Photographing Cars Indoors

[Chris71]

Any tips?

I might be heading up to Stoneleigh Kit Car show at the weekend and I'd like to get some shots inside the hall.

I got a basic Cannon 400D with the 18-55 kit lens and the standard flash. On any of the automatic modes it uses the flash left, right and centre. This usually seems to be heavily concentrated on the subject, with everything else rather under-exposed. I hasten to add I don't use the auto modes that often, but I presume it wouldn't use the flash that often unless there was some need.

[nick_bbb]

You really need a faster lens or better flash. Failing that, crank up the ISO and use a noise reduction tool afterwards.

[nick_bbb]

Another alternative would be a tripod but you may be unpopular if people keep tripping over it and it may not be allowed anyway.

[Simpo Two]

Or find 'flash compensation' in the manual, dial it down a stop or two and then add the same amount to the camera's exposure using +EV.

[CivicMan]

nick_bbb said:

Another alternative would be a tripod but you may be unpopular if people keep tripping over it and it may not be allowed anyway.

I've seen people using them at Stoneleigh but they really get in the way if it's busy. The lighting there is very mixed so I'd go with a blip of flash as Simpo suggests.

[Chris71]

Thanks guys. Might stick my tripod in the car, but get read-up on the exposure compensation. If all else fails I might just disable the flash and whack the ISO up - they won't be big shots.

Can I ask a really basic question now. Cannon users - which mode do you recommend I shoot in? I presume it will have to be one of the 'creative modes' or whatever they're reffered to as in order to get the exposure compensation. Of those, which is the most idiot proof?

[bramley]

If you need to use the pop up flash try sticking a rizla paper over it to diffuse the light a bit, or some other homemade method of trying to bounce the flash upwards or just to diffuse it a bit to avoid harsh shadows.

[Simpo Two]

Chris71 said:

Can I ask a really basic question now. Cannon users - which mode do you recommend I shoot in? I presume it will have to be one of the 'creative modes' or whatever they're reffered to as in order to get the exposure compensation. Of those, which is the most idiot proof?

Has it got 'Car show mode'?

But seriously, 'creative modes' will simply take control away from you. The most idiot-proof 'proper' mode is Program, which (unless Canons are very different from Nikons) works out the shutter speed and aperture (ie exposure) for you, but you can adjust to taste with EV. I use EV a lot, both on camera and flash, to help me iron out large differences in brightness, eg at weddings, where there is invariably a white object near the camera and darker objects further away!

[VxDuncan]

Mmnnn, stoneleigh. Great out doors, don't expect wonderful results indoors. As it's an agricultural centre there's a few BIG cattle barns with wobbly concrete floors and dim yellow lighting, all tends to be very cross lit from the big open doors. There's also the fancy pants halls, with the blue nylon carpets and the manufacturers stands. Biggest problem here is the budgets ain't big, so the cars are on the floor and jammed in into a tiny floor area. Nothing wrong with that, but with all the people you'll struggle to get a clear shot and may need a wide angle lens. Okay for recording what you're seeing (esp if you're building something as well), but don't expect too many to hang on the wall!

Outside much better (if the weathers good!). There's usually something moving going on, such as the sevens autotesting or an off road event. So be prepared for an inpromtu bit of motorsport photography. Usally a good event for stocking up on stainless bolts, wierd sized sockets and wiring bits and bobs whilst eating greasy chips. You can get in free (or using to be able to) if you go in a kit car. Or if you try it on in a VX220 which has similar build quality like I've done in the past!

[Chris71]

Yes - I always go to the Exeter show and without fail they'll be some totally innapropriate production cars in the kit car park (MX5s etc.) The irony is they wouldn't actually let my dad's 1972 kit-built TVR 1600M in first time as they insisted "now, it's not actually a kit car is it - it says it's a TVR". Geniuses.

I did vaguely think about taking mine and seeing if I could get in free. It's a lot more kit built than an MX5.

Anyway, back on track...

Maybe I've got my marketing speak the wrong way round, I thought the 'creative modes' were the shutter priority, appeture priority etc. Whatever they're called, I usually operate in the manual-ish modes, not least so I can disable the bloody flash!

Program mode with EV it is then and I might see if I can also find a way of diffusing the flash a little, like Bramley suggested.

[jon-]

I like to shoot in Av indoors, you can open the lens up without having to worry too much about remembering to correct the shutter speed. The 400d shoots ok for screen quality at 800. I found I had to watch the white balance a lot indoors as auto was having a hard time at the NEC.

[Chris71]

jon- said:

I like to shoot in Av indoors, you can open the lens up without having to worry too much about remembering to correct the shutter speed. The 400d shoots ok for screen quality at 800. I found I had to watch the white balance a lot indoors as auto was having a hard time at the NEC.

Thanks - useful advice.

Forgive my ignorance - is the white balance is purely done as post processing whilst the image is still RAW? Do you use any flash correction? (or do you just disable the flash?)

[jon-]

I was shooting in JPG, hence white balance being an issue for me at the time.

I tried not to fire the flash, I'm not overly keen on the built in unit.

[andynoquantum]

Chris, I dont know if it's any use or in time, but I was there today. No flash, AP, 1600 ISO indoors, in RAW with white balance set to cloudy I think (mix n match) gave these results







This one's a little noisy on the cars offside





And a token one from outside

Edited by andynoquantum on Sunday 4th May 19:27

Edited by andynoquantum on Sunday 4th May 19:29