Lighting cars

[Rob13]

I dont know if I remember seeing something on here before about this, but would like some information on how to light a car. I have 2 flashes available and would appreciate if someone could enlighten me with how to do it correctly.

[olimeads]

Turn the interior light on?

Edited by olimeads on Wednesday 27th January 21:39

[Fordo]

Rob13 said:

I dont know if I remember seeing something on here before about this, but would like some information on how to light a car. I have 2 flashes available and would appreciate if someone could enlighten me with how to do it correctly.

have you got a particular style in mind?

im no expert, but id imagine thered be many ways to light depending on what you want to achieve. maybe post up some examples of a style youd like to go for, and let the gurus on here explain how theyd light for that look?

[jon-]

With 2 lights it's unlikely you're going to be able to get a nice light across the entire car. This means you will need a) a good tripod and b) photoshop, to combine multiple exposures

//Dean is the master of that kind of setup, I suggest you check out his flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dean-photo/

[Rob13]

ive got a good tripod and also a flash stand with off cam flash. I know there have been posts on here about multiple exposure shots. Ive had a go with 2 guns but cant get the bonnet lit enough as the light falls off too much

[LongQ]

What colour is the car?

If it's a light colour you can light the car.

If it's dark colour you probably cannot light the car much and need to consider getting the overall shape by lighting the background and picking out the surfaces by reflections, all taking into account any ambient light you have available or can find.

Or hire some extra lights if the shoot is worth it.

Some sort of reflector - either a dedicated photographic type or a white(ish) wall might prove useful as well.

[Fordo]

LongQ said:

Some sort of reflector - either a dedicated photographic type or a white(ish) wall might prove useful as well.

polyboard is great for this too. cheap, light, and can be as big as you like. I paint one side of poly black (actually, i get it from a supply company already painted!), so you can use the white side as a reflector, and the black side as a kind of negative reflector - to mask reflections, or block out unwanted bits of light

[Louisa911]

Does anybody have a link to any tutorials that teach anything about more technical car photography, like Deans? All the ones I have found are very basic, discussing times of day to take the photos etc. Which is all common sense really.

[jon-]

http://www.flickr.com/groups/carstrobist/ is a good place to start. A lot of the images will at least have a lighting descriptions, some even have lighting diagrams.

[Louisa911]

also any tutorials on post processing in photoshop? thanks so much.

[GFWilliams]

Louisa911 said:

also any tutorials on post processing in photoshop? thanks so much.

I'll be making one next week.

Here is one I did which is sped up, so I will do one in real time with commentary next tims..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0H6tCyN4jE

[GFWilliams]

Now, onto lighting a car.

It depends hugely on the colour and type of car.

With black cars, don't even bother.. Like a mirror and very hard work..

With anything else, consider the curves and the way that the light is going to bounce back onto the car. You want to try to minimise hotspot on the paint work and you want to evenly light the car.

The best way to find out is just to go out and practise.

Here are some photos I took last weekend while having a play:
http://pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&f...

George

[L33]

jon- said:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/carstrobist/ is a good place to start. A lot of the images will at least have a lighting descriptions, some even have lighting diagrams.

Some truly awesome car pics here

[Louisa911]

Thanks for the tips so far. I'm an Illustration student at Uni so have a pretty good grasp on composition, colour and tone, using photoshop etc. I have an old Canon 300D as my current SLR, got it last summer but haven't had much chance to play around with it much yet. I have a good knowledge of how aperture and shutter speed affect the image, I just need to expand on that and get out and practice more!

If I am wanting to try my hand at car photography, what will I need to add to my collection as a beginner? I already have a tripod.... oh and the standard 18-55m lens and a fixed 50mm 1.8..... and thats about it really. What would I require when it comes to off camera lighting and so on?

Will have a look at your tutorial now. Many thanks, most appreciated.

[Louisa911]

GFWilliams said:

I'll be making one next week.

Here is one I did which is sped up, so I will do one in real time with commentary next tims..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0H6tCyN4jE

Very helpful thanks. Look forward to the commentated one.
I have CS2- at the start of your tutorial where you import all the multipe exposures, what do you go to on the menu? Is it file, then scripts... then?

Cheers

[GFWilliams]

Louisa911 said:

GFWilliams said:

I'll be making one next week.

Here is one I did which is sped up, so I will do one in real time with commentary next tims..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0H6tCyN4jE

Very helpful thanks. Look forward to the commentated one.
I have CS2- at the start of your tutorial where you import all the multipe exposures, what do you go to on the menu? Is it file, then scripts... then?

Cheers

It's File>Scripts>Load Files into stack on CS3. I don't have CS2 handy, but I'm pretty sure it is similar. Then play with the layer blending modes.

[Louisa911]

Being a student it looks like it'll be a while before I can afford to get a proper setup with a speedlite and transmitter for my 300D, in the meanwhile, is a flash an absolute necessity? is there any other type of cheaper light source that could be fixed in a different position throughout the length of each multiple shot? for example an LED strip light? or a more direct light bounced off something?

I'd love to try the whole multi exposure layers thing in photoshop and we have some nice evening weather coming up shortly

[AndWhyNot]

Louisa911 said:

Being a student it looks like it'll be a while before I can afford to get a proper setup with a speedlite and transmitter for my 300D, in the meanwhile, is a flash an absolute necessity? is there any other type of cheaper light source that could be fixed in a different position throughout the length of each multiple shot? for example an LED strip light? or a more direct light bounced off something?

I'd love to try the whole multi exposure layers thing in photoshop and we have some nice evening weather coming up shortly

You can pick up a cheap flashgun for £40-50 new or less if used, then fire multiple flashes at the car during a long exposure. And yes, you can use alternative light sources for different effects - light flat colours respond well to LED torchlight; darks and metallics can look good with LED/ flourescent strip lights passed over the car. In many cases you'll be able to get done in 30 sec but otherwise take a series of long exposures getting the lighting right on each part of the car before moving on.

There's loads of info on flickr - in addition to the car strobist group check out Cars at Night

Edited by AndWhyNot on Friday 29th January 12:28

[nick_bbb]

Here's my take on using one flash...

http://www.grantgb.com/content/?p=426