Taking pictures of my car

[expat]

How do I get really good photos of my car eg what time of day is best, location/background, angles?

Every time I take photos its basically a side view that looks boring. I try other angles but never seem to get that 'show' look that some of you get. What's the tricks?

Thanks
Mark

[Jack Olsen]

A lot of what works better might seem counterintuitive. Speaking as a totally-untrained-photographer, here's what I've stumbled on:

An overcast day is better than a sunny day.

After a storm, as the sun is going on, will give you dramatic and filtered light from the side, which looks awesome.

Variety with a zoom lens, or different lenses, can make for cool effects. Wide angle shots can emphasize the curves of the 911. Long lenses (zoomed in) can allow you to focus more selectively.

A neutral background, like an uninterrupted gray wall, will make the car look better than if you take it to a fabulously beautiful location, where it will have to compete with the scenery.

As a rule, the angle from you standing, holding the camera in front of your face, will mean pictures that resemble 99% of the other car snapshots out there. Low angles can look dramatic. Getting up above the car can also look cool.

Take a lot of pictures, subtly changing angles and zoom-ed-ness frequently. When you see the results, a small percentage of the shots will surprise you. This rear view of my car was maybe one of a dozen from the same distance at the same time. It's cool, and the only one that looked good from the bunch.

To this end, an average digital camera will serve you better than a top-of-the-line film one. The reason is that there's no financial incentive to stop taking pictures. If you take 200 shots with the digital camera, you might end up with 10 good ones. If you take 36 shots with the fancy camera, you'll have to hit a much higher percentage, and you won't be able to check the results as you go.

Also "bracket" the pictures, if your camera will allow it. This means stepping the aperture up one step, and down one step for each shot. It increases the liklihood of having one picture with the exposure 'just right.'

Learn Photoshop, if you have the time, and make up for what you lack in skill with its ability to balance the levels, and selectively sharpen, blur, or obscure particular parts of the image.

If you can get an aspiring model to pose for you, no one will care what the car looks like -- but most guys will still like the picture.

[JuiceMan]

Jack: Thats an awesome post. Tons of links everywhere my eyes are crossing :P

Thanks for the great info.

[czwbkx]

Jack's photos are among the best I've seen. Here are a couple of other tips, though.

You can get the "after the storm" lighting by taking your photos immediately after sunrise or just before sunset. The light is coming in from the lowest possible angle and shines directly on the car. Check out the magazines (car, baot or, for that matter, swimsuit) - you'll notice that's when they do the outdoor shots.

If possible, wet the pavement first. The glossy wet surface looks clean and dramatic (again, notice the magazines).

Ever notice how many people clean the car and then take the photo with dirty tires? Be careful not to use a high-gloss dressing, though - it make the tires look like hard plastic in a photo.

The snow is gone now and I can start photographing my own. The only shots I have of my are were taken by the PO or the body shop (Mark at Carr Motor Coach). I'll follow Jack's lead on the photoshop, too.

R.

[jabb]

I think Jack hit a lot of good points....

Just be creative take shots from lots of angles
get on the ground and get up close to the car....

Sunrise or Sunset gives you some nice lighting.
or like jack mentioned overcast days are also good. Take lots of pictures to get a few good ones.....

[Glasgow 911SC]

Buy GT magazine and copy their style.

[expat]

Cool suggestions...thanks heaps.........especially Jack for all the links. We've got storms brewing here and for the next few days punctuated by bursts of sunshine so maybe some good opportunities.

Cheers
Mark

[Randy W]

Jack, as always, has done a great job of eloquently (and graphically) explaining what he has observed. I can only add a few "secrets" that I have discovered while photographing my own car for publication:

1. Detail/wax the car first. Take a detailer spray, Windex and some clean cotton cloths with you to your location. Use WD-40 on your tires and other rubber parts to clean them without leaving too much shine. Be sure to clean rockers, front spoiler, etc.

2. Replace/refinish any mismatched screws, small parts, cracked lenses, etc. that will show up in your shots.

3. Scout several locations first, picking a variety of angles with your car in the same position, so you're not rushing around moving the car when the light is waning. Having a choice of locations based on different weather conditions which will allow you to shoot more often. Obtain permission to shoot in simple graphic locations, like race tracks, golf couses, loading docks, stone quarries, tree-lined driveways - if you can. Find the highest, easily accessible location in your area, so when that amazing storm light hits you're ready.

4. Pick your day and weather conditions, based on your goals and your car's color. Jack likes overcast days best, and I do too for a black car (as well as all interior shots). For medium toned cars consider high clouds with late afternoon filtered sun. For white you will need low angled directional light, although dusk or dawn (when the sun is just below the horizon) is also great for light colored cars. For the dusk shot, try shooting both backlight (with a neutral density filter and wet pavement) and front light with clouds lit up in the background.

5. Lay down on the ground and use the longest telephoto you have with your car on top of a hill or with a clean background behind it. I know this sounds cliche', but this angle and shortening technique works everytime. Other focal lengths that work: 100mm for details, 20mm for interiors and wide angle effects. Other angles to consider: overhead from ladder, stairway or overpass.

6. Allow plenty of film and time to accomplish your goals. You will most likely need to repeat your attempts to get exactly what you want, so be patient and persistant. Most of all - Have Fun! When you are excited and enjoying what you are shooting, it shows in your pictures.

[Eric Coffey]

If you are shooting fairly dramatic angles, make sure to stop down your lens for enough depth-of-field to get the entire car in focus. In other words, if the composition for a particular shot has one end of the car a lot closer to you than the other end, and you have control over the aperture (SLR or point-and-shoot with "manual" or "aperture priority" mode), try using a smaller aperture (larger f-stop number) to get the whole car in sharp focus. This will lead to longer exposure times, but ideally you would be using a tripod, and/or shutter release. Have fun, and post some pics when you can!

Our fellow pelicanhead ChrisCampbell also knows how to take good photos:

http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/side4.jpg
http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/frontquarter4.jpg
http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/rear1.jpg
http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/rearquarter2.jpg
http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/side4.jpg
http://www.nosubstitute.org/911e/after/frontquarter3.jpg

BEAUTIFUL