Autoshite photography thread.

[Cavcraft]

Right, if we keep this motors related hopefully nobody will mind. Show us your motors related pictures (that you took yourself) tell us what camera you took them with and please explain to us thickos how you managed any still frames, special effects or that fancy thing where the object you pictured is in colour but the background is black and white, or the background is deliberately blurry whilst the focused object stays, erm, focused.

 

Perhaps we can use this thread to post experimental pictures so others can tell us where we've gone wrong?

 

*Have a free archive photograph to start the ball rolling and show how it's not to be done...

[dollywobbler]

Ok, here goes. Though I'm far from expert.

 

Firstly, composition. I've got the sun behind me here, and no garages in sight... By putting my camera actually on the ground, it's thrown the very edge of the photo out of focus, giving it a nice blur. I used a Canon S3 IS superzoom thing for this shot - going a long way from the car and zooming in (as long as it's optical zoom rather than digital, which just crops the shot electronically) amplifies the effect. This Canon has a fold out screen, which makes lining the shot up easy, even when the camera is on the floor. Other options are to shoot and hope (beauty of digital is that you can immediately see what you've taken) or lie on the floor. A rug is handy.

 

Once at home, I've used Photoshop or (because it's free) Gimp to play with the colours. All I've done in this case is lower the Saturation of every colour but the red/magenta. I imagine I tweaked those two up a bit. Ideally, you'd use the Lasso tool to select the car, allowing you to adjust the colours of that separately to the background. Word of warning - there's a LOT you can do in Photoshop/Gimp, and it takes a lot of learning and can be very frustrating. I refer you to SOC's guide to fixing computer problems - Google is your friend.

 

While you can do a lot with software, you can't really make a bad picture good. It's for tweaking an already-well-taken image. Light is critical. If the light is behind the car, it'll be too dark with an odd halo effect. Location is important too. Travelling around for a nice place for photography takes time, but is well worth doing. You don't always get the choice however, and one thing I love about Seth's photography is how he can walk around a car show and 'spot' an excellent opportunity for a great shot and then exploit it. He's way ahead of me on that score. Hope that's some help! Really, it's down to practice. Good photographers take a LOT of shots, so you're going to have to spend a lot of time sifting through them when you get back home.

[fotorabia]

I just point and shoot..Canon G10..its gotta macro 28mm-135mm lens..meaning wide angle..perfect for cars ..to mid range zoom...i dont care about disturbance in background..im not shooting for a magazine and tryin to turn the car into a supermodel..its a car..an object..background info makes it more natural...i tweak on Gimp..only lightness and contrast..crop..where i live has superb sunlight..but i also like overcast skies as it flattens the image...

[Pillock]

Ooooh! I'll play! All these are taken on a Pentax K110D - a pretty old DSLR, same sort of spec as a Canon 350. I'd imagine they're all with the same 18-35mm lens as I've only just got new lenses after all these were taken, and all (possibly bar the rally Nova) are straight off the camera untweaked - the Nova looks like I've put a gradient on the sky. I've tried to offer a few tips but I'm a million miles from expert so comments are welcome!

 

Reflections:

Quite hard to look for, you need to get used to looking "through" something at what's reflected (which the brain naturally ignores). Top tip here is "stay out of the goddamn photo!"

 

Blurred backgrounds

A simple trick if your camera has enough buttons - you need a large aperture (small F number) and zoom right in - stand back if you have to.

 

Here's a good one. The rule of Thirds. http://www.digital-photography-school.c ... -of-thirds

Basically, place something on a line a third of the way into the frame, or on the four points created in the middle of a 3x3 grid. Here, the edge of the Dolly is on the one-third line. Also an example of a slightly large aperture shortening the depth of field but not so the background is totally blurred.

 

Repetition - some sort of theme across the photo, in a nice line

 

Framing - like reflections, you need to look through something

 

 

Here's just some I like that I took. Feel free to pull them apart! All critisism gratefully received

 

 

[fotorabia]

nice Pillock...puts me to lazy shame...im still a firm believer in the effortless approach..street photographys my thang anyway..tho if i could get Kate Moss sitting on a mouldy Dolomite smoking a spliff...i would..

[Volksy]

Most excellent Idea for a thread!

[Guest]

OK, I can't really contribute much to this thread because my methodology is utter bollocks when written down. I'm opportunistic when taking photos, I don't plan them. Camera phones should not be dismissed as sources of photos - I've had tons of good shots off my C902 and W995. It's only recently with my borrowing of a Nikon D70 that I've had access to a reasonably decent DSLR.

 

GIMP 2 is less of an arsehole to use than Photoshop. I have no formal training in photography, I just studied the points of mise en scene composition in films and then applied it to my camera phone screen.

 

If I can do it, anyone can do it. Let me think of some tips.

