Help with lighting a black car please!
Discussion
Firstly, I love interesting and moody lightpainting of cars...
Secondly I'm an amateur at it
I have had decent (if a little brash) results on lighter coloured cars as you can see by the photo of the GT4, but I tried to do a black golf R32 and it was a disaster... The car just didn't 'pop' at all and was just a dark shape with reflected spots of light all over it from the Speedlights.
Tonight a friend wants a photo of his two cars in a similar style to the GT4, and I'm happy to oblige, but they are:
Black Lambo
Black 911 GT2
Nightmare!
Here is the grubby industrial location of the shoot, now minus the background rubbish piles:
So... Can anyone offer advice on how best to light the cars and the scene in general? I would be extremely grateful!
Equipment is off-camera wireless trigger Speedlights and various coloured gels, light stands etc.
Secondly I'm an amateur at it
I have had decent (if a little brash) results on lighter coloured cars as you can see by the photo of the GT4, but I tried to do a black golf R32 and it was a disaster... The car just didn't 'pop' at all and was just a dark shape with reflected spots of light all over it from the Speedlights.
Tonight a friend wants a photo of his two cars in a similar style to the GT4, and I'm happy to oblige, but they are:
Black Lambo
Black 911 GT2
Nightmare!
Here is the grubby industrial location of the shoot, now minus the background rubbish piles:
So... Can anyone offer advice on how best to light the cars and the scene in general? I would be extremely grateful!
Equipment is off-camera wireless trigger Speedlights and various coloured gels, light stands etc.
Light paint it perhaps? This is all done with a bright torch and long exposures..
V12 Vantage by PGDesigns.co.uk, on Flickr
V12 Vantage by PGDesigns.co.uk, on FlickrAnother vote for light painting, black can work well with this as you paint highlights on specific areas of the car...
If you're stuck with the speedlights, then maximize the amount of exposure you can get out of them - look at aperture & ISO. The most important thing is to think about where you are placing your light sources - your black subject is effectively be a large, multi contoured mirror. You want the light coming from a place where it won't be directly reflected, but provide as much spill light onto the subject as possible.
If you're stuck with the speedlights, then maximize the amount of exposure you can get out of them - look at aperture & ISO. The most important thing is to think about where you are placing your light sources - your black subject is effectively be a large, multi contoured mirror. You want the light coming from a place where it won't be directly reflected, but provide as much spill light onto the subject as possible.
trackdemon said:
Another vote for light painting, black can work well with this as you paint highlights on specific areas of the car...
If you're stuck with the speedlights, then maximize the amount of exposure you can get out of them - look at aperture & ISO. The most important thing is to think about where you are placing your light sources - your black subject is effectively be a large, multi contoured mirror. You want the light coming from a place where it won't be directly reflected, but provide as much spill light onto the subject as possible.
Wow.If you're stuck with the speedlights, then maximize the amount of exposure you can get out of them - look at aperture & ISO. The most important thing is to think about where you are placing your light sources - your black subject is effectively be a large, multi contoured mirror. You want the light coming from a place where it won't be directly reflected, but provide as much spill light onto the subject as possible.
NinjaPower said:
Well I had a go... Used my Speedlights.
Think I ballsed it up but I will post my attempts when I finish the editing!
I think I need a decent lightpainting torch or a Ranger Quadra type portable studio strobe...
the only real difference between them is power. Power is not your biggest issue here in terms of quality of light - its more about shape and placement. Remember that black in itself is unlit, so when you're lighting its about shape and placement of the reflections of your light. Getting your highlights to run with the body panels, shapes and outlines of the car and then generally lighting up the other non black bits of the car....Good luck you got some nice cars there to shoot!Think I ballsed it up but I will post my attempts when I finish the editing!
I think I need a decent lightpainting torch or a Ranger Quadra type portable studio strobe...
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff