My first photoshoot
Discussion
[ constructive criticism warning ]
What were you trying to set out to achieve with the pictures, and do you think you achieved those aims ?
To me, they're just photos of cars outside an industrial unit, with some odd composition which doesn't sit well with my eyes.
If the car is the subject then you need to really bring that out, either by framing the picture around the car, or making it the focal point of the picture - the thing your eyes are immediately drawn to. Also, think aboout techniques like using a shallower depth of field, creating a different perspective by getting lower to the ground, different lighting, that sort of thing.
Personally, I don't think they're that great as they are currently (and before anyone steps in to defend them, I'm merely expressing my opinion - also, I don't subscribe to the culture of telling people that I think their pictures are good if I don't think they are.) but try experimenting with different things and see what works and what doesn't.
What were you trying to set out to achieve with the pictures, and do you think you achieved those aims ?
To me, they're just photos of cars outside an industrial unit, with some odd composition which doesn't sit well with my eyes.
If the car is the subject then you need to really bring that out, either by framing the picture around the car, or making it the focal point of the picture - the thing your eyes are immediately drawn to. Also, think aboout techniques like using a shallower depth of field, creating a different perspective by getting lower to the ground, different lighting, that sort of thing.
Personally, I don't think they're that great as they are currently (and before anyone steps in to defend them, I'm merely expressing my opinion - also, I don't subscribe to the culture of telling people that I think their pictures are good if I don't think they are.) but try experimenting with different things and see what works and what doesn't.
Thanks for the tips - Must remember 'rule of thirds'
Will work on composition and different perspectives for the next set...
Nick M said:
What were you trying to set out to achieve with the pictures, and do you think you achieved those aims ?
I didn't have an aim as such - The idea was just to get some practice photographing cars and see what I could come up with.Nick M said:
If the car is the subject then you need to really bring that out, either by framing the picture around the car, or making it the focal point of the picture
I think the car is the focal point for the first picture, fair enough for the 2nd though (perhaps too much background/not enough car?)Will work on composition and different perspectives for the next set...
What sort of camera are you using, and can you control the aperture size and hence depth of field ?
The first one might work if the background was more out of focus and hence less distracting (I found myself looking at the wall rather than the car). With a bigger aperture you could focus on, say, the windscreen and thus better isolate the car from the background. Then it really would be the focus of the picture and your eye would be more naturally drawn it (rather than distracted).
But with all these things, it's a learning process to see what works and what doesn't. Some things I like other people are wholly ambivalent (at best) about, and vice versa.
Its obvious you're thinking about composition which is definitely a good thing but the previous guys comments are right, you should be trying to focus on getting your subject matter in 'thirds' either horizontally or vertically. If you are going to do this you also need something other than a brick wall to look at. Also be careful where your light source is as reflections can be pretty distracting but can also work amazingly well with practice.
Once you're happy with using the thirds, try composing your image in other ways. You dont need to have the whole car in the image and you don't need it rigidly frontal or side on. Remember, you need to consider your subject and how best to show it off. here we're talking cars, cars move, so try some funky angles to imply speed or even motion blur to show it. ALso use the light to boost colours. Hence a sunny day would work best. Check out the iamges on this thread taken by a friend of mine: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I tried something the other day with my camera mounted on a tripod sticking out my sunroof. Drive down the road, at night, on a long exposure with the camera pointing at your bonnet (bottom third). Wicked result. Your car will stay in focus, as long as you've got your tripod mounted securely, and you'll also get the light trails from the street lights. You might look a bit weird doing it but you'll be pleased with the results.
Just practice and you'll get it.
Once you're happy with using the thirds, try composing your image in other ways. You dont need to have the whole car in the image and you don't need it rigidly frontal or side on. Remember, you need to consider your subject and how best to show it off. here we're talking cars, cars move, so try some funky angles to imply speed or even motion blur to show it. ALso use the light to boost colours. Hence a sunny day would work best. Check out the iamges on this thread taken by a friend of mine: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I tried something the other day with my camera mounted on a tripod sticking out my sunroof. Drive down the road, at night, on a long exposure with the camera pointing at your bonnet (bottom third). Wicked result. Your car will stay in focus, as long as you've got your tripod mounted securely, and you'll also get the light trails from the street lights. You might look a bit weird doing it but you'll be pleased with the results.
Just practice and you'll get it.
I like them then I dont there something strange about it that I cant describe. I think you need to work on exposure though the first one is to exposed and the second it well under, maybe the effect your going for? but I reckon your betting the right exposure then changing it in photo, guessing you haven't already done that?
Find a way to make the background work with the image, for instance here's an early shoot I did in 2004 of a Nova for an Irish Mag, using the typical industrial estate building for the setting...
Almost the entire shoot used in the magazine came from this location other than the rolling shots back out on the road...
Almost the entire shoot used in the magazine came from this location other than the rolling shots back out on the road...
Please try and get out of an industrial estate.
There are shelves full of magazines out there using talentless designers coupled with lazy half arsed photographers who shoot car after car in some rank dirty industrial estates.
This country is beautiful, use it.
Don't get me wrong, a well lit interesting industrial back ground can add to a shoot, but only if you work at it.
However, for some reason, especially when dealing with modified cars. They all seem to built in workshops on industrial estates with shuttered doors.
This has been done to death and so cliche. If the car can't be driven/transported to a suitable location by the company or individual who created it then they don't really give a toss about good publicity.
Rant over.
There are shelves full of magazines out there using talentless designers coupled with lazy half arsed photographers who shoot car after car in some rank dirty industrial estates.
This country is beautiful, use it.
Don't get me wrong, a well lit interesting industrial back ground can add to a shoot, but only if you work at it.
However, for some reason, especially when dealing with modified cars. They all seem to built in workshops on industrial estates with shuttered doors.
This has been done to death and so cliche. If the car can't be driven/transported to a suitable location by the company or individual who created it then they don't really give a toss about good publicity.
Rant over.
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