results of trying to use Matt advice.....

[longers]

It seemed like ages since I'd driven my TVR or used the camera for taking pic's of anything other than our 4 month old daughter, so last weekend I decided to put that right! The temptation to drive meant I didn't take that many pic's. However I did try to follow Matt's advice and found a tree with autumnal colours to complement the car. The tree took some finding - typically the ones with the best colours meant some major off roading to get to so were out of reach of the TVR!! Here is one shot I am pleased with, cropped in different ways. Any comments gratefully received......

Longers

[_dobbo_]

First comment is that the car looks great, I love the S.

I think the first crop is better myself, but think it could maybe do with the entire tree being in the frame. I also think you might have been better off standing much further back but zooming more.

[le gravy noire]

Can i see a car shot you did before reading the hallowed tome for comparison? I am working on another tutorial ya see and I'd like to see if the first one worked...do you have any feedback for me on how/if it helped? what was useful and what wasnt?

Matt

[Pulsatingstar]

I also had a go a couple of weeks back as I got a new car. I didnt have any locations planned, so it was just a case of driving around and stopping when something looked suitable. Quite pleased with a couple of them:





I dont have any old car pictures ive taken for comparison as my old HHD is dead now I do think these are the best though, though I still know I made a few mistakes ill try to remember not to do next time.

Lee

[graham@edinburgh]

Went trolling back through the threads trying to find some car pics that were taken after reading Matt's write up so I could add this one in.

It's not "there" yet, but I can already see the benefits of the right location - I think there's potential though, particularly if I bung a polariser on to minimise the reflection in the bonnet. Quite pleased with the vaguely aggressive look I've managed to get out of the Honda though.

[graham@edinburgh]

Hmmm...seeing it on the lappy it looks too dark but was ok on the PC. Arse.

[hiccy]

Longers, I too prefer the 1st crop, but I'd still crop some of the top of the tree off; there's a dark band on the leaves just below the top and I'd hack into that which should leave the car sitting nicely in the bottom third-ish of the picture. It's sort of halfway between the two shots you have posted really.

Graham, that does have potential. If you are retaking the shot with a polariser, take a couple of lamps with you to light up the front of the car a little. You could put the lights on, but I think it would look a little harsh. You could use a flash but unless it's sidehandled it'll reflect quite noticeably.

You don't need studio lights: I usually mess about with bedside lamps with fairly powerful bulbs in them and either bounce them off a wall, or if that isn't bright enough, cover them with a sock or something to make them more diffuse and less noticeable on the subject. It's a bit bodged, and if you go the latter route, leave them on for short periods only!

The darkness only really affects the front nearside corner, it's not much really and in all honestly something like a 100W bulb in a bedside lamp could provide enough diffuse lighting to lift it. Would be nice to diffuse the overhead lighting somehow too, and cut down on that reflection on the bonnet which is always going to screw the exposure up a little anyway. Maybe a white sheet or something?

My first visit to this corner of PH, didn't know it existed tbh, and I'm well impressed. Pretty safe to say I'll be back here. That, and i'll have to get my finger out.

Edited by hiccy on Tuesday 19th December 01:15

Edited by hiccy on Tuesday 19th December 01:18

[GetCarter]

BTW Ian - your TIV pic would also benefit from photoshopping out the fence (IMHO).