Automotive Photography - Honda-Tech

Ventolin · 03-26-2008, 01:56 PM

I think maybe this needs its own thread.

I'd like this thread to be about demonstrating and discussing techniques for automotive photography. Wether it be rig shots, flash photography, rolling shots, etc, as long as its automotive related, talk about it here.

Also, feel free to discuss the business end of it... how to get established and such. What goals to set for yourself, or post your experiences and/or accomplishments in the field.

Lets try not to just dump 50,000 photos in here. If you have a nice shot, tell us about your setup and how you accomplished it.

Ventolin · 03-26-2008, 02:03 PM

I guess I'll start.

Heres a rolling shot I took the other day, I actually took a few, this one may have been the better of the bunch.

I was using a Sigma 10-20, and I wasn't expecting to get many keepers, I was shooting into the sun and got a bit of lens flare. The shadows are a bit distracting, etc, as well due to the position of the sun, but hey, it wasn't planned and its what I ended up with.

Rolling shots, I tend to not shoot any faster than 1/125th shutter. I backed it down to 1/60th or slower, and was getting keepers. I was shooting very wide, so I got away with slower shutter speeds.

Ronin150 · 03-26-2008, 02:09 PM

Its hard to come up with your "own" shot in automotive photography. Get low/ get high. Show something different on a car that most people wouldn't see.

Pay attention to things in your background or lamps/trees protruding from the top of the car.

If your going to do a low angle shot please don't go all the way to the ground if the car is a stock ride height. If its slammed on its wheels then please go all the way down and show that you can't fit a $20 bill under it.

With rolling shots I typically start out around 1/60th and go either up if we're driving faster or down if we're driving slower.

This one was saved by IS I think it was at 1/20th in a pretty stiff evo.

Ronin150 · 03-26-2008, 02:10 PM

The wider the shot is the slower you can make the shutter. Also try not to shoot on the shadow side of the car.

Set up shoots around sunset about an hour before so the light isn't as harsh.

Turn off headlights, if possible.

Ventolin · 03-26-2008, 02:20 PM

I get alot of criticism for this one about the distortion, but thought I'd demonstrate off camera lighting in an automotive situation.

Usually, what I'd prefer to do is meter for the sky or the background, or how I want it to come out (dark and moody is preferable to me), and then fill with the flashes. In this case, there wasn't much background so I just tried to light the car.

To give an example of flash placement:

Two Sunpak 383s, one Vivitar 285HV. Fired with Cactus V2 triggers.

This is what worked for us in this particular situation. White car, much less forgiving. Since I was shooting low, I put the flashes at the corners of the car, raised them up, and shot down. Alot of light was bounced off of the concrete if it didn't illuminate the car directly.

I'm not sure of flash power in the situation, to get the aperture you want to shoot at, just raise and lower the flash power accordingly. If you're getting too much light and can't get enough depth of field, turn flash power down, and stop down the aperture.

Modified by Ventolin at 8:32 PM 3/26/2008

Ronin150 · 03-26-2008, 02:29 PM

Thanks for showing your lighting setup. I'm looking into getting into off camera lighting. I had a bunch of classes for 3d lighting basic 3pt. lighting but never any real world lighting.

Ventolin · 03-26-2008, 02:53 PM

Yeah I'm still learning, too.

I've found that the best bet is to experiment and find what angles to the camera will provide the best lighting without glare and catchlights.

Genuine Rolla · 03-26-2008, 03:12 PM

Very good thread..! I think there will be a lot of great info here.

Gant · 03-26-2008, 07:36 PM

cool thread vent, as you know im just starting out, this is what about 30 percent of my photo stuff will be, others will be scenery , events (motorcycle racing etc)

My main problem is trying to find the right angles to shoot automotive stuff, can this be motorcycles to?

i tried experimenting with a differnt angle with my bike

dont mind the overexposed background

Gant · 03-26-2008, 07:38 PM

also question ive never done a rolling shot, do you guys just hang out the window a bit so you dont catch a picture of the window frame?, do you tell the driver by arm signs where to stay? etc whats your tips basicly on doing rolling shots (no rigs just you in another car)

Genuine Rolla · 03-26-2008, 09:44 PM

New Lip + Paint - Check
New Side skirts + Paint - Check
New Photo's.....

Check.

