ANOTHER "played with camera AND Elise" thread...
Discussion
Yup, another weekend, another trip out with the car so I thought I would share some pictures. To be honest, I'm not 100% happy with them and I (rather frustratingly) can't tell why. Welcome comments and criticisms; I'm learning shed loads and love knowing your thoughts.
Strangely I someitmes post photos that I think are fantastic, and you guys think "eh?", then I post photos that I'm not keen on and I hear "WOW!"....
Anyhow, this wasn't the site I wanted - the place I did the security guard to the building site said that all the diggers were getting punctures and so thought my skinny little tyres wouldn't last. So I went for a drive and found this old water station. I liked the location but I just don't think I 'made it work'.
Appreciate your thoughts....
Tony
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
(edited to add numbers)
Strangely I someitmes post photos that I think are fantastic, and you guys think "eh?", then I post photos that I'm not keen on and I hear "WOW!"....
Anyhow, this wasn't the site I wanted - the place I did the security guard to the building site said that all the diggers were getting punctures and so thought my skinny little tyres wouldn't last. So I went for a drive and found this old water station. I liked the location but I just don't think I 'made it work'.
Appreciate your thoughts....
Tony
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
(edited to add numbers)
Edited by TonyHetherington on Tuesday 9th January 09:14
I think focusing is a bit dodgy in some shots. You (or the camera) focused on the wall rather than the Elise. And I've found some shots a bit too tight on the right and left. Also it would be better if the car was facing towards to centre of the picture rather than looking out of the frame. Apart from that, good try, and good location. There's so much potential there. 
GetCarter said:
Nice ride TH.
I'd probably have liked no 6 best if that nasty railing wasn't there. I like the side on profile of the Lotus best.
BTW... black cars are a bitch to photo arn't they.
Oh and... have you still got Ted?
I'd probably have liked no 6 best if that nasty railing wasn't there. I like the side on profile of the Lotus best.
BTW... black cars are a bitch to photo arn't they.
Oh and... have you still got Ted?
Thanks
Is indeed my pride and joy - and trust me to get a black car. Not only because it's the most impossible thing to keep swirl-free, but also (as you say) to photograph is very frustrating. Can't wait until it snows; snow shots with a black car, let's set the exposure for that one, hey!? With number 6 I tried to introduce the railing on purpose just to cut right across the smooth lines of the car. It, unfortunately, didn't work very well and just looks like I couldn't be bothered with the shot
Yup I have Ted - e-mailing this morning to the next guy for an address and he'll be off tomorrow/wed time on his travels again.
Gemm said:
I think focusing is a bit dodgy in some shots. You (or the camera) focused on the wall rather than the Elise. And I've found some shots a bit too tight on the right and left. Also it would be better if the car was facing towards to centre of the picture rather than looking out of the frame. Apart from that, good try, and good location. There's so much potential there.
The focusing is puzzling me; that's been the case in a few of the photographs I took and I can't work out why?! I'm wondering if it focused on the REFLECTION in the car (of the wall), not on the car itself (if you see what I mean?).
Food for thought there on the positioning of the car. I think what I am guilty of is only moving the car once or twice and then just taking many photos of it in that position, rather than working out what shot I want and then moving it to there - this would solve both the problem of the wheels facing the wrong way in shot 1 (thanks Poah
) and also the (sometimes needed) slightly tight cropping. Thanks again people, as always really appreciate the comments
T
I like no 5 best, because the light on the black paint accentuates the curves on the waist of the car nicely. If it were me I might try shopping out the grey stuff on the brick wall and also the drain cover on the floor.
I often find myself trying to take pics from ground level (as in your no 1, and several others). However, perhaps in number one you've gone a bit too low?, making the ground clearance of the car appear greater than it actually is, and drawing the eye to the debris on the floor in the foreground. I would also say (from reading the gravy tutorial) that your front left wheel should be turned the other way, showing off the spokes? All IMHO
I often find myself trying to take pics from ground level (as in your no 1, and several others). However, perhaps in number one you've gone a bit too low?, making the ground clearance of the car appear greater than it actually is, and drawing the eye to the debris on the floor in the foreground. I would also say (from reading the gravy tutorial) that your front left wheel should be turned the other way, showing off the spokes? All IMHO
Edited by cy88 on Monday 8th January 22:40
not really into the photo stuff - my bro is though. It seems to me that yes, the car looks good but in all but the last it doesn't seem to be the main focus of the photo. For example, the first would be really good but there is too much foreground, which takes the attention off the car. Also, set against the red brickwork is a good idea, but there seems to be too much going on in relation to the car itself. that aside, they are much better than what I can do
Tony
Nice car. I think these pics are better than your last batch, but being critical, they don't do it for me. I am not sure that the composition is that great in a lot of them. I prefer the tighter cropped ones. I do like the very last one although perhaps too much of a jaunty angle.
The other criticism I have is that there is a bit too much going on in the background. Whilst the red brick is a nice contrast, I find the grafitti and silver/steel grill distracting as is the spilt sand. I do wonder if some of them would work better in B&W.
But hey don't listen to meI am grateful for you posting as hopefully I will learn from others comments also. As others have mentioned, well worth re-reading Matt's guide to static photo shoots (sorry not sure of URL).
Stewart
Nice car. I think these pics are better than your last batch, but being critical, they don't do it for me. I am not sure that the composition is that great in a lot of them. I prefer the tighter cropped ones. I do like the very last one although perhaps too much of a jaunty angle.
The other criticism I have is that there is a bit too much going on in the background. Whilst the red brick is a nice contrast, I find the grafitti and silver/steel grill distracting as is the spilt sand. I do wonder if some of them would work better in B&W.
