First attempt at car photography, one for c&c

[SNBniko]

So this is my friend's Civic. Photo was taken at during the 'golden hour', and it is a 2 photo HDR, due to the fact that I don't have a decent flash. Editing done was cleaning the car up a bit, removing a light pole (I can still see the edit marks from that, not sure how to clean it up), and straightening out the parking lot lines/cracks (can't figure out the one under the car...I can't get it to look right). Any input would be fantastic, be as brutal as you feel. My skin is thick. =) Thanks in advance!

 

[DisasterDan]

It looks pretty good
Possibly a tad underexposed?
And my eyes directly looked a the building to the upper right.
A better angle i think would of helped this one too. More to the right and down a bit more. But for a first time it looks good. Also HDR IMO was made just for Cars.

 

[SNBniko]

The box/intake thing on the upper right? I can try to edit that out. Give me a minute, I'm awfully slow and new at this, haha.

 

[SNBniko]

Assuming the intake is what you were talking about, is this any better? (my editing is so crappy, I'm truly sorry. I'm learning as I go)

 

[joealcantar]

Looks like you shot it at 47mm , if this was the focal length I would have gone with the 50mm and it would have let you shoot it a little faster. May have thrown that background out of focus as well. Another thing to try is shoot it on the long end of the 24-135 , it may compress the car a little but the background will be out of focus as well as long lenses tend to do this.
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Shoot well, Joe

 

[SNBniko]

Okay! I was just scared that not enough of the car would be in focus if I took the aperture too low (numerically). Is that a concern with cars generally, as with portraits?

 

[DGImagery]

I really like this! Not to shabby for you first time!! I like photographing cars too but haven't had much of a chance!

 

[joealcantar]

Okay! I was just scared that not enough of the car would be in focus if I took the aperture too low (numerically). Is that a concern with cars generally, as with portraits?

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Punch in your information into the DOF Calculator Online Depth of Field Calculator and it will give you and idea of where you have to be. You should have an idea of how far you were away from the subject.
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Shoot well,Joe

 

[Village Idiot]

Assuming the intake is what you were talking about, is this any better? (my editing is so crappy, I'm truly sorry. I'm learning as I go)

Looks worse.

 

[Patrice]

There is no artistic viewpoint or artistic interpretation of a car in this image. Therefore the image could be described as an editorial image. This photo is
a documentary of that particular can. Everything needs to be executed to near perfection for this type of image to be successful.

The image is tilted. Look at the flag poles, they are leaning to the right.
The image lacks contrast, the background and sky is washed out.
The sky is an unnatural color.
The car is unevenly lit.
There are various odd reflections on the car. (power poles, wires, people)
The hood and lower air deflector are dirty.
There are bugs on the radiator.
There is a piece of rubber body molding missing.
The hood does not line up with the fender.
There is rust at the rear wheel arch.


etc...


To get an idea of what a GOOD car photo is like, look at the front cover photos of car brochures at your local dealership.

Editorial type car photos are very very difficult to get right. Takes a lot of practice. Keep at it, bone up on lighting, camera/lens operation, processing,
car detailing and composition.

Be very self critical of your imagery. Not everybody knows you and how much you like your car so the image has to stand on it's own merit.

Good luck.

 

[Raian-san]

That car was like so 10 years ago when fixing import cars were "in". I remember those things all over the street since I used to fix up my car up too, Prelude and S2000.

One thing about shooting cars is...the nicer the car, the nice the photo. Doesn't mean to be a ferrari or anything, just clean paint, no big dings, crooked bumper, and etc since the car is the subject.