 

 

Always take photos in colour, and desaturate them later. That way you have more options to play with.

[brammy777]

Great idea for a thread, here is one of my favourite photos from my camera:

Wedges. by bramm77, on Flickr

I just saw the chance for the shot and took it, had no idea it would come out so clearly! This camera is a pretty basic Samsung PL55 P+S, but it has got a really good focus on it most of the time, and it puts quite a few of the other more expensive cameras I have used to shame. However, it hates shooting against sunlight, so I am pretty restricted when it comes to summer, whilst my newer camera is probably going to be sent back to Kodak soon enough.

[RoadworkUK]

Things I often find helps, though I have absolutely no qualification to say so...

 

EDIT:- OK, Why are my images so 'normous and cut off when I'm using the exact same coding as everone else? I'm not even sure Taynes sticky ever found a solution.

 

 

The childs-eye view is often the most dramatic to view cars from,

 

 

With action stuff it can be nice to see either where the vehicle has come from or where it's going,

 

 

Particularly where there are people involved, it gives a bit of context.

 

 

Taking photos from a distance, using a bit of telephoto, can give a better sense of proportion as well as drawing more attention to the subject,

 

 

Be spontaneous. I took this just as a fire truck came hurtling past, no time to set up the shot yet I absolutely love the chaotic mess that resulted.

[mk1_4dr]

I love taking pics, although, I just kinda rattle as many shots off as my card will hold/my batteries allow me and hope for the best. I really like upclose shots (badges and details) so lots of 'macro' usage.

 

I started out using an ancient FujiFilm 12mpxl compact, which gave me shots like this....

 

Low down, camera almost sat on the front wheel and angled up to grab some sky and tree tops

 

Chrome can be a real pig to capture, I like the way the badge is framed in black here though...

 

Proof that maybe, sometimes, darkness and the halo effect can be used to a degree of success.

I just wish I'd knelt down to get the top of the tower in shot

 

Maybe this needs a tickle with an editing software like the aforementioned GIMP to loose the folding chair and overhead cables, but I like the composure anyway.

 

Using the colour of the car to match the sky seems to have worked here.

If I was taking the shot above now, I'd get very close to the front of the car, and take the pic from just off the N/S headlight so the eye is drawn into the distance by the horizontal lines on the grill. Or something like that anyway.

 

And sometimes, the background is the subject itself.

 

 

Anyways, so, in early '09 I upgraded to a FujiFilm S5000 bought s/hand from Papa 4dr.

It's a decent enough camera, however the width of shot is very limited, so I have to stand quite a way back to get all of a subject in. It does grab some nice pics though...

 

Low down, upwards angled shots of badges seem to be my staple. It does produce some images worth saving though.

 

I always thought this was a really nice shot, but looking back at it now I can't decide if its even properly in focus...

 

Compound curves and shiny paint really help. Im not convinced this is the most flattering angle I could've got here.

Again, GIMP et al, could be used to edit the taxdisc out and such out. It could probably do with cropping just left of the headlight TBH.

 

Again, I know its been said to try and have the sun behind you, but some fantastic effects are achievable if you play with the light.

 

And from the otherside just for some idea of the difference it makes, (with bonus WAT)

 

I'll leave it there for now or it will become a bit of an epic post, but I want to re-iterate that all these pics are straight out of the camera.

No affects, no software skullduggery, just raw files.

 

I hope this help someone.

[Cavcraft]

Cheers gents, some helpful stuff there and Dave don't worry about 'epic post' as it's all helping. Had a quick scan of Gimp (and downloaded it) but not much of a technophobe. Will have a play again this evening (12 hour shift at the fun factory starts shortly) and see what I can conjure up. There's some very inspirational stuff on this thread already so keep 'em coming please.

[myglaren]

EDIT:- OK, Why are my images so 'normous and cut off when I'm using the exact same coding as everone else? I'm not even sure Taynes sticky ever found a solution.

 

Press CTRL+- to adjust the page display to accommodate larger images.

Conversely, use CTRL++ to 'zoom in'

CTRL+0 resets the page size to standard.

 

Excellent photo's chaps. Wish I could do as well. Sheer idleness just seems to get in the way all the time.

[fotorabia]

My best mistake shot..had camera on a wrong setting...but hey it pays to go against the grain sometimes..

[tonedepear]

IMGP0102 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Taken with my (now broken) Pentax K100d. As close up as I could get and a short exposure which limits the depth of field, so you get a narrow focused area and lots of misty blur beyond/before.

 

IMGP1436 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

^ same

 

IMGP1381 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

 

Taken with a grey graduated filter (basically darker at the top and lighter at the bottom), to make the sky look a bit more moody and the whole shot look a bit 'Top Gear'. A colossal faff for a mediocre picture, and basically unnecessary now, as effects like these are mostly better done using technology nowadays, but it's nice to have the option.

