Why are there so few car photographs?

[8bit]

Did a shoot recently for a PHer of his Morgan Aero 8. Whilst waiting for him to arrive I did this as a test, of my own car. This is a 30-shot Brenizer panorama, Nikon D5100 using a Sigma 105mm @ f/2.8. Stitch and post using Lightroom 6.

Would a circular polarising filter help reduce the reflections on the car?

[kman]

not that significantly in this one because the reflections are coming from all angles over the top of the car and mixing with each other. Maybe down the side/rear wing you could polarise off the reflections.

[8bit]

Ah OK, thanks for that

[04helipilot]

8bit said:

Did a shoot recently for a PHer of his Morgan Aero 8. Whilst waiting for him to arrive I did this as a test, of my own car. This is a 30-shot Brenizer panorama, Nikon D5100 using a Sigma 105mm @ f/2.8. Stitch and post using Lightroom 6.

Would a circular polarising filter help reduce the reflections on the car?

Keep on with what you are doing . I'm no photographer but that really is quite good IMO

[Rogue86]

8bit said:

Ah OK, thanks for that

To be honest it would probably cut the most distracting highlights/reflections from the glass. For the price of a CPL its not really something I would shoot cars without.

[8bit]

04helipilot said:

Keep on with what you are doing . I'm no photographer but that really is quite good IMO

Thanks, appreciate the kind comment I'll post a few of the Morgan I shot that day later on.

Rogue86 said:

To be honest it would probably cut the most distracting highlights/reflections from the glass. For the price of a CPL its not really something I would shoot cars without.

OK cool, cheers. I'll get hold of some and have a go next time. Is it just a case of rotating the filter and watching through the viewfinder until the desired effect is achieved?

[_dobbo_]

8bit said:

OK cool, cheers. I'll get hold of some and have a go next time. Is it just a case of rotating the filter and watching through the viewfinder until the desired effect is achieved?

Yes!

[8bit]

_dobbo_ said:

Yes!

Nice one, thanks - I'll give it a shot

[GIYess]

[I Love Cake]

My MX-5 Sport in our second home.

[Ken Figenus]

Sadly this was into the sun, and, despite being wide open at F4, and a fair way back with my 70-200 L (at 70mm) its still got huge depth of field. Its a bit murky too but if I push it more the bonnet/roof clips more - used a polariser too to reduce the reflections (set on sea not car). Almost a great shot but failed on things I know about! Any tips/pointers very welcome

[Ken Figenus]

trackdemon said:

Wow! Difficult shot straight into a low sun. Bet those fill light and recovery sliders were way up. Fab result.

[LongQ]

Ken Figenus said:

Sadly this was into the sun, and, despite being wide open at F4, and a fair way back with my 70-200 L (at 70mm) its still got huge depth of field. Its a bit murky too but if I push it more the bonnet/roof clips more - used a polariser too to reduce the reflections (set on sea not car). Almost a great shot but failed on things I know about! Any tips/pointers very welcome

Ken,

Where is the focus set?

Difficult to be sure without working with the original file but it looks a bit like it's just behind the car. If so was that intentional. Would not have though so based on your DoF comments.

Apart from that ....

Dark car, rear lit, lots of potential reflection surfaces and shot into the light is always going to be a challenge I think. Especially for an opportunity shot.

For a full set up some reflectors, lights, clever filtering and maybe multi-shot with blending would be the way to go but I'm no expert so I will leave for those who are to deliver the definitive analysis.

[RenesisEvo]

I Love Cake said:

My MX-5 Sport in our second home.

Snap!



A couple of more from that day that I'm reasonably happy with:





comments/criticism most welcome - it's the only way to learn.

[Ken Figenus]

RenesisEvo said:

comments/criticism most welcome - it's the only way to learn.

Same issue as me above mate - car is so reflective that shot ends up being a bit murky. Worse in your case as the white appears a light grey. Hammer that recovery silder hard and increase the exposure/fill (if you are shooting raw). Someone above suggests using a polariser on cars always - I now agree (even though I did but mine was set to the sea reflection plane rather than the car I think)! One take...not a paid job

[2slo]

Landrover by Mark, on Flickr

A tired old Land Rover still in everyday use (to tow fishing boats) on the beach near Bandar Anzali in northern Iran.

[RenesisEvo]

Ken Figenus said:

RenesisEvo said:

comments/criticism most welcome - it's the only way to learn.

Same issue as me above mate - car is so reflective that shot ends up being a bit murky. Worse in your case as the white appears a light grey. Hammer that recovery silder hard and increase the exposure/fill (if you are shooting raw). Someone above suggests using a polariser on cars always - I now agree (even though I did but mine was set to the sea reflection plane rather than the car I think)! One take...not a paid job

Thank you for taking the time to comment. These were all taken in RAW with a circular polariser on a Canon 50mm f1.8. I see your point about coming out grey rather than white, I'll keep an eye on that one. I use lightroom, so don't know about the 'recovery slider' but I think the lifting the exposure may help as you suggest.

[Ken Figenus]

You must find the recovery slider mate - it subdues peak white highlights. This is especially handy if you need to push the exposure generally for mid range. Its definitely in Camera Raw on Photoshop (which I use). Whites should pop!

[RenesisEvo]

Ken Figenus said:

You must find the recovery slider mate - it subdues peak white highlights. This is especially handy if you need to push the exposure generally for mid range. Its definitely in Camera Raw on Photoshop (which I use). Whites should pop!

A bit of searching shows that the feature has been removed in LR5. Although there is a means to get it back, experimenting with it didn't yield what I was looking for. It was hard to get to 'white' without blowing out the detail on the bonnet. Bear in mind this car was pearlescent white, which to my eyes at least, is a few shades removed from a typical solid white. Here's about as far as I'm willing to push it (top).

[Ken Figenus]

"removed" wtf? Its a hugely useful tool and makes hot overexposed clouds fluffy again