Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Simon, Like any commercial venture, I would talk to your client and determine what they are expecting from the shoot. It would be especially helpful if they could show some images that demonstrate what they are looking for: you could then deconstruct the image to determine how it was shot. Seth was correct that you will best show off the vehicles if you have broad flat lighting. If you are shooting with an overcast sky be prepared to set the camera position high enough to exclude any boring sky from the images. Some things that might trip you up; walk the cars like you do a plane you plan to fly only this time you are making sure the wax is perfect, the glass is really clean, the chrome gleams, and the upholstery looks like it just came off the line. Tires are especially difficult as they must look black, but the same black so some dressing is usually required. Use just the slightest amount of chalk on the tread to bring out the tread: you usually dust just a small amount to show detail in the black but not so much that they look dirty. A paint brush can be used to remove excess, or a very short trip down a gravel road with the sidewall cleaned up. Personally, I would set up with the 15mm either perfectly leveled so the use of the super wide isn't obvious or super rock star stoned out of level and square. A tree line could be used to hide the sky. One last thing, if your friends are into Land Rovers then just run them through the mud pit and shoot while the goo is still dripping. As with all people shots use Ted's advice and shoot from the shadow side and focus on the eyes with enough depth of field to hold enough of the car in focus to achieve whatever effect your client wants. Oh, and if the cars have more than 500 horsepower then of course you will have to check out their safety devices thoroughly. Don dorysrus@mindspring.com - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of animal Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 2:10 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] how do you picture cars? Hello I have accepted a request to take photographs of cars and their owners for a magazine but have no experience doing so.Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks simon - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html