OEM Spoiler Installed, EOS 400D/Rebel XTi test.
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Originally Posted by gr?
You're actually using the term bokeh slightly incorrect. Bokeh is how the out of focus area looks (circles/pentagons/etc). A good lens will create a smooth blur for the oof area. A poor lens will create a blotchy blur with visible edges (best I can describe it).
Here's an example of nice bokeh from the 70-200 f/2.8L IS (first picture I snapped when I got my camera to test it out... just a squirrel outside my window):
http://asianguywithacamera.com/temp/_U1T0001a.jpg
In the upper portion of the image, you'll see a black shaded area. This is from a shadow of a truck. There is a smooth transition from the shaded area to the macadam. A low end lens would create sharper lines and the transition wouldn't be as smooth.
Here's a link for more technical detail and more images to illustrate (50mm f/1.4 vs f/1.8): http://photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/
Here's an example of nice bokeh from the 70-200 f/2.8L IS (first picture I snapped when I got my camera to test it out... just a squirrel outside my window):
http://asianguywithacamera.com/temp/_U1T0001a.jpg
In the upper portion of the image, you'll see a black shaded area. This is from a shadow of a truck. There is a smooth transition from the shaded area to the macadam. A low end lens would create sharper lines and the transition wouldn't be as smooth.
Here's a link for more technical detail and more images to illustrate (50mm f/1.4 vs f/1.8): http://photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/
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OK, played around with the camera yesterday.
None of the "snapshots" were post processed, only resized. Need to build up skills to get to the "photograph" category.
This shot was taken with the kit lens at widest possible focal length (18mm), which causes distortion:
A shot of the wheels. Softness due to unsteady hands (no tripod). This is the thing, I feel, that I must most work on when I don't have that tripod. Again, taken with kit lens.
None of the "snapshots" were post processed, only resized. Need to build up skills to get to the "photograph" category.
This shot was taken with the kit lens at widest possible focal length (18mm), which causes distortion:
A shot of the wheels. Softness due to unsteady hands (no tripod). This is the thing, I feel, that I must most work on when I don't have that tripod. Again, taken with kit lens.
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Got the EF-50mm F/1.8 II lens. Cheapest you can get from B&H for less than $80. Also got the Bogen Manfrotto 718B tripod which supports up to 5.5 lbs and weighs merely 3.1 pounds, along with some inexpensive Hoya filters.
First off, let me just say that if you have any Canon Digital SLR and just starting out like me, this is an amazing lens for the price. These pictures were taken with overcast skies and at sundown. It also started raining. With that in mind, I was extremely happy with the results, even though, again, conditions were not the best, hence they are hardly photographs. Most of the shots were taken with wide-open apeture (1.8) as I was trying mostly for Depth of Field (blurred background) shots. Will try at smaller apetrues next time.
First off, let me just say that if you have any Canon Digital SLR and just starting out like me, this is an amazing lens for the price. These pictures were taken with overcast skies and at sundown. It also started raining. With that in mind, I was extremely happy with the results, even though, again, conditions were not the best, hence they are hardly photographs. Most of the shots were taken with wide-open apeture (1.8) as I was trying mostly for Depth of Field (blurred background) shots. Will try at smaller apetrues next time.
#25
nice shots man.. i like 1st tripod shot, the gauge shot & the one with the side of your car from the rear with the rims.. looks hot You should start numbering your photos if you want people to comment on them..
You should also have been able to take that blurry shot of the rim without a tripod.. it looked like there was enough light.. try lowering your f-stop.. or increasing your ISO so that you can use a faster shutter speed (to avoid the shake) lowering your f-stop will also give you better DOF..
--mike
You should also have been able to take that blurry shot of the rim without a tripod.. it looked like there was enough light.. try lowering your f-stop.. or increasing your ISO so that you can use a faster shutter speed (to avoid the shake) lowering your f-stop will also give you better DOF..
--mike
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First off, very nice Z. I'm really digging the color combo of the body/wheels and the painted cwest lip.
Just something I've noticed from many car shots around the web... How would you all define a nice "partial" shot of a car? Apologies to the OP but I'm going to use your pics as examples. Some of the shots here just seem to me to be a little "claustrophobic" meaning the car is boxed in at odd angles and just leaves me as a viewer feeling "trapped".
