Armin’s Quick and Dirty Tips and Tricks to Automotive Photography

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

can you have best and worst photo's becuase i stand a chance to win that then

Nah it won't be a photo contest, just some type of random drawing or you gotta share a photo or something along those lines.

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[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by INKMAN

What did I get myself involved in?

A brave new world, my friend

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by Saleen326

I see. So it's all about being able to edit the background separate from editing the car that way you can fine tweak the details for both. Is that a correct assessment? Also, do you have a recommendation of a good tutorial that show this? Thanks.

Holy ****, Post #10,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes, that's a correct assessment. I'm sure there's some YouTube videos out there that'll be good for a tutorial, but I'd have to go look. It really just comes down to mastering the different selection tools. Hell, that could be a good new video tutorial that I can make

[Saleen326]

Originally Posted by Verdugo

Holy ****, Post #10,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes, that's a correct assessment. I'm sure there's some YouTube videos out there that'll be good for a tutorial, but I'd have to go look. It really just comes down to mastering the different selection tools. Hell, that could be a good new video tutorial that I can make

I vote new tutorial video for the Nof8 site. Sweet, I didn't even realize I was the 10,000 post.

[INKMAN]

Originally Posted by Verdugo

A brave new world, my friend

Oh man..... I see a lot of people use LR and PS together. Should I make my simple adjustments in LR and then use PS for the more complicated stuff? I don't want to stop using LR completely, it's too simple!

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by Saleen326

I vote new tutorial video for the Nof8 site. Sweet, I didn't even realize I was the 10,000 post.

Totally doable!

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by INKMAN

Oh man..... I see a lot of people use LR and PS together. Should I make my simple adjustments in LR and then use PS for the more complicated stuff? I don't want to stop using LR completely, it's too simple!

That's exactly what I do. 99% of my edits are done in LR, then anything that involves layers, complicated cloning/healing, compositing, color balancing, etc etc I do in PS.

I just (as in, 2 hours ago) upgraded to Adobe Creative Cloud and it's only $30/month for just about everything Adobe makes. If you don't have any previous version of Creative Suite, it's $50/month. It's totally worth it for me since I use everything except Flash and Dreamweaver, but considering I bought Photoshop CS5 for $800 alone back in the day, this is total deals to me

[INKMAN]

OK good because PS looks completely overwhelming. I've seen a couple videos on using layers. I think one of them was yours with your Audi example. I can't wait to see what I can do with those options!

I saw that deal on black Friday but I don't think it would be worth it for me. I would only use the two programs and LR is payed for. PS is the next purchase.

My next question is ( and I think I know the answer) my equipment limiting me in any way? I know it probably doesn't matter for still shots but I was just curious. I currently have the Canon 2ti and use my 85mm f/1.8 for all my auto stuff now.

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by INKMAN

OK good because PS looks completely overwhelming. I've seen a couple videos on using layers. I think one of them was yours with your Audi example. I can't wait to see what I can do with those options!

I saw that deal on black Friday but I don't think it would be worth it for me. I would only use the two programs and LR is payed for. PS is the next purchase.

My next question is ( and I think I know the answer) my equipment limiting me in any way? I know it probably doesn't matter for still shots but I was just curious. I currently have the Canon 2ti and use my 85mm f/1.8 for all my auto stuff now.

It might look overwhelming at first, but once you actually sit down and start playing around with it, you can pick it up pretty easily. There are definitely some nuances that will be complicated, but it all just comes down to practice, practice, practice.

As far as equipment goes, I wouldn't say it's really limiting you other than the types of shots you can produce. Many well-respected automotive photographers that I know use their 85mm lens almost exclusively for their still work. On the other hand a longer telephoto can yield different results, as will a wide angle. It really all depends on the look you're going for, and I think it's wise to explore all options. Body-wise, I don't think you're limited at all, unless you feel like you're going to take a bunch of low-light motion shots or need to make big billboard-sized prints.

[INKMAN]

I think I plan on keeping my body for a while unless I can get a great deal on a Canon 7D which is the next body I would like for the better AF and faster FPS. I'm looking to pick up a quality zoom lens by spring for some motor sport stuff. I want to see how the new Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 reviews are first before I make any decisions. I believe the lens is being released tomorrow!