Ventolin · 03-27-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gant

also question ive never done a rolling shot, do you guys just hang out the window a bit so you dont catch a picture of the window frame?, do you tell the driver by arm signs where to stay? etc whats your tips basicly on doing rolling shots (no rigs just you in another car)

Yeah, its not that bad, just put the camera on shutter priority and set the shutter to the speed you're moving at, and focus and fire away. Usually, they'll drive past, and as long as they aren't speed racing you'll have plenty of time to get some shots.

Make sure to keep your strap around your neck. You don't need to be completely out the window, just whatever it takes to get the mirror and window frame out of the photo. Its not that bad, even with a super wide it can easily be done.

solbrothers · 03-27-2008, 05:24 AM

rolling shots are super easy. have the person put on the Cruise Control or just maintain the same speed. have teh driver of the "camera car" get into position. IMO. that's how i did this shot

i don't even know this guy LOL

junior40er · 03-27-2008, 05:31 AM

Good Thread

Just a beginner but I have a lot of fun doing it.

The following shot with a 450D and 50mm f/1.4 Prime.
If you'd like the exif info just read it, if not I'll post it.

Any C&C or pointers appreciated.

Ronin150 · 03-27-2008, 08:32 AM

I think a few of you are missing the point of the thread. Its not to post up pictures of work you've done, more to explain what you did to achieve it.

For doing rolling shots I just hang a little out the window. Tell the driver to stay at the same speed and either wavy for the other car to move up or slow down. I fire away and get back inside and check the pictures out.

The motorcycle work is a little bit easier to do creatively, atleast on here, because there aren't a bunch of motorcycle guys. I think the angle of your shot is to much though.

I was going for a shot that most people hardly ever see.

junior40er · 03-27-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ventolin

I think maybe this needs its own thread.......

....... If you have a nice shot, tell us about your setup and how you accomplished it.

according to this so far things seem to be withing the rules. Can't explain what lighting I use if I didn't use any special lighting, right? But I did posted what equipment was used in which I did and it was simply the lense that I used. Or do I gotta post I used a lense hood as well?

There's only so much one can list on what they did.

I have plenty of rolling shots and can explain what I did but it's basically the same as others have explained.

Ronin150 · 03-27-2008, 10:30 AM

Its not that everything has been covered. The one guy posted up pictures from a car meet and then asked for c & c. This thread isn't really for that. Its to bring information all into on thread.

When shooting low angle on cars be sure to make sure you can see all 4 wheels, if the car is that high off the ground.

Watch our for reflections also.

Find a scene that's going to fit your car well. If anything throw it up against a contrasting color wall and call it a day.

Ventolin · 03-27-2008, 10:48 AM

I think its pretty open as far as where the thread goes, whatever gets posted gets posted, just if you post here, please share your technique and/or setup if anyone has any questions so we can all learn from it.

Chiodos · 03-27-2008, 10:50 AM

Awesome Thread!

Ventolin · 03-28-2008, 03:57 AM

Anyone have tips for black cars, in particular, lighting them?

Ronin150 · 03-28-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ventolin

Anyone have tips for black cars, in particular, lighting them?

Don't shoot it at night.

I have no clue. I'm in for this though. Where's stunna ben at when you need him.

junior40er · 03-28-2008, 06:54 AM

Yeah, my NHBP Fit is a biatch to shoot in low light/night.