But hey don't listen to me
I am grateful for you posting as hopefully I will learn from others comments also. As others have mentioned, well worth re-reading Matt's guide to static photo shoots (sorry not sure of URL). Stewart
Great to see that you've been out and about having fun with your camera again and producing some thought provoking images.
• Remind me to hit you very hard if you don't stop framing your shots so tightly.
• I actually like the location but agree that the red is a bit too intense. Red brick can be a royal pain in the arse. You might like to try toning it down a bit in Photoshop.
• The metal shutter is very distracting. The general rule is that one's eye is drawn towards the lightest part of a picture and also to red. Yikes on both counts. You could retouch out the shutter.
• I like very much the composition of shots one and two. These would be great to utilise in an editorial context as there is plenty of space provided for overlay of text or inset pictures. This would then counterbalance the fact that there is a great deal of foreground in shot one. Rules are made to be broken.
Shot 3 is too busy as the eye does not know where to settle.
Shot 4 is not very dynamic.
Shot 5 is good, but needs more room to breathe left and right.
Shot 6 is poorly focused. I often use manual in situations such as this as I do not always trust autofocus. Focusing seems to be a perennial problem for you.
Shot 7. I really am going to have to inflict a hard slap. What have I been telling you for the past 18 months about grass? Grrrr!
Shot 8 does not emphasise key features of car and 9 makes me feel a bit uneasy.
• I think that you need to invest in a step ladder too for the next shoot or else find somewhere to perch so that we can see some shots of the Elise from a higher viewpoint.
It is best, as someone else has said, to previsualise the shot and then keep moving the car. First, set tripod up and then keep moving the car until the angle is just right. This can take an age but it is worth it if you get a good shot. Also, be careful with the direction that the wheels are pointing in.
I for one would like to see you do some abstract, detail shots of your car next.
• Remind me to hit you very hard if you don't stop framing your shots so tightly.
• I actually like the location but agree that the red is a bit too intense. Red brick can be a royal pain in the arse. You might like to try toning it down a bit in Photoshop.
• The metal shutter is very distracting. The general rule is that one's eye is drawn towards the lightest part of a picture and also to red. Yikes on both counts. You could retouch out the shutter.
• I like very much the composition of shots one and two. These would be great to utilise in an editorial context as there is plenty of space provided for overlay of text or inset pictures. This would then counterbalance the fact that there is a great deal of foreground in shot one. Rules are made to be broken.
Shot 3 is too busy as the eye does not know where to settle.
Shot 4 is not very dynamic.
Shot 5 is good, but needs more room to breathe left and right.
Shot 6 is poorly focused. I often use manual in situations such as this as I do not always trust autofocus. Focusing seems to be a perennial problem for you.
Shot 7. I really am going to have to inflict a hard slap. What have I been telling you for the past 18 months about grass? Grrrr!
Shot 8 does not emphasise key features of car and 9 makes me feel a bit uneasy.
• I think that you need to invest in a step ladder too for the next shoot or else find somewhere to perch so that we can see some shots of the Elise from a higher viewpoint.
It is best, as someone else has said, to previsualise the shot and then keep moving the car. First, set tripod up and then keep moving the car until the angle is just right. This can take an age but it is worth it if you get a good shot. Also, be careful with the direction that the wheels are pointing in.
I for one would like to see you do some abstract, detail shots of your car next.
Thanks for the comments everyone
It's interesting getting different people's views on photos...for many reasons. Not only does it provide me with the ability to think more about my photography...looking at it in a different way, analysing it more and (therefore) learning more, but it also gives me an idea on how people receive the pictures.
What always frustrates me when you show friends/family your photographs is that they always say "oh that's nice". No no, that's not what I want to hear!!!! I want to hear "it's great because XXXXXXX but I'd have preferred it better if YYYYYYY"....so it really is valuable for me for you guys to comment. So, again, my thanks.
Emma - I get the feeling you don't like my tight crops? There's going to be some hard hitting, I can tell I must admit, I quite like the car being framed by the corner of the image, and the rest of the image unfolding away from it - not necessarily those images themselves but the theory of it.
The grass thing; you told me never to put my car on grass, and I've not done that!! I just used it to frame and distract the picture a bit, honest guv!! Leaves or tree brambles would have been better, but I liked the contrasting colours. Point well and truly taken, though
One thing I do agree with, and I think everyone has said it, is that those shots for some reason just "didn't work"...I even said it myself in the first post. I'm glad I'm thinking along the right lines, that's for sure; just have to go and take the right pictures now
Cheers one and all
Tony
It's interesting getting different people's views on photos...for many reasons. Not only does it provide me with the ability to think more about my photography...looking at it in a different way, analysing it more and (therefore) learning more, but it also gives me an idea on how people receive the pictures.
What always frustrates me when you show friends/family your photographs is that they always say "oh that's nice". No no, that's not what I want to hear!!!! I want to hear "it's great because XXXXXXX but I'd have preferred it better if YYYYYYY"....so it really is valuable for me for you guys to comment. So, again, my thanks.
Emma - I get the feeling you don't like my tight crops? There's going to be some hard hitting, I can tell
I must admit, I quite like the car being framed by the corner of the image, and the rest of the image unfolding away from it - not necessarily those images themselves but the theory of it. The grass thing; you told me never to put my car on grass, and I've not done that!! I just used it to frame and distract the picture a bit, honest guv!! Leaves or tree brambles would have been better, but I liked the contrasting colours. Point well and truly taken, though
One thing I do agree with, and I think everyone has said it, is that those shots for some reason just "didn't work"...I even said it myself in the first post. I'm glad I'm thinking along the right lines, that's for sure; just have to go and take the right pictures now
Cheers one and all
Tony
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