pictures of vintage/show cars - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/13/2006 03:18:42 PM · #1

I am looking for information (knowledge, website links, tips, whatever) on how to make good vintage/show car images, outdoors.

Thanks!

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/13/2006 03:30:23 PM · #2

Try to do it on an overcast day and early in the day when there aren't hordes of people around the cars. How do I know... I have ooodles of photos with very harsh lighting and tons of people I would like to remove from the images.

Best of luck to you.

RAy

07/13/2006 03:39:29 PM · #3

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Very good advice;) I shoot in the morning & use a wide angle lens, fill flash for shadows on the cars.

07/13/2006 03:43:08 PM · #4

Thank you!

Fill flash? Wouldn't that make bright spots on the car?
How do you avoid yourself in reflections?

07/13/2006 03:53:33 PM · #5

Originally posted by ursula:

Thank you!

Fill flash? Wouldn't that make bright spots on the car?
How do you avoid yourself in reflections?

I have the speedlight SB-600 and it worked fine on a sunny day. I used it to fill in the shadows if the sun was on the other side of the car.

Some of the cars are so shiny its hard to avoid reflections...

07/13/2006 03:56:06 PM · #6

Ah OK, thank you. That is the same flash I have, I'll have to try it. It never occurred to me to use fill flash.

Thank you again!

07/13/2006 04:03:36 PM · #7

One more thing... if you can catch them driving into town or leaving town it's even better because the hoods will be closed on the cars. To me it gives the image a more vintage feel. But that's just me....lol

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

07/13/2006 04:15:34 PM · #8

Thanks again.

Tell me, besides the shows themselves (the driving into town is a great idea I think), if you were able to set up pictures of vintage or show cars, what would your choice of location be? A park? A big empty parking lot? A country road? What works best?

I'm asking because my neighbour (retired) is a very good detailer. He details mainly high end cars (repeat customers), but also vintage and show cars. He and I would like to take good pictures of the cars once they're ready, but my pictures are not working. Partly it's location, there are a lot of poles, cables, stone walls and other distractions where I live. I've been trying to "scout" for a good location to take these cars to and make pictures, but I'm somewhat at a loss about it. Everywhere I can think of there are so many reflections: trees, roads, buildings, rocks, mountains, whatever. Also, the different colours seem to work so differently - a white car acts totally different than a red car. Also, there seems to be a big light difference between chrome and painted areas, more so in dark cars.

Anyway.

Thanks again for the input! :)

UNTITLED

Canon EOS-20D

07/13/2006 04:38:56 PM · #9

Places that fit with the cars era and always make interesting backdrops. For example old cinemas, gas stations, warehouses, drive-in theatres, etc. When you're out and about keep an eye out for places like these. Make mental notes of where sun and shadows will be at different times of the days. If you are able to place your cars such that you can eliminate distractions, you can find many places that will work.

Also reflections can work for you if you want to do some more artistic types of photos.

I don't know much about technical stuff, but would an off camera flash angled so there's no bounce back work? How about long exposures prior to sunrise and after sunset?

You probably already know this, but watch the chrome or you'll end up with self-portraits all over your photo.

07/13/2006 04:39:20 PM · #10

Originally posted by ursula:

Thanks again.

Tell me, besides the shows themselves (the driving into town is a great idea I think), if you were able to set up pictures of vintage or show cars, what would your choice of location be? A park? A big empty parking lot? A country road? What works best?

I would pick a country road or an old town, but you know what, I thought you were shooting a town car show.

I'm asking because my neighbour (retired) is a very good detailer. He details mainly high end cars (repeat customers), but also vintage and show cars. He and I would like to take good pictures of the cars once they're ready, but my pictures are not working. Partly it's location, there are a lot of poles, cables, stone walls and other distractions where I live. I've been trying to "scout" for a good location to take these cars to and make pictures, but I'm somewhat at a loss about it. Everywhere I can think of there are so many reflections: trees, roads, buildings, rocks, mountains, whatever. Also, the different colours seem to work so differently - a white car acts totally different than a red car. Also, there seems to be a big light difference between chrome and painted areas, more so in dark cars.

Sounds like you need a really big studio...

Anyway.

Thanks again for the input! :)