03-26-2008, 01:56 PM	#1
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Automotive Photography I think maybe this needs its own thread. I'd like this thread to be about demonstrating and discussing techniques for automotive photography. Wether it be rig shots, flash photography, rolling shots, etc, as long as its automotive related, talk about it here. Also, feel free to discuss the business end of it... how to get established and such. What goals to set for yourself, or post your experiences and/or accomplishments in the field. Lets try not to just dump 50,000 photos in here. If you have a nice shot, tell us about your setup and how you accomplished it. __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-26-2008, 02:03 PM	#2
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: Automotive Photography (Ventolin) I guess I'll start. Heres a rolling shot I took the other day, I actually took a few, this one may have been the better of the bunch. I was using a Sigma 10-20, and I wasn't expecting to get many keepers, I was shooting into the sun and got a bit of lens flare. The shadows are a bit distracting, etc, as well due to the position of the sun, but hey, it wasn't planned and its what I ended up with. Rolling shots, I tend to not shoot any faster than 1/125th shutter. I backed it down to 1/60th or slower, and was getting keepers. I was shooting very wide, so I got away with slower shutter speeds. __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-26-2008, 02:09 PM	#3
Ronin150 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,602	Re: Automotive Photography (Ventolin) Its hard to come up with your "own" shot in automotive photography. Get low/ get high. Show something different on a car that most people wouldn't see. Pay attention to things in your background or lamps/trees protruding from the top of the car. If your going to do a low angle shot please don't go all the way to the ground if the car is a stock ride height. If its slammed on its wheels then please go all the way down and show that you can't fit a $20 bill under it. With rolling shots I typically start out around 1/60th and go either up if we're driving faster or down if we're driving slower. This one was saved by IS I think it was at 1/20th in a pretty stiff evo. __________________ Canon 350d w/ Canon vertical grip; Tokina 10-17 fisheye, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, Canon 50mm f1.8, Canon 430ex. house of funk hayabusa03rx sent ya Oh snap Photography

03-26-2008, 02:10 PM	#4
Ronin150 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,602	The wider the shot is the slower you can make the shutter. Also try not to shoot on the shadow side of the car. Set up shoots around sunset about an hour before so the light isn't as harsh. Turn off headlights, if possible. __________________ Canon 350d w/ Canon vertical grip; Tokina 10-17 fisheye, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, Canon 50mm f1.8, Canon 430ex. house of funk hayabusa03rx sent ya Oh snap Photography

03-26-2008, 02:20 PM	#5
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: (Ronin150) I get alot of criticism for this one about the distortion, but thought I'd demonstrate off camera lighting in an automotive situation. Usually, what I'd prefer to do is meter for the sky or the background, or how I want it to come out (dark and moody is preferable to me), and then fill with the flashes. In this case, there wasn't much background so I just tried to light the car. To give an example of flash placement: Two Sunpak 383s, one Vivitar 285HV. Fired with Cactus V2 triggers. This is what worked for us in this particular situation. White car, much less forgiving. Since I was shooting low, I put the flashes at the corners of the car, raised them up, and shot down. Alot of light was bounced off of the concrete if it didn't illuminate the car directly. I'm not sure of flash power in the situation, to get the aperture you want to shoot at, just raise and lower the flash power accordingly. If you're getting too much light and can't get enough depth of field, turn flash power down, and stop down the aperture. Modified by Ventolin at 8:32 PM 3/26/2008 __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-26-2008, 02:29 PM	#6
Ronin150 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,602	Thanks for showing your lighting setup. I'm looking into getting into off camera lighting. I had a bunch of classes for 3d lighting basic 3pt. lighting but never any real world lighting. __________________ Canon 350d w/ Canon vertical grip; Tokina 10-17 fisheye, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, Canon 50mm f1.8, Canon 430ex. house of funk hayabusa03rx sent ya Oh snap Photography

03-26-2008, 02:53 PM	#7
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: (Ronin150) Yeah I'm still learning, too. I've found that the best bet is to experiment and find what angles to the camera will provide the best lighting without glare and catchlights. __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-26-2008, 03:12 PM	#8
Genuine Rolla Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Somewhere, Ma Posts: 3,785	Very good thread..! I think there will be a lot of great info here. __________________ <FONT COLOR="green">[96-00 Civic sedan squad #11]</FONT><FONT COLOR="red">[Team EJ6</FONT>#075] [PROJECT JayDeM] <FONT COLOR="blue">[HID retrofit club</FONT> member #35][<><] [Petey Photography]

03-26-2008, 07:36 PM	#9
Gant Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: vallejo, ca, united states Posts: 2,875	cool thread vent, as you know im just starting out, this is what about 30 percent of my photo stuff will be, others will be scenery , events (motorcycle racing etc) My main problem is trying to find the right angles to shoot automotive stuff, can this be motorcycles to? i tried experimenting with a differnt angle with my bike dont mind the overexposed background __________________ http://www.707photography.com \|Nikon D300 w/grip\| \|Tamron 17-50 2.8\| \|50mm 1.8D\| \|70-300 Vr\|