I actually consider this a lot when I'm taking shots and sometimes it seems that it might subconsciously force me to be more limited in the angles I shoot at. Due to this I usually try to take in the whole car unless I'm going for a tight shot with really tight depth of field for an "artistic" closeup.
Check out below to see what I mean:
Images with odd angles leaving me feeling "trapped":
Images with close crops that have a more natural feel:
Keep in mind I'm not trying to criticize in any way, just that we're talking photography now, and its something I'm interested in discussing since we have some of the more avid photographers on the forum present.
Should I be more willing to go in and chop up the car and only get certain areas in the frame? Also, am I correct in noticing that sometimes its taken to the extreme in automotive shots, in certain cases unneccesarily?? Input? gr?
Just something I've noticed from many car shots around the web... How would you all define a nice "partial" shot of a car? Apologies to the OP but I'm going to use your pics as examples. Some of the shots here just seem to me to be a little "claustrophobic" meaning the car is boxed in at odd angles and just leaves me as a viewer feeling "trapped".
I actually consider this a lot when I'm taking shots and sometimes it seems that it might subconsciously force me to be more limited in the angles I shoot at. Due to this I usually try to take in the whole car unless I'm going for a tight shot with really tight depth of field for an "artistic" closeup.
Check out below to see what I mean:
Images with odd angles leaving me feeling "trapped":
Images with close crops that have a more natural feel:
Keep in mind I'm not trying to criticize in any way, just that we're talking photography now, and its something I'm interested in discussing since we have some of the more avid photographers on the forum present.
Should I be more willing to go in and chop up the car and only get certain areas in the frame? Also, am I correct in noticing that sometimes its taken to the extreme in automotive shots, in certain cases unneccesarily?? Input? gr?
Last edited by taurran; 10-26-2006 at 06:50 AM.
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Originally Posted by leemik
nice shots man.. i like 1st tripod shot, the gauge shot & the one with the side of your car from the rear with the rims.. looks hot You should start numbering your photos if you want people to comment on them..
You should also have been able to take that blurry shot of the rim without a tripod.. it looked like there was enough light.. try lowering your f-stop.. or increasing your ISO so that you can use a faster shutter speed (to avoid the shake) lowering your f-stop will also give you better DOF..
--mike
You should also have been able to take that blurry shot of the rim without a tripod.. it looked like there was enough light.. try lowering your f-stop.. or increasing your ISO so that you can use a faster shutter speed (to avoid the shake) lowering your f-stop will also give you better DOF..
--mike
Yeah, I know that lowering F-stop values (opening apeture) gives you DOF. Been trying it with the Fuji for awhile as the F11 has manually adjustable apeture and shutter speed. But I didn't know that focal length and just the physical distance from lens to subjet greatly affects DOF as evidenced by some of the shots. I kept trying to get a greatly blurred background with the whole car in the shot. I guess this is nearly impossible? I'll post a photoshop later of what I mean.
There's just so many things that go into a shot... and there's different ways to compensate for low light/too much light... you just forget about things like ISO to compensate for exposure. On top of settings, there's composition to worry about. That's the one thing with the SLR though, higher ISO yields way less noise. Photography looks so simple... I see a shot of yours, and I want to replicate it on my car right. And then you find **** out about distortion at lower focal lenths (wide angle), using flash in conditions where it seems like flash is not needed, etc, etc.
On top of that, you need a goddamn ladder for some of the top down shots.
#28
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Originally Posted by taurran
First off, very nice Z. I'm really digging the color combo of the body/wheels and the painted cwest lip.
Just something I've noticed from many car shots around the web... How would you all define a nice "partial" shot of a car? Apologies to the OP but I'm going to use your pics as examples. Some of the shots here just seem to me to be a little "claustrophobic" meaning the car is boxed in at odd angles and just leaves me as a viewer feeling "trapped".
I actually consider this a lot when I'm taking shots and sometimes it seems that it might subconsciously force me to be more limited in the angles I shoot at. Due to this I usually try to take in the whole car unless I'm going for a tight shot with really tight depth of field for an "artistic" closeup.
Check out below to see what I mean:
Images with odd angles leaving me feeling "trapped":
Keep in mind I'm not trying to criticize in any way, just that we're talking photography now, and its something I'm interested in discussing since we have some of the more avid photographers on the forum present.