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by INKMAN

I think I plan on keeping my body for a while unless I can get a great deal on a Canon 7D which is the next body I would like for the better AF and faster FPS. I'm looking to pick up a quality zoom lens by spring for some motor sport stuff. I want to see how the new Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 reviews are first before I make any decisions. I believe the lens is being released tomorrow!

Don't forget you can always rent lenses and bodies to play around with or help you make purchase decisions BorrowLenses.com has done me well, although it is a bit tough now wanting a D4 of my own

[INKMAN]

I feel that lens' are pretty straight forward as far as sharpness and other qualities. I usually read reviews and look at sample pics until I'm sick. I would like to rent a full frame body just to try out though!!

[platnumn]

Originally Posted by INKMAN

I feel that lens' are pretty straight forward as far as sharpness and other qualities. I usually read reviews and look at sample pics until I'm sick. I would like to rent a full frame body just to try out though!!

Resist as long as possible. I used to shoot with a D80 then had the opportunity to borrow my father's D3. After that I really never wanted to use my D80 again, it was quite sad.

Now I just purchased a D600 and am LOVING LIFE. But not my wallet.

[coldmm803]

Originally Posted by Verdugo

Holy ****, Post #10,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also passed 400 pages on newb settings

[PurpleDoors]

Originally Posted by coldmm803

Also passed 400 pages on newb settings

Half of that on people settings.

[INKMAN]

Originally Posted by platnumn

Resist as long as possible. I used to shoot with a D80 then had the opportunity to borrow my father's D3. After that I really never wanted to use my D80 again, it was quite sad.

Now I just purchased a D600 and am LOVING LIFE. But not my wallet.

I'm curious about the new Canon 6D although it seems like its almost the same as the 5DII which you can get pretty cheap at this point. I would just love a full frame for my portrait stuff and a 7D for action stuff.

[rsutton1223]

Still working with this one but it is coming along...

[WRX WRC]

Hey what's up guys, here is a profile shot i've been working on cloning out the distractions in the back, along with some other modifications.

IMG_98271 by STi Wish, on Flickr

[rsutton1223]

I call this one..."Late for Work"


Late for Work by rsutton198 | oneninty8.com, on Flickr

[Max713]

Originally Posted by WRX WRC

Hey what's up guys, here is a profile shot i've been working on cloning out the distractions in the back, along with some other modifications.

You forgot the stuff behind the drivers side window

[DommerEOD]

Trying to figure out lightroom..

[INKMAN]

Absolutely beautiful background! The car is cropped way too tight on the right side and the really blue sky is affecting the color of your car. I would turn down the saturation on the blues and see the difference it makes. I would also adjust the highlights as well. It looks like you got the sharpening high to. It doesn't look too bad considering the direct sunlight though!

[SkimSTI]

Armin,

i wanted to get your opinion on this in your 'not hammered' state. shot looks a little more contrasty on my mac (looking at it on my work PC it looks like the flare took a lil more wash over the car). anyway, reprocessed this old shot with my current knowledge on processing. been learning A LOT of new things that past couple months. i think this is a good example showcasing what i learned. (new toning methods)




-AK

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by rsutton1223

Still working with this one but it is coming along...

The walls and leading lines in this photos are doing crazy things to my eyes. It's not quite aligned, but the car is...then the walls are out of focus but I can't really seem to figure out how the wall on top crosses over. Honestly, I think that takes away from the car a lot, because I find myself trying to figure out that rather than paying attention to the car.

[Verdugo]

Originally Posted by WRX WRC

Hey what's up guys, here is a profile shot i've been working on cloning out the distractions in the back, along with some other modifications.

Looking pretty good exposure-wise. I would've shot with a lower elevation and cloned out the parking lines surrounding the car. You've also got some chromatic aberration on the wheels, with some greenish tint on the front wheel and a little purple on the rear wheel. I'm also still not a fan of non-standard proportion crops unless they're for a specific purpose that requires it.