[Mr Lobster]

Great thread! I'd love to be able to take really good pictures but I seem to end up with a lot that are ok and the occasional one that looks decent so I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread to hopefully pick up some tips.

 

Couple that I do like of mine -

 

Mmmm beer. by Mr Lobster, on Flickr

 

Alfa 145 Cloverleaf by Mr Lobster, on Flickr

This would have worked better without the cars in the background I think

 

And a couple of none car pics I'm pleased with (linked so not to clutter the place up!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_lobster/4494554036/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_lobster/4493965572/

[tonedepear]

Great thread! I'd love to be able to take really good pictures but I seem to end up with a lot that are ok and the occasional one that looks decent

 

I reckon the key is to take MOAR photos, then you get MOAR good ones. Thanks to digital you can just take fucking loads and it doesn't cost you owt. Works for me.

[Cavcraft]

That's what I was thinking! If I have to take twenty to get one good one it's no bother.

 

Right, could someone please post an idiots guide to Gimp please? I tried (briefly) to find that lasso thing earlier but couldn't find it and will need to learn how to use it.

Soz to be a pain and all that jazz but if someone gets time and doesn't mind some sort of screen dump shenanigans would be uber useful.

[fotorabia]

That's what I was thinking! If I have to take twenty to get one good one it's no bother.

 

Right, could someone please post an idiots guide to Gimp please? I tried (briefly) to find that lasso thing earlier but couldn't find it and will need to learn how to use it.

Soz to be a pain and all that jazz but if someone gets time and doesn't mind some sort of screen dump shenanigans would be uber useful.

 

its in the top middle of your Toolbox...click along edge chosen...careful it doesnt instantly circulate the 1st 5 moves!

[Father Ted]

Breeding Citroens for release into the wild since 2002....

 

Cant lay claim to this though.

 

Moar Citroen Breeding - This time a ZX.

[carlo]

This is a great idea for a thread, hopefully it can become the new ebay tat thread assuming Autoshite’s bandwidth will allow it.

 

I’m with the majority here, I just love cars and taking pictures of them and have no great artistic intentions when composing shots. However I do prefer cars in their natural surroundings which to me means on the road, either in town or country. I’m not a huge fan of cars squeezed in at car shows but appreciate that’s the most likely place we’ll ever get to photograph them. I tend to wait until the end of a show when the cars are leaving; this often gives you the chance to get the car with nothing next to it. And one of my pet hates is cars in studios.

 

 

Here I wanted a late afternoon moody sort of shot and liked the hotel behind, but wanted to throw it out of focus. Quite like this but it's underexposed. Was actually taken on a medium format camera and scanned.

 

 

I like getting cars at shows on their own and just wanted to introduce a bit of colour into it, the flowers were asking to be included.

 

 

Don't usually like 'busy' backgrounds but here I think it works as the car is such a fabulously photogenic colour and stands out. Perhaps the people should have been more out of focus, if that were possible.

 

 

When I saw this I thought it would look better in black and white, and so it proved.

 

 

Idea was there but this doesn't really work, especially as the background is so distracting.

 

 

Must have taken hundreds of pics of my own cars and always like trying different angles.

 

I also have to include two examples below of a fashion which seems to be common amongst online photo sites, and some magazines and is what I would call 'crap photoshopping'. I don't know what causes this effect on colours, perhaps someone can enlighten me, but they look godamn awful. There's one particular classic car magazine where PRACTICALLY every photo looks like this so I can't buy it.

 

 

[rml2345]

Really enjoying these photos, very inspirational stuff! I find it helps sometimes to look for an unusual vantage point, up high or really low. Although opportunistic "grabbing" of shots can pay off too. Try looking through things, or around them. If you're short like me, look over them

All are taken using a Fujifilm FinePix S1500 and apologies for some bus content.

Exit by routemaster2345, on Flickr

Decoration by routemaster2345, on Flickr

Cat Behind Glass by routemaster2345, on Flickr

Legend from Above! by routemaster2345, on Flickr

 

Also, +1 on taking loads and loads of shots so that there might be one good one.

[Cavcraft]

Blimming heck, this is ace. I like the colour contrasts people are using and agree about 'busy' backgrounds. Unfair to pick out a couple of pictures from so many good ones but the fire truck and the car transporter pictures are what I aspire to achieve at some point.

 

I've twigged how to to change to black and white pictures so will have more fun with that later, next though is the coloured object, black and white background as mentioned earlier.

 

If people will just excuse the none-car content here (it's all I have on Photobucket at the moment) which I will change to motor related stuff later, I've tried to get a close up and a distant shot using the zoom to see how they work...

 

Close ups...

