How would you shoot this scene?

[Whiskey]

It surprises me that nobody here said "HDR" I'm just a beginner, but from the limited reading I've done about it this seems like a great scenario to experiment with combining multiple shots at different exposures to get everything lit properly.

So that I understand the topic better, could please tell me why that is not a good option here?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[WickedWitch]

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

Well I wanted to make use of the colors in the back, which wouldn't be on during the day.

 

[WickedWitch]

It surprises me that nobody here said "HDR" I'm just a beginner, but from the limited reading I've done about it this seems like a great scenario to experiment with combining multiple shots at different exposures to get everything lit properly.

So that I understand the topic better, could please tell me why that is not a good option here?

Thanks,
Whiskey

I think it would be a fun experiment. The point of my post was to just see how other photographers would go about it. In my situation at the time I didn't have any of the things I needed to make it work. It was kind of a "hey, that might be a cool set up lets try it". So I don't consider any of the options posted as bad

 

[Heitz]

at least spot meter the car

 

[OLaA]

at least spot meter the car

Yeah in your position the only thing to do would be spot meter the car and do a long exposure. Atleast the car would've been exposed.

 

[greybeard32 5]

speedlight with slow shutter sync

 

[cynicaster]

I think the answer depends on the creative vision for the shot. In particular, is the idea to capture a silhouette of the car, or to expose the car?

If the former, I'd simply spot meter the background, recompose, and shoot.

If the latter, it's a much more challenging task. There would be no good way to simultaneously expose the car and not have a mess of blown highlights in the background, unless you used strobes or perhaps multiple exposures (HDR).

 

[gsgary]

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.

Driven by Chav's Chav - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[skieur]

A small lithium rechargeable light that stands up with a rotational head works well for fill light in a situation like this to light this side of the car.

 

[rambler]

A couple of suggestions taken from comments already made. Note if you scroll the photo downwards on this page so that the bright lights are not visible, you still get the color in the background. The bright glaring lights are distracting for me. Next you need to get some light on that car. The flash light would be a good way with a long exposure. Blink the flashlight on the parts of the car you want to see. But, you want to avoid too much light just reflecting off the bright surface of the car, so while the shutter is open move your light source so that is coming in on the car at an angle to "soften" its effect. I would try with the front end of the car, headlights and side door. You might not need to get the whole car lighted. I think it would help if we could see some color of the car.

Another look would be to slowly zoom in or out when the shutter was open.

 

[chuckdee]

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.

This minus the mobile phone part.


____________________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain." - Helmut Newton
Keller vet
Dallas wedding photography

 

[ToorboCharge]

Some people said it but yeah, long exposure, with a flash set your power low, and strobe.

 

[jtnord]

I would have tried an HDR myself (as I dont have any lighting equipment yet) though it looks like you still might struggle to get enough light on the front of the car. The lights could still over power the car if the car is the intended subject.

 

[pmt029]

I would probably try HDR. I've had good results with fixing exposures with it.

 

[chuckdee]

It surprises me that nobody here said "HDR" I'm just a beginner, but from the limited reading I've done about it this seems like a great scenario to experiment with combining multiple shots at different exposures to get everything lit properly.

So that I understand the topic better, could please tell me why that is not a good option here?

Thanks,
Whiskey

You don't shoot HDR. HDR is done in post.



____________________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain." - Helmut Newton