I've tried my hand at light painting! C&C's welcome!
Discussion
Spent the best part of this evening trying my hand at some light painting, here's the results!
Porsche 911 Turbo & a Ferrari 430 Scuderia by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
And last but not least, this total cheese shot where Mike (FurioAPB) Poses like some Eastern European gangster...
Total cheese shot... by Jack-Green, on Flickr
Porsche 911 Turbo & a Ferrari 430 Scuderia by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
BMW E46 M3's. by Jack-Green, on Flickr
And last but not least, this total cheese shot where Mike (FurioAPB) Poses like some Eastern European gangster...
Total cheese shot... by Jack-Green, on Flickr
From a photography PoV, I reckon this is the best one:
Good composition, not an interesting background but at least one that fits.
Light painting's an interesting technique but it doesn't let you off mistakes with the conventional stuff, and some of the others are a bit tightly cropped or wonky. My main critique would be pick your scenes as if daylight until you're happy with them, and then apply the lighting on top of that.
As for the technique, I think you'd say they're conventionally a fair way underexposed and a bit gloomy as a result. The (front) white wheels are the only bit that stands out, which probably isn't quite what you want. If I had complete control I might look to avoid elements like white wheels in the scene, and e.g. remove numberplates.
A general exposure boost in PS might do the trick. Selective dodge and burn to equalise some of the more excessive shadows/highlights might also help.
There's also quite a lot of harsh reflection and bright spots, especially in the O/S front bumper of the silver one, and I wonder if you want softer or more diffused light. I don't know how you physically lit it but maybe move about more so your source is widely spread.
An overall question I'd ask is what are you trying to achieve? You can use light painting as a novelty that tries to stand up on its own, which is fair enough, or you can use it as part of a carefully thought-out scene to add something special.
Fair play though, it must have taken some effort and more patience than I have.
Edit: here's a very quick stab at levels, curves and some D&B on your low-res copy:
Good composition, not an interesting background but at least one that fits.
Light painting's an interesting technique but it doesn't let you off mistakes with the conventional stuff, and some of the others are a bit tightly cropped or wonky. My main critique would be pick your scenes as if daylight until you're happy with them, and then apply the lighting on top of that.
As for the technique, I think you'd say they're conventionally a fair way underexposed and a bit gloomy as a result. The (front) white wheels are the only bit that stands out, which probably isn't quite what you want. If I had complete control I might look to avoid elements like white wheels in the scene, and e.g. remove numberplates.
A general exposure boost in PS might do the trick. Selective dodge and burn to equalise some of the more excessive shadows/highlights might also help.
There's also quite a lot of harsh reflection and bright spots, especially in the O/S front bumper of the silver one, and I wonder if you want softer or more diffused light. I don't know how you physically lit it but maybe move about more so your source is widely spread.
An overall question I'd ask is what are you trying to achieve? You can use light painting as a novelty that tries to stand up on its own, which is fair enough, or you can use it as part of a carefully thought-out scene to add something special.
Fair play though, it must have taken some effort and more patience than I have.
Edit: here's a very quick stab at levels, curves and some D&B on your low-res copy:
Edited by trashbat on Saturday 8th March 17:20
This was purely a "Let's see what happens when I do this" Shoot. 
It's my mates cars, so I was purely messing around with the LED lamps and what not!
I didn't put them through PS, just quickly through lightroom. If I we're to do this for an actual shoot I'd spend more time on location and editing, Etc.
PS. The edit on the shot with the two M3's facing each other looked amazing, would try and achieve something like that on a shoot!
It's my mates cars, so I was purely messing around with the LED lamps and what not!
I didn't put them through PS, just quickly through lightroom. If I we're to do this for an actual shoot I'd spend more time on location and editing, Etc.
PS. The edit on the shot with the two M3's facing each other looked amazing, would try and achieve something like that on a shoot!
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