 

 

(dog one difficult because he kept moving and I hadn't tried the multi blast picture thing by then)

 

Medium distance (should have got the horse's feet in here, again just a quick snap though)...

 

 

 

Long distance, I think these were on near full or full zoom...

 

 

Like I say apologies for non-motor related content here but I will amend them later.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Some great photos in here, I particularly liked Cat Behind Glass.

 

I also have to include two examples below of a fashion which seems to be common amongst online photo sites, and some magazines and is what I would call 'crap photoshopping'. I don't know what causes this effect on colours, perhaps someone can enlighten me, but they look godamn awful. There's one particular classic car magazine where PRACTICALLY every photo looks like this so I can't buy it.

 

 

It's called HDR (High Dynamic Range) and is created by merging multiple exposures. You can also fake it with one exposure. It can make a good photo when applied subtly. Unfortunately since Photoshop introduced the 'Merge to HDR' button over a trillion HDR images have been created of which zero are subtle.

[dollywobbler]

One key thing - and this is very important at the NEC, where this shot was taken - is to get some stability in low-light conditions. Image Stabilisation is all well and good, but if you want sharp shots, you need a tripod. Or, like in this shot, put the camera on the floor so it can't wobble about.

 

Doing that let me set a slow shutter speed, so the people walking past the car are blurred, but my 2CV is nice and sharp.

 

Incidentally, we were changing a cylinder head, and caused upset by starting the car to make sure it worked...

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I love long exposures. As DW said, you need a tripod. But there's usually something around about to steady your camera on, even if you have to drastically alter composition to make it work. Set the self timer instead of using the shutter button so you don't shake the camera.

 

 

[Tartan58]

Loving that one of the Triumph.

 

Put me in mind of this guy: these are truly orsum.

No photo shop trickery, he takes them all by moonlight on super long exposure giving him time to run about with various flashguns to create the colours.

[tonedepear]

That herald shot is ACE!

 

Have my dog's nose, for luck:

 

IMGP0097 by Tony Lloyd, on Flickr

[Tartan58]

Here's a few of mine, not got many of what I class as "good ones" of cars yet but hope to rectify that soon.

 

Very simple effect to create in Photoshop, simply take 1 colour photo, overlay with a black and white copy on a separate layer and simply "rub out" the bits you want to show through in colour.

 

Here's another non-car example but with a bit more use of the technique (but hopefully still of some interest to shitters)

 

This one is a BMW 507 with some photoshopping to remove the BMW badge, (rules of the site I sell my photos on state that images featuring corporate logos cannot be sold)

Taken using the converse to tonedepear's example of limiting the depth of field, using a long exposure allows a greater depth of field so the front of the bonnet in the close foreground and the windscreen in the back ground are both in focus.

 

Here's the same image with lashings of photoshop trickery.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

If you want a bit of a challenge, why not try black and white film photography? You can pick up top of the range 35mm SLRs for very little now, but I don't see the point of that. What I like to do is buy the cheapest, oldest roll film cameras I can find and see what kind of pictures they produce.

 

This snowman was taken with a 1919 Box Brownie on cheap Chinese film and developed in exhausted chemicals. I love the way it only focuses a circle in the middle.

 

120 film is still readily available, and gives you a massive selection of cameras to choose from. Cheaper Kodaks from the 60s tend to use 620 film, but as this is just 120 on smaller spools you can make your own.

 

This one was taken on a 1930s Brownie using Ilford film and new chemicals. The pictures are disappointingly clean for a 70+ year old camera made largely from cardboard.

 

Black and white developing is surprisingly easy. At its most basic you need a developing tank and three chemicals - developer, stop and fixer. The most challenging part is finding a dark room. What might seem pitch black at first becomes a light show once your eyes adjust. I wait until night and then use the garage. Pro tip: don't take your mobile phone into your darkroom! That little screen might as well be an arc lamp when a text comes in.

 

In the dark, the film can be unspooled and fed onto the developing tank reel and then locked in the tank itself. After this, the rest of the work can be done in the light. The process is simple - add the correct amount of developer and set your timer (usually only a few minutes). Then the developer is drained and replaced with the stop, and finally the fixer. Then, after being rinsed off and dried, the film is ready. Obviously there's more to it than that, such as keeping the chemicals at the right temperature, but that's the gist of it.

 

Enlarging and printing equipment is where the costs really start to add up, so I've never bothered. I just scan the negatives into the computer.

 

Just realised there weren't any pictures of cars, so here's loads of 'em:

(1950s Adox Golf, my favourite camera although the bellows have started to let light in)

[dollywobbler]

That Herald shot is brilliant Peter. Remote flash or just a lamp inside the car?

 

Love the Mini and postbox shot as well. That's a technique I hadn't considered, so I'll give that a go!