I need tips !

[benjamin03]

Have a Canon 60D and a Canon speedlite 430 ex2, I would like to have tips for car photography in low light. Im curently not using my flash because of flash reflections on cars.
Thanks a lot !

 

[o hey tyler]

Get a CPL.

 

[Derrel]

The angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection...so...if the flash is off to one side, its reflection will go off at an angle...getting the camera and the flash separated is a key,so that you no longer have to worry about direct "blow-back" reflections from a camera-mounted flash unit...you need a light stand, or an assistant to hold the light, and a remote triggering set. Check the flashzebra.com web site.

 

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum. A Circular PoLarizing filter may help, but it won't eliminate the reflections.

As mentioned, if you aim a light source (flash) at something that is 'shiny' (has properties of direct reflection), at an angle that lines up with the camera, (family of angles) then you will see that reflection on the object. Also as mentioned, the key is to get the flash away from the camera's potion.

However, since most cars are somewhat round and have multiple facets, it will be very hard to prevent those reflections from showing up somewhere.

 

[KmH]

Since cars are reflective you have to light what would reflect on the car. It's a basic lighting concept that is covered in the lighting fundamentals book - Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

You'll find just one speedlight quite limiting. Using a single speedlight to shoot a single person head and shoulders portrait is one thing, but lighting something as large as a car is a different ball game.

When I shot cars I used as many as 14 lights. One or 2 for back/rim light, a couple to light the interior, a couple for the wheels/tires, one or 2 to get light under the car, yada, yada, yada.

You will have a lot more latitude and success if the light is off the camera, on a light stand, and modified (made apparently much larger).

For cars you would want a light stand(s) that can go up to 12 feet or so.

 

[analog.universe]

I saw a cool technique for car shoots that I've been meaning to try, but I haven't yet had a chance.

The photographer explaining it had his camera on a tripod in bulb mode, and the scene was set up in a location with minimal ambient light. He'd open the shutter, and then walk around the car with a small softbox attached to a speedlight, and manually trigger the flash dozens of times from different angles. This allowed him to shape the specular reflections however he wanted, using the rectangle of the softbox as a basic building block. One of the effects I really liked was shooting the flash a bunch of times in a narrow line the length of the car. The result was nice straight white on black highlights that traced out the curves of the reflective surfaces.