Should I be more willing to go in and chop up the car and only get certain areas in the frame? Also, am I correct in noticing that sometimes its taken to the extreme in automotive shots, in certain cases unneccesarily?? Input? gr?
Just something I've noticed from many car shots around the web... How would you all define a nice "partial" shot of a car? Apologies to the OP but I'm going to use your pics as examples. Some of the shots here just seem to me to be a little "claustrophobic" meaning the car is boxed in at odd angles and just leaves me as a viewer feeling "trapped".
I actually consider this a lot when I'm taking shots and sometimes it seems that it might subconsciously force me to be more limited in the angles I shoot at. Due to this I usually try to take in the whole car unless I'm going for a tight shot with really tight depth of field for an "artistic" closeup.
Check out below to see what I mean:
Images with odd angles leaving me feeling "trapped":
Keep in mind I'm not trying to criticize in any way, just that we're talking photography now, and its something I'm interested in discussing since we have some of the more avid photographers on the forum present.
Should I be more willing to go in and chop up the car and only get certain areas in the frame? Also, am I correct in noticing that sometimes its taken to the extreme in automotive shots, in certain cases unneccesarily?? Input? gr?
I thought this shot of the car had a nice sky In hindsight, this other pic was the better "snapshot"
Does that seem alot less claustaphobic, just with more front wheel? Or would the better automobile shot be with part of the grill in the pic? Again, I'd like to see an "Auto Photography 101" thread started up just for this kind of stuff, where we can discuss stuff like 'automobile photo composition.'
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Originally Posted by ctwentytwo
Yeah, I know that lowering F-stop values (opening apeture) gives you DOF. Been trying it with the Fuji for awhile as the F11 has manually adjustable apeture and shutter speed. But I didn't know that focal length and just the physical distance from lens to subjet greatly affects DOF as evidenced by some of the shots. I kept trying to get a greatly blurred background with the whole car in the shot. I guess this is nearly impossible? I'll post a photoshop later of what I mean.
I have a few replies in a thread over on the S2000 forum that gives a few tips on positioning, framing, lighting, settings, etc: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...pic=430214&hl=
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Originally Posted by taurran
Should I be more willing to go in and chop up the car and only get certain areas in the frame? Also, am I correct in noticing that sometimes its taken to the extreme in automotive shots, in certain cases unneccesarily?? Input? gr?
1) full front
2) full side
3) full rear
4) 1/4 front
5) 1/4 rear
Beyond the basic shots listed above, I have other smaller sections that I break the vehicle into:
6) full side wheel shot
7) wheel turned to one side and taken from the rear
8) headlight shot, usually in portrait mode with 1/2 of the vehicle in the frame
9) rear spoiler shot (this doesn't work well with some cars due to the lines)
10) rear exhaust shot
11) various emblems at different angles
In addition to the above, I do assorted shots of the interior and engine bay but these I keep fairly simple. Here are two quick photo shoots I've done over the last 2 weekends to give you a visual idea of how I frame things, which is usually different than how the next person will frame the same car and setting.
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO:
http://asianguywithacamera.com/image...hi_Lancer_EVO/
Nissan 300ZX non turbo:
http://asianguywithacamera.com/images/Nissan300ZX_01/
Both of these took about 40 minutes total since the owners didn't want anything fancy or extensive. I keep the engine running the whole time since I am constantly having the vehicle repositioned and the wheels turned.
As far as more extreme angles, that's not really my style when I can control the time, location, and vehicle position. I do try weird angles but these are only at car shows due to the limited space, lighting, and bad reflections.
As far as a critque:
I'd take this shot taken about 1 foot back further so that you have the side mirror and the bottom of the wheel in the frame.
For the rest of the shots:
Lighting and exposure is good but the location isn't the greatest. My eyes look at the car, then the pole sticking out of the pass. side. Then my eyes wander to the yellow lines on the ground. Location makes a big impact on the image when you don't fill the whole frame with the vehicle.
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Yeah, I am usually very wary of parts I'm chopping off of the car if I go in for close up shots. I just don't like doing it unless there's a specific object I'm focusing on. Usually I find myself stepping back a few times to get everything in. Im my opinion its better to get it all then get the perfect crop with photoshop than to limit yourself by a shot that doesn't give you room to play.
