I've been wanting to post this for a while, because i see some really cool/clean cars but the pictures are lacking.
This post is aimed squarely at the “G-BODY of the MONTH” section. I can share some tips on how to help OTHERS see your ride, the way YOU see your ride. It has to do with the Photo. If you do photography professionally, you can skip over this one.
First off, photography is NOT about the camera. You don’t need a $1000 camera for a good picture. The equipment helps, but the photo is more about the content than the equipment. Meaning, this applies to everyone, including a lot of us now, who snap pix with our cellphones.
With that being said, not everyone washes and waxes their car, and poses it just right like a magazine shoot to take a picture. Some of us just snap a pic when we feel like it cuz we want to capture that moment. So EACH TIME you go to pull out your phone or camera, just consider these tips and you will have a wicked picture on your hands. These are general tips so they apply to anything, not just cars.
QUICK GUIDE TO NAILING THAT PIC OF YOUR RIDE:
P.S.
If you enjoyed learning and applying these tips, i encourage you to explore;
a. Balancing Elements (visual tension)
b. Rule of (negative) Space
c. Leading Lines
d. Depth
e. Natural Framing
f. "Composition Tips" <<---type it into google
This post is aimed squarely at the “G-BODY of the MONTH” section. I can share some tips on how to help OTHERS see your ride, the way YOU see your ride. It has to do with the Photo. If you do photography professionally, you can skip over this one.
First off, photography is NOT about the camera. You don’t need a $1000 camera for a good picture. The equipment helps, but the photo is more about the content than the equipment. Meaning, this applies to everyone, including a lot of us now, who snap pix with our cellphones.
With that being said, not everyone washes and waxes their car, and poses it just right like a magazine shoot to take a picture. Some of us just snap a pic when we feel like it cuz we want to capture that moment. So EACH TIME you go to pull out your phone or camera, just consider these tips and you will have a wicked picture on your hands. These are general tips so they apply to anything, not just cars.
QUICK GUIDE TO NAILING THAT PIC OF YOUR RIDE:
- TAKE YOUR TIME: If you rush your picture, it will look rushed. If you spend a moment to think about how its supposed to look, it will show through many times over. Slow down, take your time, keep steady.
- BACKGROUND: Change it by moving the subject, or changing your angle/position. Squat, crouch, tilt, twist, bend, scooch, etc... Position your subject as you would expect to see it in the real life. ie: Car on road, horse on field, bird on branch. Keep the background SIMPLE. Busy or cluttered backgrounds distract and take your attention away from the subject.
- LIGHTING, LIGHTING, LIGHTING!!!!!!!!! Light is extremely important. Shoot your pic 1 hour after sunrise, or 1 hour before sunset. If in the middle of the day, make sure you have no shadows on the main parts of your car, and also that the light is not too bright making parts of your car white, that aren’t supposed to be white. If the sun has set, put your camera away. For Interior pix, make sure to get lighting, or don’t snap the pic. Flashes are generally NOT pleasing, so don’t use it.
- RULE OF THIRDS. Imagine your picture (frame) split into 3 sections, split up by imaginary lines. Put your car (subject) on one of these lines, and have it face “into” the middle of the picture (frame).
- Motion or Still? If the car is moving, some of the car should be blurred. This can be done by adjusting shutter speed. If you don’t have those controls, look for the “modes” on your camera and pick the OPPOSITE of what it tells you for motion. So when you are shooting a moving car, pick portrait, or scenery or beach, something that’s supposed to be “NOT moving”. This will have a slower shutter speed and make your moving car slightly blurred. For still subjects, just pick the CORRECT mode, or a slower shutter speed if you have the option.
- BACK UP, GO LONG. Ever see yourself in a shiny spoon? Not very flattering is it big-nose? When you walk up to your car and take a pic, that’s what you’re doing. Don’t make your car a big nose, back up as far as you can, zoom in, and still keep the picture detailed and sharp. If you have removable lenses, "long, or numerically higher zoom" is better.
- GET LOW, AT EYE LEVEL. I think of the headlights as the “eyes” of the car. You may think the bumper markers, or the windshield or the grille are the “eyes”. Whichever you think is correct, be at “EYE-LEVEL” with it.
- CHECK THE PICTURE. A lot of people just don’t do this step. They push the button and expect the “camera to do its job”. That’s totally incorrect thinking. The camera’s job is to expose the frame. The “picture”, and all of its content is UP TO YOU. So check it, make sure its what you thought you were going for. I look at my pics and ask myself, could this be a magazine cover? If yes, then im happy with it. If no, take it again. You can make your own criteria lol.
- HAVE FUN WITH IT, BE CREATIVE. There are no real “rules” for taking a photo. Put your own personal touch on it. Play with lighting, angles, weather, colors, shapes, details, etc…
P.S.
If you enjoyed learning and applying these tips, i encourage you to explore;
a. Balancing Elements (visual tension)
b. Rule of (negative) Space
c. Leading Lines
d. Depth
e. Natural Framing
f. "Composition Tips" <<---type it into google
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