How would you shoot this scene?

[WickedWitch]

This was something I tried to do on the fly. This is just one shot of many I tried with different settings and angles. At the time I only had my camera and a tripod. I wanted to get the car in focus and capture the colors in the background, not necessarily in focus. Flares ok. With any means given including changing the angle, how would you shoot this scene?

 

[480sparky38 38]

Zoom during long exposure.

 

[WickedWitch]

I actually tried that lol Came out looking pretty much the same, underexposed on the car. I didn't spend a lot of time on it though.

 

[Mully]

Strobe the car,one head low....clone out bright circular highlight in Post

 

[ABJayce]

How far are you away from the car when you were taking this?

 

[WickedWitch]

Not far. I was using my 14-45mm (4:3) pulled back probably as far as it would go. I can't say for sure, it was some time ago. I can paste the photo info if you'd like. Mostly just curious how others would have done it. If I had to do it all over again I'd have another light source to expose the car, then play with the results from there.

 

[bratkinson]

If I had a popup flash on the camera, I'd use that as the fill in flash to illuminate the car. Popups are good for about 10 feet, so that would be starting point. Otherwise, with an external flash, (camera mounted or elsewhere), set it on low enough power to light only the car. I'd start with the flash higher than the car roof, to eliminate shadows which might distract from the lights of the car wash. Of course, to get the best out-of-focus lights of the car wash, shoot at near wide-open on the lens to have a DOF of about 4-5 feet...eg, only the car in focus.

 

[Denon]

I would take one exposure for the background and then another couple when light painting the car. I would either use a external flash(with radio triggers) or in worst case scenario, a mobile phone. And then just combining these in photoshop.

 

[Wozza]

What you really need is an off camera flash or bright LED light with natural colour that can be set wide and soft. I'd set the camera on a tripod and set it for a few seconds letting me walk around the side of the car strobing with the flash or lighting with the light. If you wanted the background diffused, you'd need to get back preferably and zoom in at a wide aperture to try and throw the background out of focus. With the difference between the background brightness vs no light on the car you'd either mega-overexpose the background or have no light on the car otherwise in a single exposure.

 

[gsgary]

I wouldnt waste my time, what it there worth shooting

 

[runnah]

I wouldnt waste my time, what it there worth shooting

Psh, bugeye wrxs are ALWAYS worth the time.

I'd use two remote flashes with soft boxes.

 

[12sndsgood]

For that shot i likely would have put the car perfectly sideways, gotten farther back and done it as a silhouette shot so you can see the nice outline of the entire car with the bright background. If this was supposed to be a car shot you need some external light. I probalby would have shot it with about 3 lights.

 

[EIngerson]

Mully nailed it.

 

[brian_f2.8]

does it have to be at night? lots of things you can change during the day to get the same result.

 

[JDFlood]

Move the car further from the lights (to get it further out of focus, use a telephone to increase the de-focus gradient behind the car. If you want the car lite then a slave flash on side would probably be best. Vary the aperture the get appropriate DOF. JD