Photgraphing cars

Author
Discussion

dan

1,068 posts

285 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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quote:

Today we have been at Castle Conmbe photographing the TVR track day event, My employee has a Canon D60, 300 2.8L and various other lens, he is a keen photographer and loves motor sports. Just got back and this camera lens combo is supurb, over 200 pics at 3000 x 2000 res of all the cars that were taking part. As for this digital camera it can do 3fps and shutterlag is non-existant.
Of course he got more than one of me! But great shots of all the other cars too.

David


David,

Id be interested to see the photos you took today...
Are you planning to put any of them on line??

Cheers Dan

david beer

3,982 posts

268 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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Dan
were you there, if so what car and reg? I will ask him if he has you. If not and you only want to see the quality, again i will ask him. He is looking to cover his cost and will be offering high res prints of the day upto 20x30" ,he has his own web site and a link on mod-wise.com will be added in the next couple of days.
David

david010167

1,397 posts

264 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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I agree with all the comments mentioned so far for photographing cars, but will add the rules also cover most other topics as well.

Rule of thirds is good to remember whern composing a shot.

Sunlight behind you is also a good tip.

Early morning or sunset in the evening when the light is bright but low in the sky gives more detail to the shot.

I am not sure about the wide angle suggestion, I would go for a 83-135 (thinking in terms of 35mm film here) as this is a more natural and enhancing lens length, wide angle can produce some odd shots, but then again odd photos can be good.

Always think of the background, deliberatly look for a good back drop, big houses/stately homes are good, good landscapes, old walls, farms, barns, anything that complements the car, avoid streets and roads with houses, look for something a bit different.

BTW: all that I have typed above is what I do, and like all rules they can be broken to very good effect at times.

David M5 TVR

MBS3

24 posts

269 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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One thing you did mention is that you would like to blow it up to poster size, absolutley no chance with a digital camera at present, you would still be struggling with 35mm unless as mentioned you went for 25 - 50 asa, you really need medium or large format camera.

Bilko

1,693 posts

233 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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When photoghraphing static cars i tend to try and get the front and side or back and side in the picture like the shape of a tick this will help add perspective:

I find that frontal and broadside pics rarely have the same impact. Sometimes this isn't possible though so try and get an interesting backdrop:

When taking pictures of fast moving objects, a fast shutter speed will help to capture detail such as water spray ejected from tyre treads. However a slow shutter speed can be fun for trailing taillights down a street or blurring the image to depict speed.
I recently purchased a digital camera and find it really enjoyable but don't just limit yorself to cars.
Cheers:Ian

simpo one

85,563 posts

266 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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As a keen amateur photographer, I've found that a good way to avoid taking photos you don't like is to check all round in the viewfinder carefully before you press the button. Look all round the frame and see if there are any problems, dodgy backgrounds etc, that you don't like. If you're not happy with the view in the viewfinder for some reason, don't press the button! Instead, change your position or move the car until you're happier. If you have a zoom lens, experiment with focal length - it makes a massive difference.

Hope this helps!

sixspeed

2,060 posts

273 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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I'm hopeless at pictures, but my mate always seems to get some good ones of me when we're driving around in convoy.

The latest one he got was when we were in Paris on the Monday after Le Mans. I've put it in my profile.

Wacky angles, are good (a la profile pic). Also, try taking pictures with the camera almost on the ground, looking up at the car. This is the sort of thing I mean: www.sixspeed.nildram.co.uk/TheBeast/tvrshoot15.jpg


-andy-

JMorgan

36,010 posts

285 months

Friday 21st June 2002
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Like your number plate

Big_M

5,602 posts

264 months

Saturday 22nd June 2002
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Not sure if this has been mentioned, but if you are using an auto focus, try and focus it on the wheel first. If the car is extra shiney it will focus on the reflection and the car will look a bit fuzzy.

JMorgan

36,010 posts

285 months

Saturday 22nd June 2002
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Another one I found useful. If you are up a high building with a view point with the anti top yourself grill/mesh set the focus to infinity or it tries to focus on the grill. Any cars you see in that situation are seriously in trouble.

david beer

3,982 posts

268 months

Saturday 22nd June 2002
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Hi MBS3,
I Must say, i have seen my friends pics blown to poster size, he uses interpolation on PS7 to obtain Images that not only blow 35mm out the window but now give medium format a good run for its money. The latest digital SLR's ie, Canon D60 6mp (the one friend has)and the Nikon D100 are in most Pros eyes better than 35mm when scanned using the best methods todate!
See www.luminous-landscape.com and goto D60 v Medium format.
I understand that both have good and bad points but Digital has come a long way, and you realy must see some of the latest prints by these cameras to understand this.

David

MikeyT

16,576 posts

272 months

Monday 24th June 2002
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'Golden section' is the correct term.

Interesting thread, must get one of these digital cameras soon.

hansgerd

1,274 posts

285 months

Monday 24th June 2002
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Digital cameras... my first one was an Olympus C2000 and I upgraded to an E100RS when they were for wholesale last year overhere in Germany. It's the perfect digi cam for doing motorsport photos because of the Rapid Shot facility. You can make sequence shots with up to 15 (Theoretically ! my best yet was five !) pictures per sequence. I'm still learning to get all the features into my bloodline. If you can get hold of one for little money (and they are available at ebay) then settle for one of these. I never saw such a good camera for that little money.