Thanks for the piointers there, as always much appreciated.
Thanks for the piointers there, as always much appreciated.
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Originally Posted by ctwentytwo
Does that seem alot less claustaphobic, just with more front wheel? Or would the better automobile shot be with part of the grill in the pic? Again, I'd like to see an "Auto Photography 101" thread started up just for this kind of stuff, where we can discuss stuff like 'automobile photo composition.'
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Guys, thanks for the advice. Really helpful information. I do in-home service repair and everywhere I go, I'm looking for locations and such, and what would make a great pic. My eyes have opened, and I'm so much more aware of my environment. Photography has really opened my eyes to the beauty of such mundane objects and structures.
gr?- those are awesome pics. Hopefully, I'll be getting those quality type of shots soon. You bastards make it look so easy!
gr?- those are awesome pics. Hopefully, I'll be getting those quality type of shots soon. You bastards make it look so easy!
#35
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Awesome car Advan buddy. Really looks great. I cant wait to get my car together/done. Wait I'll never be done
Pictures look great. You have such a beautiful backround. Hawaii. you me I really like how the car looks fully painted.
What other plans do you have for the car? Keep it up buddy. and keep it clean
Pictures look great. You have such a beautiful backround. Hawaii. you me I really like how the car looks fully painted.
What other plans do you have for the car? Keep it up buddy. and keep it clean
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Originally Posted by NA&CH
Awesome car Advan buddy. Really looks great. I cant wait to get my car together/done. Wait I'll never be done
Pictures look great. You have such a beautiful backround. Hawaii. you me I really like how the car looks fully painted.
What other plans do you have for the car? Keep it up buddy. and keep it clean
Pictures look great. You have such a beautiful backround. Hawaii. you me I really like how the car looks fully painted.
What other plans do you have for the car? Keep it up buddy. and keep it clean
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Goddamn, I can't stop taking pics. Tried some night shots... Just need to stop rushing and be more aware of the surroundings... and remember to take of the polarizer for night shots. I'm always seeing things that I don't want in the shot when I get it on the computer
All shots taken with the kit lens. EFS 18-55mm f/3.5. None taken with flash as the stock flash is too weak. Need to buy an upgrade
1. The gutter running down the center of the "snapshot" ruins what would be a great photograph... at least for me.
2. It was hard to control the amount of exposure of the car, in relation to the exposure of the soda machine. Wish the framing was better.
3. I wish I had this shot with the car straight on and the camera a little higher.
4. Love this pic, but the passing car had to give that red blur running in front of the car. 30 sec exposure.
All shots taken with the kit lens. EFS 18-55mm f/3.5. None taken with flash as the stock flash is too weak. Need to buy an upgrade
1. The gutter running down the center of the "snapshot" ruins what would be a great photograph... at least for me.
2. It was hard to control the amount of exposure of the car, in relation to the exposure of the soda machine. Wish the framing was better.
3. I wish I had this shot with the car straight on and the camera a little higher.
4. Love this pic, but the passing car had to give that red blur running in front of the car. 30 sec exposure.
Last edited by ctwentytwo; 10-27-2006 at 10:45 PM.
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Lookin good. Nice lighting, especially in the 3rd pic. My biggest problem is finding good multi-colored lighting that gives it a nice "3 point" look.
I really like the last shot a lot. It turned out great. The streak in the foreground doesn't look TOO bad, but I probably would have taken a good amount of shots just to be sure. I might have tried to back up as far as I could and cranked it up as close to 55mm as I could to see if I could "grow" the backdrop a little, but I'm sure you were tight on space. I think that pic would be a lot better if you could crop it down closer to the car in photoshop to fill up the frame more.
From taking night shots, I usually take quite a few more from each angle with slight adjustments in the focus (never rely on manual), and aperature, and exposure. I usually don't bother with full manual mode and just leave it on AV or switch it over to TV for longer time lapse shots like the last one. 5-10 pics at least from each angle and I'm usually able to find at least one usable shot out of those (but not always).
You don't wan't or need any sort of flash for this situation. It really has no place in this type of shot so don't worry about it. The biggest trick is to get the focus perfectly on, have a solid tripod, and rely on the 10sec timer or remote shutter to get a perfectly still shot. You probably already knew that though judging from your pics. It also doesn't hurt to use some afterprocessing sharpening filters and techniques to make those lines really pop.
