Advice please - Car photography

Prophet · 5 Sep 2006 at 11:59

I'd like to improve my skills in all areas but would like to focus on cars at the moment. Mainly due to the number of shows/meets I attend.

My main subject for practice will be my 1990 Mk2 Astra CDi. I really struggle to get good shots of this car as it aways seems to bright. What tips could I use to enhance the pictures and make them more 'professional'

I'd like to try different lighting and low light situations so all advice you can fire at me would be great.

Here's a pic of the car so you get the idea of what I'm playing with

wez130 · 6 Sep 2006 at 06:26

first of all, i think a circular polariser is essential when taking car photo's, also consider different angles, especially shooting from ground level.

just as an example....

Oblivious · 6 Sep 2006 at 07:12

Is that second photo not a poor example Wez?

With the parking white line refelected in the door, totally spoiling the photo.

brocksta · 6 Sep 2006 at 09:47

id also reccommend to try shooting on an overcast day, as the sun will cause harsh shadows and you will lose detail from the reflections off the car.

wez130 · 6 Sep 2006 at 18:37

Oblivious said:
Is that second photo not a poor example Wez?

With the parking white line refelected in the door, totally spoiling the photo.

well yes it is lol

but imagine it without the white line hehe.

King_Boru · 6 Sep 2006 at 18:46

If you are shooting from waist level then I would recomend an ND Grad filter so the sky isnt bleached out. From the ground level then simply stopping down will help remove highlight bleaching on the car.

Nozzer · 6 Sep 2006 at 20:09

If anyone wants to practice their automotive photography, you can shoot my Lotus Elise in exchange for a few pics for me.

MSN me!

edit: I'm in Herts.

Beepcake · 6 Sep 2006 at 20:49

Nozzer said:
If anyone wants to practice their automotive photography, you can shoot my Lotus Elise in exchange for a few pics for me.

MSN me!

edit: I'm in Herts.

Drive it up here and i'll do it you big jessy

Flibster · 6 Sep 2006 at 20:55

Nozzer said:
If anyone wants to practice their automotive photography, you can shoot my Lotus Elise in exchange for a few pics for me.

MSN me!

edit: I'm in Herts.

How close to Hitchin/Stevenage?

I'm up for it.

Simon/~Flibster

Nozzer · 6 Sep 2006 at 21:15

~30mins Flibster.

Flibster · 6 Sep 2006 at 22:47

Hmmm.

Know any photogenic areas around this dump of a place?

Apart from the Shuttleworth Collection hangers.

Simon/~Flibster

mrgubby · 6 Sep 2006 at 23:03

Flibster said:
Hmmm.

Know any photogenic areas around this dump of a place?

Apart from the Shuttleworth Collection hangers.

Simon/~Flibster

Try up around Weston / Baldock bypass area, you should be able to get some good shots against the sunset or there are loads of glass fronted office blocks in the Stevenage industrial area

Nozzer · 7 Sep 2006 at 00:49

Flibster said:
Hmmm.

Know any photogenic areas around this dump of a place?

Apart from the Shuttleworth Collection hangers.

Simon/~Flibster

Brocket Hall is fantastic but access is tricky...

I'm sure there's somewhere picturesque in some of the villages in N. Herts.