How To Take 'good' Photos Of Your Car - If You Really Care That Is.  

Shaky Bones

Yeah Johnno I would but I don't really have any good shot of my new ride just yet. But I will, When its ready and I get god damn blue tooth. Your a good photographer with exellent guidence that is.

Yeah mobster they are good shots, like I said the rules don't alway apply. However the vast majority of car shots look better on asphalt.

SITH 1

here is a photo of my car......taken from a LOW pos

Xx_Pixi_xX

I think i Mastered the good Photo taking

Except for my wheel's

the red krawler

Contrary to popular belief, you _DO NOT_ need a digital SLR to take good photos.

Its the photographer that makes the magic happen, not the camera. I've seen some pretty dismal photos taken by people with digital SLRs, but hey I guess its dismal in 8mp... Which means you can print out a dismal picture onto a bed spread... wow.

Since I'm not hardcore (read: justdave) I just use a high end "point n shoot" camera, which has plenty of manual modes to do long exposure etc. I've attached a few pics I've taken, not because I think they are good, but because it shows that long exposure is easy on a point and shoot. The car picture montage(sp?) I made are all pics I took, it seemed easier to just put up the one photo

The only time you need a digital SLR is when you outstrip the abilities of your point n shoot camera. I can guarantee that unless you are REALLY keen, you wont be doing that.

prophecy

Grass shots for the win.

trd_rolla

I think I've just about gone against most of those rules with these shots, but I love 'em

ThunderBolt

While it may not be following the rules, I like the sun reflecting on my paintwork. So I prefer middle of the day shots as opposed to late afternoon shots.


As for grass shots, I believe they can work out well as long as the grass is well cared for.

JuStDaVe

I agree andrew so many ppl thing get an expensive camera it will take good pics... not the case at all

have to say some of the pics u take are fuckin unreal.

DAL32

I've got another rule. If you're trying to get the whole car in the photo, make sure that the whole car is in the photo.

BTCHY

im all for taking shots with a decent background that will be a contrast to my car


and the late afternoon shots


and for taking pictures from down low


and the late afternoon from down low shots



btw these were all taken with a point and shoot digital camera that will fit in your back pocket

Donna

ShanO`

it usually does help

roweysvn

They are probably my favourite pics that ive taken, and one is on gravel, the other two on cement,





These two, while they do not follow DAL32's rule of having the whole car in the photo ive used the downlow position aswell as positioned the car and myself so id get the sunset reflection in the paint etc.


i think alot of it just comes down to practice, ive certainly taken 100's of shit photos before and after those shots, and i listen to the more wiser people in the industry, *nudges JustDave and SkiDMaN*

racsov500

My car is on the grass-
1. Its a paddock basher
2. It would break down before it got to a road
3. Its a piece of shit!

the red krawler

Really? I prefer cement and a dark background

Mcleod

This topic raises the debate as to whether we should start a "Photography" forum just like the Photochop forum...

-
Mcleod

70XIN

Mcleod: Definitely, i reckon it will go off

Shaky Bones

Ahh why did I even bother most of you guys are still not getting the point. roweysvn you have some real good shots the RX7 pics arent so great since there is a girl growing out of the bonnet in on of the pics and way to many reflections on the side door. However the rest of your shots are great.

What Id like most people to do I compare your shots that you think are good with that of Justdaves. Not the pixel quality. or shaprness but the angle, lighting, features and profitability options they may bring.

However keep posting good pics its always good to see what you got.

Take a look at this shot (I didn't take it) But see the contrast, the Lines the lighting. This is how a car shot is suposed to look.

Xx_Pixi_xX

if the person that took the photo's are happy with them
then that's all that really matter's

it's not really a contest to see who has the better pictures ect ect
its to see what people drive and the mod's they have done to them ect ect..

thats just my opinion

JuStDaVe

just do what you love and take the pics that inspire u if u enjoy it do it who gives a fuck what ppl think

thats my opinion

dave

boostn_sil80

Thats what i was thinking unless its your job like justdave. It doesnt matter what other people think take the photos when you want and how you want and dont bag people out for their choice of sunlight and shit. Its getting pretty petty.

neil_se

I think the main point of this thread was advice on how to take professional/magazine-type photos of your car. Of course you vary many factors or else every photo would look the same, but compare some of the photos taken with Dave's and you'll see how the tips can be taken into consideration to improve your photos.

Here's the best one i've taken of my car, might break some rules like the windows, but i still love looking at it.

DAL32

My rule only applies if you are *trying* to get the whole car in. Doing a shot purposefully to only capture one part of the car is fine. I was just referring to one of those other photos in this thread (CGM82? and PSI 180 )

I'm all for a Photography forum, I need a place to get advice on how to take good pics etc. I tried searching but there is nothing really car specific. Some photos I took over a year ago of my car, I submitted to Fast Fours "Small Haulers" and they got in, but these photos break most of the rules stated above Taking photos of a dark green car in the midday sun, they came out pretty badly and swirl marks showed up as well.

Xx_Pixi_xX

i took the photo like that because that is how i wanted it to look i think it look's good and fine

as i said if the person who took the photo's is happy with them then that is all that matter's

geezuz some people on here are so judgemental

Shnorque

my favourite pic of my car, obviously i was driving so couldnt be using my camera at the same time but it still is pretty tuff.

Akshunhiro

That's an awesome shot, you should use that as your avatar!

Xx_Pixi_xX

thanx

Gem_Kid

theres 2 that i really like of my mates clappa 308 vl.

DR1F7

Nice shots man

s|r_b00st

u sooooo dont need a Dslr to take a picture.

remember its not just the camera, its what the user does with it.

here are some taken on slr-like cameras.

51YAS 33

nice shots nick lookin good

Akshunhiro

s|r_b00st delivers again!

Awesome shots

BigShow

There are rules to photography and like any rule they can be bent or broken, but shooting cars on grass is a pretty stiff rule - it's almost never a good idea.

As for shooting from a low angle only, I think this rule can be bent depending on the subject and your aims and outcomes. Low angle shots tend to give the feeling of power, and high angle shots can help show off curves of more luxurious cars. Though shots from head-height can run the risk of looking pretty standard, it can depend on a lot of factors.

It's a matter of taste, too, but if you get out there and bend some rules you can still come up with a decent or interesting photo. Only with experience will you know what will work and what won't.

sedate looking

I tend to agree with the no taking on grass rule. But sometimes (if you don't have the whole car in shot) i think they can look very good . Even though i have a grass shot here , i dont think it is as good as the pics in my ride section, which are on concrete.

4X4 Monkey

Just picked up a
Kodak 7590 Digi Camer
5.0 mp and blah blah
Its got alot of settings which i have no idea
Now i wanna use all of this camera and not have it stuck on "auto" settings since i paid $600 i wanna rape this camera for all its got

Like ive been trying to take some half decent phots of the street lights
and iam getting a shitty little orange dot and all black around it but in my point of view its not that dark

kurt19

fo sure