I want to get into Car/Motorcycle Photography

[Ballistics]

I've always been interested in shooting automotive photography but could never really find solid info online regarding it.
I have a few friends and relatives with really great cars, and they're of course more than willing to get their stuff photographed.

From my understanding, I don't have the greatest equipment for cars.

Nikon 18-105mm| Sigma 24mm 1.8 | Nikon 50mm 1.8 | Sigma 70-200mm OS 2.8
Nikon D7000
3 speedlights - 2 stands/umbrellas

There's a few websites that give mediocre info and haven't been updated in months.

So, anyone have any great resources, videos, books, or their own personal experience they would like to share?

 

[imagemaker46]

looks like you should be ok with the gear you have, it will all come down to track access. If you want good i visual nformation just go through all the motorsport magazines and see what is being shot.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

It takes a LOT to do cars (properly)

See the last set-ups: Car Studio Photography Set-ups - Core77

 

[Ballistics]

It takes a LOT to do cars (properly)

See the last set-ups: Car Studio Photography Set-ups - Core77

Well, I'm not going for something that scale. But more like this

http://12oy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2013-Honda-CBR-600RR-1024x683.jpg
http://www.wallpaperslot.com/data/media/12/Honda CBR 600RR 2007 back.jpg

looks like you should be ok with the gear you have, it will all come down to track access. If you want good i visual nformation just go through all the motorsport magazines and see what is being shot.

Not necessarily racing or car shows, but editorial like shots.

 

[hirejn]

I don't see the problem with your kit. Look at other car photos you like and figure out how they were lit. Apply your own ideas and techniques. Lighting a car is the same as lighting a person; you have to understand light, exposure and composition. Don't try to replicate what the giant studios are doing. Do what you can.

 

[Ballistics]

I don't see the problem with your kit. Look at other car photos you like and figure out how they were lit. Apply your own ideas and techniques. Lighting a car is the same as lighting a person; you have to understand light, exposure and composition. Don't try to replicate what the giant studios are doing. Do what you can.

Not even close lol.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I don't see the problem with your kit. Look at other car photos you like and figure out how they were lit. Apply your own ideas and techniques. Lighting a car is the same as lighting a person; you have to understand light, exposure and composition. Don't try to replicate what the giant studios are doing. Do what you can.

Not even close lol.

+1

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Motorbikes are simple, I just push them into a studio- "outtakes" from a shoot

 

[2WheelPhoto]

It takes a LOT to do cars (properly)

See the last set-ups: Car Studio Photography Set-ups - Core77

Well, I'm not going for something that scale. But more like this

http://12oy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2013-Honda-CBR-600RR-1024x683.jpg
http://www.wallpaperslot.com/data/media/12/Honda%20CBR%20600RR%202007%20back.jpg

looks like you should be ok with the gear you have, it will all come down to track access. If you want good i visual nformation just go through all the motorsport magazines and see what is being shot.

Not necessarily racing or car shows, but editorial like shots.

^^^^nice!

 

[gsgary]

It takes a LOT to do cars (properly)

See the last set-ups: Car Studio Photography Set-ups - Core77

Well, I'm not going for something that scale. But more like this

http://12oy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2013-Honda-CBR-600RR-1024x683.jpg
http://www.wallpaperslot.com/data/media/12/Honda%20CBR%20600RR%202007%20back.jpg

looks like you should be ok with the gear you have, it will all come down to track access. If you want good i visual nformation just go through all the motorsport magazines and see what is being shot.

Not necessarily racing or car shows, but editorial like shots.

In that case you are going to want 3 good quality studio lights and lots of shapers

 

[KmH]

Light modifier size is generally a function of subject size.

A motorcycle requires smaller light modifiers than a car does.
Reflections in a car's shiny body panels is usually one of the things a photographer is going to want to control.

The fundamentals of photographic lighting address both concepts.
For control of reflections you light what you don't want to reflect rather than lighting the subject.

 

[y75stingray]

I shot this with a similar kit. two strobes two umbrellas a few years ago. It's certainly not perfect, but its enough to get you started and your friends and family will be thrilled to have nice images of their toys. Dont get to hung up on gear get out and shoot with what you have! thats how you will decide what you need to advance and what you don't.

 

[Ballistics]

For control of reflections you light what you don't want to reflect rather than lighting the subject.

I can't understand this line. What do you mean?

 

[Ballistics]

I shot this with a similar kit. two strobes two umbrellas a few years ago. It's certainly not perfect, but its enough to get you started and your friends and family will be thrilled to have nice images of their toys. Dont get to hung up on gear get out and shoot with what you have! thats how you will decide what you need to advance and what you don't.

Who's getting hung up on gear? If you don't have the tools to do the job, then you can't do the job. That's how I look at it.

As for deciding what you need in the future, I don't like going into a shoot and saying "Man I wish I had this" or worse,
"I can't get this shot, and I have no idea what I need to get it". Which is why I come to the forum and establish dialogue and
make myself prepared.

 

[Ballistics]

I'd be happy to start out with shots like this