What sort of location to take pics of me motor?
Discussion
I've just had an idea that I wanted to take some really smashing photos of my car. I'd say I was pretty much a beginner in terms of photography. I've got a Canon EOS350D which is a fantastic camera, and has done me well in the couple of years I've had it.
Heres my car:
I haven't really done any specific photos of it except for when I did the ones above.
Does anyone know what sort of a location would suit my car? I live in the Nottingham area.
Night shots would be good. I have a tripod. How about a car park at night time? Oh and I know this is a bloody basic question but sort of settings would I need to take good night photos in a car park?
Cheers for the help fellas!
Heres my car:
I haven't really done any specific photos of it except for when I did the ones above.
Does anyone know what sort of a location would suit my car? I live in the Nottingham area.
Night shots would be good. I have a tripod. How about a car park at night time? Oh and I know this is a bloody basic question but sort of settings would I need to take good night photos in a car park?
Cheers for the help fellas!
hello, like the tunnel shot!
Flickr is always good for inspiration, check out the first half a dozen pages, some nice shots in there!
As for night shots, sit the camera on a decent tripod, put the camera on manual, ISO100, f/9'ish, and use the timer (or cable release) to avoid shake. Play around with the shutter speeds until you got something that looks pretty decent (probably 30sec then work your way up or down from there, you'll need to stick it on Bulb for anything over 30 seconds).
I parked next to a busy-ish road for this shot, and left the lights on my car to give me something to focus on (it was pitch black when I took this)
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Motorway shot:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Just push buttons and see what happens, that's what I do
Flickr is always good for inspiration, check out the first half a dozen pages, some nice shots in there!
As for night shots, sit the camera on a decent tripod, put the camera on manual, ISO100, f/9'ish, and use the timer (or cable release) to avoid shake. Play around with the shutter speeds until you got something that looks pretty decent (probably 30sec then work your way up or down from there, you'll need to stick it on Bulb for anything over 30 seconds).
I parked next to a busy-ish road for this shot, and left the lights on my car to give me something to focus on (it was pitch black when I took this)
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Motorway shot:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Just push buttons and see what happens, that's what I do
I shoot mainly at night and just make a mental note of potential locations as I move around during the day. A few ideas from my cars and driving archives - check it out for other ideas, and to see the EXIF data for each shot. The BW Clio and R8 shots have been lightly edited/ converted but the others are straight from camera.
Agree with 4hero to play around with settings. Also really like your tunnel shot, I'd like to shoot somewhere like that.
In a car park you'll have to consider reflections and colour casts from the flourescent lights, but it can be done with a custom WB or BW conversion.
Elsewhere you could find somewhere properly dark and try lighting the car yourself with a flash or torch (torch is more controllable, and led torches give a cleaner light). Once you've lit the car you can continue exposing to capture the sky or star trails. This is a 5 min exposure, during which time one car drove past.
Go for an interesting background (tho I wouldn't advise one as bright as this).
And don't forget the option of driving shots if you're feeling experimental...
This was a trial shot for last month's PH compo thread, The Eyes Have It. I strobed my face to pick out my reflection in all three mirrors.
For this, I found some overhead lights and dropped the roof (Audi A3 Cabriolet)
PM me if you think I can help more with ideas or techniques.
Agree with 4hero to play around with settings. Also really like your tunnel shot, I'd like to shoot somewhere like that.
In a car park you'll have to consider reflections and colour casts from the flourescent lights, but it can be done with a custom WB or BW conversion.
Elsewhere you could find somewhere properly dark and try lighting the car yourself with a flash or torch (torch is more controllable, and led torches give a cleaner light). Once you've lit the car you can continue exposing to capture the sky or star trails. This is a 5 min exposure, during which time one car drove past.
Go for an interesting background (tho I wouldn't advise one as bright as this).
And don't forget the option of driving shots if you're feeling experimental...
This was a trial shot for last month's PH compo thread, The Eyes Have It. I strobed my face to pick out my reflection in all three mirrors.
For this, I found some overhead lights and dropped the roof (Audi A3 Cabriolet)
PM me if you think I can help more with ideas or techniques.
Edited by AndWhy on Friday 26th September 11:13
Polarbert said:
Does anyone know what sort of a location would suit my car? I live in the Nottingham area.
I'm not sure what car you have as I can't see the pics here at work. Take it somewhere that suits the car, if it's a chavved up nova, take it to the grimey places to make it look good, if it's an exotic, take it out into the country etc etc.But, whatever you do, try and not shoot in a car park, it's been done a million times, and quite frankly, it looks rubbish.
//dean
Edited by Scope on Friday 26th September 15:00
Scope said:
Polarbert said:
Does anyone know what sort of a location would suit my car? I live in the Nottingham area.
I'm not sure what car you have as I can't see the pics here at work. Take it somewhere that suits the car, if it's a chavved up nova, take it to the grimey places to make it look good, if it's an exotic, take it out into the country etc etc.But, whatever you do, try and not shoot in a car park, it's been done a million times, and quite frankly, it looks rubbish.
//dean
Edited by Scope on Friday 26th September 15:00
Thats where I was going to head.
Its a bright orange Clio Sport BTW.
I haven't got any nighttime/carpark shots of my car.
Give the car park a go but I guarantee you it will look a million time better elsewhere!
If I were you, I'd head out to a grey industrial estate at sun-rise, the cooler colour of the day at that time should make the orange really pop. Failing that, near some woods, just watch for reflectons
Or, if you wanna give night time photog a shot, take a look at andwhynot's flickr above, try thinking outside of the box. A nice bright, flat colour like orange/white always works well in the dark
If I were you, I'd head out to a grey industrial estate at sun-rise, the cooler colour of the day at that time should make the orange really pop. Failing that, near some woods, just watch for reflectons
Or, if you wanna give night time photog a shot, take a look at andwhynot's flickr above, try thinking outside of the box. A nice bright, flat colour like orange/white always works well in the dark
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