03-26-2008, 07:38 PM	#10
Gant Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: vallejo, ca, united states Posts: 2,875	also question ive never done a rolling shot, do you guys just hang out the window a bit so you dont catch a picture of the window frame?, do you tell the driver by arm signs where to stay? etc whats your tips basicly on doing rolling shots (no rigs just you in another car) __________________ http://www.707photography.com \|Nikon D300 w/grip\| \|Tamron 17-50 2.8\| \|50mm 1.8D\| \|70-300 Vr\|

03-26-2008, 09:44 PM	#11
Genuine Rolla Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Somewhere, Ma Posts: 3,785	New Lip + Paint - Check New Side skirts + Paint - Check New Photo's..... Check. __________________ <FONT COLOR="green">[96-00 Civic sedan squad #11]</FONT><FONT COLOR="red">[Team EJ6</FONT>#075] [PROJECT JayDeM] <FONT COLOR="blue">[HID retrofit club</FONT> member #35][<><] [Petey Photography]

03-27-2008, 05:24 AM	#13
solbrothers Soul Sisters Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hella, Ca Posts: 1,282	Re: (Ventolin) rolling shots are super easy. have the person put on the Cruise Control or just maintain the same speed. have teh driver of the "camera car" get into position. IMO. that's how i did this shot i don't even know this guy LOL __________________ -Matt ISK#Honda Fit /thread mahspace

03-27-2008, 05:31 AM	#14
junior40er Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bellflower SOCAL, CA, USA Posts: 2,252	Re: (Ventolin) Good Thread Just a beginner but I have a lot of fun doing it. The following shot with a 450D and 50mm f/1.4 Prime. If you'd like the exif info just read it, if not I'll post it. Any C&C or pointers appreciated. __________________ 2007 Honda Fit Sport NHBP (Daily) 1991 MR2 Turbo (Secondary Daily lol) 2004 Pearl White Mutsubishi Montero coming up.....guess!! Hint: its another Mid engine car :]

03-27-2008, 08:32 AM	#15
Ronin150 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,602	I think a few of you are missing the point of the thread. Its not to post up pictures of work you've done, more to explain what you did to achieve it. For doing rolling shots I just hang a little out the window. Tell the driver to stay at the same speed and either wavy for the other car to move up or slow down. I fire away and get back inside and check the pictures out. The motorcycle work is a little bit easier to do creatively, atleast on here, because there aren't a bunch of motorcycle guys. I think the angle of your shot is to much though. I was going for a shot that most people hardly ever see. __________________ Canon 350d w/ Canon vertical grip; Tokina 10-17 fisheye, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, Canon 50mm f1.8, Canon 430ex. house of funk hayabusa03rx sent ya Oh snap Photography

03-27-2008, 10:30 AM	#17
Ronin150 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,602	Re: Automotive Photography (junior40er) Its not that everything has been covered. The one guy posted up pictures from a car meet and then asked for c & c. This thread isn't really for that. Its to bring information all into on thread. When shooting low angle on cars be sure to make sure you can see all 4 wheels, if the car is that high off the ground. Watch our for reflections also. Find a scene that's going to fit your car well. If anything throw it up against a contrasting color wall and call it a day. __________________ Canon 350d w/ Canon vertical grip; Tokina 10-17 fisheye, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, Canon 50mm f1.8, Canon 430ex. house of funk hayabusa03rx sent ya Oh snap Photography

03-27-2008, 10:48 AM	#18
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: Automotive Photography (Ronin150) I think its pretty open as far as where the thread goes, whatever gets posted gets posted, just if you post here, please share your technique and/or setup if anyone has any questions so we can all learn from it. __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-27-2008, 10:50 AM	#19
Chiodos Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hammett, IdaHOE Posts: 269	Awesome Thread! __________________ Simply because you can breathe, doesn't mean your alive or that you really live

03-28-2008, 03:57 AM	#20
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: (Chiodos) Anyone have tips for black cars, in particular, lighting them? __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

03-28-2008, 06:54 AM	#22
junior40er Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bellflower SOCAL, CA, USA Posts: 2,252	Re: (Ronin150) Yeah, my NHBP Fit is a biatch to shoot in low light/night. __________________ 2007 Honda Fit Sport NHBP (Daily) 1991 MR2 Turbo (Secondary Daily lol) 2004 Pearl White Mutsubishi Montero coming up.....guess!! Hint: its another Mid engine car :]