot make a good HDR (High Dynamic Range) from a low dynamic range scene like the Op had. though you can tone-map any image which is what most do with what they call an HDR.

Lyonsroar's example WAS above a high dynamic range scene, but was made with insufficient EV steps to capture the dynamic range the scene had.

IMO, HDR is the most mis-understood, mis-used imaging technique available today.