Links To Good Info On Car Photography ?

[freakinu]

Hi I was wondering if anyone had any links to good sites about car phtography? I need to learn about camera angles and lighting etc as I would really like to get some good car pics but they just keep on turning out average... I would especailly love to find out how to get good pics at indoor car shows like autosalon and the motor show where those overhead lights are a pain in the butt....

Any help would be great

Thanks

[Mr-Toy33]

Top 8 DON'T - As Advised By 'Speed' Magazine

-Don't shoot your car on grass or sand (You wouldn't believe how many times this came up over the article) leave it for the cows.

- Don't allow telegraph poles or trees to be in the background as it will look like they are sticking out of your cars roof.

- Don't leave windows half open.

- Don't shoot dark cars in the middle of the day.

- Don't have shadows cast under or over the car.

- Don't forget to wash your car, dirt really shows up in pictures.

- Don't just take one shot.

I know most of them a gimmies but you'd be surprised how many cars I see on here not following the most obvious ones.

Top 8 DOS - As Advised By 'Speed' Magazine

- Do shoot your car on concrete or asphalt; it looks natural

- Do shoot dark cars in soft ambient late-afternoon light. (Sunset always looks awesome)

- Do examine the paint all the paintwork for clean, simple reflections

- Do point the wheels AWAY from the camera (so everyone can see your wicked expensive rims)

- Do keep the background clean and simple (remember it’s about your ride not the scenery)

- Do try to find a low angle that will make your car look phat.

- Do detail everything, such as windows, tires and inner guards.

- Do experiment and practice.

Other photo tips from professional photographers such as Mark Bean, Guy Bowden, Cristian Brunnelli or Tony Rabbitte.

- Shoot dark cars at sunset or sunrise, shoot bright cars in sunshine. Pearl, candy and metallic need sun and lots of it.

- Again NO grass, sand or trees growing out of the roof.

- Gaffer tape is a useful waxing tool on carpet if a vacuum cleaner is not at the ready.

- Black the tires, black the tires, black the tires.

- Check the off-camera objects and make sure your mates yellow R32 isn't reflecting in your beautiful paintwork. Ensure your shots are clean. Top photographers use the reflection of the landscape horizon to emphasize body lines.

- Hit the deck cars look great from a low angle, giving that mean outta-my-way stance. Beware of ants.

- Do try taking shots of your car on the move action shots always look great.

- Again make sure your car is immaculately clean with all those little extras not forgotten.

- When taking interior shots park the whole car in a shaded area.

- Study your subject first. Walk around the car and view it at different view points, to see which angle looks best.

- Don't be afraid to move your car around, this will make your collection more diverse.

[Silver-Arrowz]

Oh great stuff Mr-Toy33!

If you want to shoot your car moving, shot at lower shutter speeds to give it the sense of motion (esp. motosport photography).

[sl33ek]

I cant stand poles sticking out of cars too, dont forget that photoshop is your friend

Its very easy to forget they're there when you shoot

This is my mates integra

[freakinu]

Thanks - that helped heaps - have a black car and sometimes it looks nice but once it is polished it tends to reflect too much but some of these ideas may help

[Mr-Toy33]

Unfortantly when it comes to trees in great locations for photo shoots, there really is no choice. So best idea is to usually try and work around them.

I've also found that having "people" in photos with cars is disturbing to the photo. the point of the photo is the car, not the person. a good backdrop can sometimes be good but make sure you dont have one thats more over powering to the eye.

As much as I hate to refer to boostcruising.com site... alot of the photos we've recently been taking and uploading there have been getting alot better.