TIPS NEEDED FOR SHOOTING WITH CAR MOUNT

[ROADRUNNER3]

I've got a circuit-based shoot next week, and finally took the dive & invested in a car-mounted suction cup kit for the camera.

Any tips for best results, is speed etc. ?

Thanks,

Tim

www.fluidimages.co.uk

www.fluid-images.co.uk

[snapper seven]

The best practice is to select a slow shutter speed (obviously) and to actually switch the engine off and simply push the car along. If the shutter speed is slow enough you only need to push it a short distance to achieve good impressions of wheel and scenery blur.
Reason is that if you have the engine running you will get vibrations running through the mount that could affect sharpness.

That said, in the past I have used my home made little rig on the side of my Saab and a Lambo Jalpa driving up the road with good success.

Cheers.

[snapper seven]

...and thinking about it, if pushing is not an option (too posh to push?!) then drive the car to a suitable speed, I've never needed to go past 30mph and kill the engine and coast along.

[le gravy noire]

good advice above... Also use manual focus and exposure as metering systems can get really thrown by the light changing

[ROADRUNNER3]

Great advice - thanks.

I doubt if the owner will allow me to mount the kit on his car (valuable vintage Ferrari)so I'll be mounting it on my car & shooting in motion. Shall I keep the cars down to about 20 mph ?

[le gravy noire]

This is probably the most difficult technique in car photography. Good luck!

[ROADRUNNER3]

Would best solution be to persuade the owner to let me mount the equipment on his car, push it to avoid motion blur, and use a wide angle lens ?

[TonyHetherington]

If you're going to mount it to YOUR car, could you not get somebody else to drive your car and you hang out the boot/door etc. At 15mph you should get enough motion blur without risking life and limb!

[snapper seven]

Depends what sort of shots you want to achieve. You can do no harm in asking the owner!

In my experience suction cups haven't caused any damage to a car. I guess the only danger is if you are only using one cup and it comes off! My little rig uses three cups and ali tubing so is reasonably light, I don't recall a cup coming off, they are pretty reliable, especially if you have something like a manfrotto pump cup, though I use Newpro Cullman cups and they have been fine.

Car to car shots I would imagine are the hardest but if you have a hatchback then suggest you lay flat in the boot, you may need someone else to prop up the tailgate for you.

If you are Snetterton or Brands I would be happy to help shoot a classic Ferrari!

Edited by snapper seven on Friday 10th November 19:25