Some Cars, Four Red, One Blue

[brianT]

I've been interested in photographing cars for a while. I've come to realize that to get nice photos of cars a good light set up is required. Since I don't have a light set-up (but will be getting that in the future) all I have is my camera and the little SB-600. Please let me know what you think of these.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Thanks!

 

[Sisco]

#3 is visually really appealing to me, and I am not a car photo taker. Love this perspective, light is great, you took care in the framing of it...

First is nice, but usually the front of the car is preferable.Thats why so many are at an angle.

I love that third one for another reason..the trees framing the apartment decks is very sweet!

 

[KmH]

Get a good quality, coated Circular polarizing filter (CPL) (B+W is a good brand) and learn how to use it minimize reflections in glass and specular highlights elsewhere in your car photos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizing_filter_(photography)

Specular highlight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read all the Digital Photography tutorials, starting with Depth-Of-Field, here: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

 

[brianT]

#3 is visually really appealing to me, and I am not a car photo taker. Love this perspective, light is great, you took care in the framing of it...

First is nice, but usually the front of the car is preferable.Thats why so many are at an angle.

I love that third one for another reason..the trees framing the apartment decks is very sweet!

For the first photo I took some photos from the front but the background was terrible, but the rear 3/4 view was much better.

Get a good quality, coated Circular polarizing filter (CPL) (B+W is a good brand) and learn how to use it minimize reflections in glass and specular highlights elsewhere in your car photos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polariz...r_(photography)

Specular highlight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read all the Digital Photography tutorials, starting with Depth-Of-Field, here: Cambridge in Colour - Photography Tutorials & Learning Community

Thanks for the tutorial links. I have a multi-coated circular polarizing filter (Kenko Pro1D) and used it in all the photos here. Because the C-PL filter can only reduce reflections on parts of the car, the only way I can think of reducing all reflections is to take multiple photos with different C-PL settings, then later blend the photos in post.

Also, do you think there's too much depth of field in these? Or not enough? The third photo I meant for the background to be in focus. The rest of them the backgrounds are out of focus.

 

[Sisco]

I think the DOF is just right.

 

[KmH]

I think the locations and compositions were poor, particularly #3.

 

[Sisco]

I think the locations and compositions were poor, particularly #3.

Its nice to agree to disagree, I think its the best of the lot, cars don't have to be in underground parking lots or on a ridge with city lights below?

Poor isn't what I see anyways.

 

[white]

I think 4 is excellent.

 

[lyonsroar]

I think the locations and compositions were poor, particularly #3.

I would also disagree with this. There's a time and place for the obligatory parking garage and scenic overlook pictures, but sometimes it is refreshing to see a car in it's natural environment; on the street.

I think the Hyundai Genesis is a beautiful car, particularly from this angle.

Nicely done.

 

[12sndsgood]

I think the locations and compositions were poor, particularly #3.

#3 Is the only background that really works for me. the first one the location kills it for me. but for #3 the angle is good and the background and leaves and trees make it good enough for me to buy into the picture. #1 just looks like u walked outside to take a pic of your car for a buddy.

 

[ChevyBaby]

Number 3 makes my eyes very happy. I love photographing cars - I find that the age old technique of shooting them from below makes them look completely awesome, in all senses of that word.

 

[brianT]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The suggestions gives me more to think about for next time.

I would also disagree with this. There's a time and place for the obligatory parking garage and scenic overlook pictures, but sometimes it is refreshing to see a car in it's natural environment; on the street.

I think the Hyundai Genesis is a beautiful car, particularly from this angle.

Nicely done.

Lynsroar, you have a nice Speed3. I had the exact same car, but sold it. Was a lot of fun. Mine was a 2007 in Pearl White which I think was available only in Canada at the time. I had a Cobb Intake which was well worthwhile. The only thing that I didn't like was the shifter, but I was aware there are some remedies to 'smooth' it out somewhat. Otherwise a fun and powerful car! Here's the only photo I have online:

 

[Rosshole]

I think the locations and compositions were poor, particularly #3.

Its nice to agree to disagree, I think its the best of the lot, cars don't have to be in underground parking lots or on a ridge with city lights below?

Poor isn't what I see anyways.

I for one, don't care for seeing the other vehicle in the frame... if that car wasn't there, it would help a lot.

My eyes were drawn to the other car.

 

[ChevyBaby]

I for one, don't care for seeing the other vehicle in the frame... if that car wasn't there, it would help a lot.

My eyes were drawn to the other car.

This is exactly what I thought after I looked a second time, but I didn't want to double post!

 

[Sisco]

I think if the car in the Bg were the same color, it would have made a huge difference, but being grey, I don't even see it compared to the brilliance of the red? We all see things so differently. I liked the tree branches and the decks before I even thought about the second car:blushing: