Tried to reply to the sticky up top... but no such luck... so here are some more tip you can use... hope you guys learn something.
See this picture?
It didn't just happen. A good picture has to come from the eye of the person taking it. There are certain things you have to do, in order to get a good, crisp, high quality photo like this. And for the record, that photo was taken using less than a $300 point and shoot camera, not my $1,100 Rebel XTi SLR camera... so anybody can do it.
Time: Alright... this here, in and of itself, probably has the greatest outcome factor in how your picture will come out looking. The best times to shoot pictures comes in the "2 Golden Hours". One hour BEFORE sunrise (usually gives a nice cool color temperature), and one hour AFTER sunset (usually granting a "warmer" coloring. Oranges, Reds and yellows ABOUND). Also, if you choose to shoot in the middle of the day for something, try to catch it on a cloudy day. Clouds diffuse the normally overpowering direct light of the sun.
It is at these times of the day that the sun does not have a DIRECT lighting effect on what it is that you are trying to shoot, but yet there is still sufficient lighting to take good photos.
This photo was taken LATE in the evening...
See how there are no "sharp" shadows, everything is lit evenly, the sky isn't blown out (too bright), and everything looks "smooth"? That's what you should go for. Here is a shot from dead smack in the middle of the day:
See how you have BRIGHT spots in the sky, on the car, the cars windshield, therefore robbing the car of it's color, it's detail, and it's "texture". That's why you don't shoot in the middle of the day.
Angle: Some angles for a car are more flattering than others... but a general rule is to get the WHOLE car in a photo. Like this:
I love how my car looks from the front, and I love how this came out. Looks menacing, and aggressive.
As a Mustang guy, I usually always like to express and "exagerate" the famous Long hood of the Mustang... that second photo is the outcome. Or, you can focus on a certain detail of a car, like this:
See how with that photo, I tell you what I want you to look at, without saying anything? Exactly what I wanted to do.
Just find what works for your car... there are TONS of angles that will help you out.
Camera Position: Rule of thumb here... ALWAYS, ALWAYS shoot with the sun to your left, or your right... never behind you. Or you will catch yourself in the shadows, or even make the car work against you with it's OWN shadow... like this:
When the sun (if you choose to shoot in the mid-day) is to your camera left or camera right, alot of the times you can eliminate shadowing in your pictures. Like this:
The sun is to immediate camera rear left in that shot, projecting the shadow of the car AWAY from the view of the camera... perfect shot.
Here are some more examples They were taken by my great friend Chris Dornon, who is more into photography than I am... has had several features in magazines:
See how the sun has JUST set?
See how he accents (same as the Mustang?) the long hood design of the Viper?
See how he positions himself in relationship to the light source, to prevent sharp shadows, and blowing out (too bright) the car?
Hope these help you guys out.
Happy shooting.
1970
