Photographer types, I need your opinion.

[reddy351]

I painted it, myself. I sanded it with some 600 grit sandpaper to scuff it up. Then I use Duplicolor flat black to paint it. I like the result.

 

[earleys94gt]

I like the first shot in the second set of pics.

Looks like you took those around Worthington Industry's and the Bud Plant right?

 

[acdcjenjes]

I painted it, myself. I sanded it with some 600 grit sandpaper to scuff it up. Then I use Duplicolor flat black to paint it. I like the result.

Yeah I like it too. I'm trying to "black out" my car as much as possible (besides the paint) but I don't want to put the cheesy headlight covers on. That is a very cheap alternative. Thanks

 

[reddy351]

Looks like you took those around Worthington Industry's and the Bud Plant right?

You got it! Less than a mile from where I work.

I'll be at Quaker Steak and Lube, this Sunday evening. If you end up there, you know what my car looks like.

 

[Zero Signal]

Here are the tips I would give for taking photos of the car in no particular order . . .

• If you have a distracting background, try to fill the frame by a good 70% X or Y with the car itself
• Do use the rule of thirds, it does help
• Try to avoid direct sunlight, it's too revealing. Use indirect lighting when possible
• If you are to use direct sunlight, use it while the sun is low and the sky does most of it
• Use high contrast environments to show off the smooth paint and hide imperfections
• Avoid fake depth of field, it looks cheesy
• Don't use the flash unless you are going for a specific style
• Don't over use photoshop sharpening filters like smart sharpen and unsharpen mask, it looks bad, see below
• Don't over use the angled/tilted shots like you would find on ricer mag covers, it's not original any more and it makes it hard to see the car
• Don't take pics in the grass, put the beast in a realistic environment
• Don't get your own reflection in the car unless you'r giving a thumbs up with it
• Don't bother with close ups of the badges unless you get some other parts in the image to make it remotely interesting
• Do use extremely hot women, as much as possible

I hope these pics work . . .

here's a pic I took 3 or 4 years ago which illustrates the indirect lighting. Id does good things for making it all look clean and interesting. There are still plenty of bad things about this pic (over sharpening, wierd background, foggy windshield, slightly strange framing, seat tilted back to show opposite side etc)
View attachment 318606

Here's another with indirect lighting. Some sins with this one are the framing of the car and the fake depth of field (look at the antenna )
View attachment 318607

 

[Zero Signal]

Oh, and the photo in Paul, Blackened302's sig is a good example of high contrast environments making the car look great. It's what all car commercials use, along with expensive lenses/filters/post processing, but still.