I'm still working on my own, so others with more experience can probably give better feedback. Good job on the pics, though.
I really like the last shot a lot. It turned out great. The streak in the foreground doesn't look TOO bad, but I probably would have taken a good amount of shots just to be sure. I might have tried to back up as far as I could and cranked it up as close to 55mm as I could to see if I could "grow" the backdrop a little, but I'm sure you were tight on space. I think that pic would be a lot better if you could crop it down closer to the car in photoshop to fill up the frame more.
From taking night shots, I usually take quite a few more from each angle with slight adjustments in the focus (never rely on manual), and aperature, and exposure. I usually don't bother with full manual mode and just leave it on AV or switch it over to TV for longer time lapse shots like the last one. 5-10 pics at least from each angle and I'm usually able to find at least one usable shot out of those (but not always).
You don't wan't or need any sort of flash for this situation. It really has no place in this type of shot so don't worry about it. The biggest trick is to get the focus perfectly on, have a solid tripod, and rely on the 10sec timer or remote shutter to get a perfectly still shot. You probably already knew that though judging from your pics. It also doesn't hurt to use some afterprocessing sharpening filters and techniques to make those lines really pop.
I'm still working on my own, so others with more experience can probably give better feedback. Good job on the pics, though.
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Originally Posted by taurran
Lookin good. Nice lighting, especially in the 3rd pic. My biggest problem is finding good multi-colored lighting that gives it a nice "3 point" look.
I really like the last shot a lot. It turned out great. The streak in the foreground doesn't look TOO bad, but I probably would have taken a good amount of shots just to be sure. I might have tried to back up as far as I could and cranked it up as close to 55mm as I could to see if I could "grow" the backdrop a little, but I'm sure you were tight on space. I think that pic would be a lot better if you could crop it down closer to the car in photoshop to fill up the frame more.
From taking night shots, I usually take quite a few more from each angle with slight adjustments in the focus (never rely on manual), and aperature, and exposure. I usually don't bother with full manual mode and just leave it on AV or switch it over to TV for longer time lapse shots like the last one. 5-10 pics at least from each angle and I'm usually able to find at least one usable shot out of those (but not always).
You don't wan't or need any sort of flash for this situation. It really has no place in this type of shot so don't worry about it. The biggest trick is to get the focus perfectly on, have a solid tripod, and rely on the 10sec timer or remote shutter to get a perfectly still shot. You probably already knew that though judging from your pics. It also doesn't hurt to use some afterprocessing sharpening filters and techniques to make those lines really pop.
I'm still working on my own, so others with more experience can probably give better feedback. Good job on the pics, though.
I really like the last shot a lot. It turned out great. The streak in the foreground doesn't look TOO bad, but I probably would have taken a good amount of shots just to be sure. I might have tried to back up as far as I could and cranked it up as close to 55mm as I could to see if I could "grow" the backdrop a little, but I'm sure you were tight on space. I think that pic would be a lot better if you could crop it down closer to the car in photoshop to fill up the frame more.
From taking night shots, I usually take quite a few more from each angle with slight adjustments in the focus (never rely on manual), and aperature, and exposure. I usually don't bother with full manual mode and just leave it on AV or switch it over to TV for longer time lapse shots like the last one. 5-10 pics at least from each angle and I'm usually able to find at least one usable shot out of those (but not always).
You don't wan't or need any sort of flash for this situation. It really has no place in this type of shot so don't worry about it. The biggest trick is to get the focus perfectly on, have a solid tripod, and rely on the 10sec timer or remote shutter to get a perfectly still shot. You probably already knew that though judging from your pics. It also doesn't hurt to use some afterprocessing sharpening filters and techniques to make those lines really pop.
I'm still working on my own, so others with more experience can probably give better feedback. Good job on the pics, though.
BTW, using Photoshop, or any other image editor won't help me on my photo skills. All those pics are without post processing. It's what comes out of the camera for me! I know my way around image manipulation pretty well, and that would be way too easy! Heck, I'd get DOF, and super sharp pics on every shot no problemo That's no fun.
Last edited by ctwentytwo; 10-28-2006 at 12:07 AM.
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Originally Posted by ctwentytwo
BTW, using Photoshop, or any other image editor won't help me on my photo skills. All those pics are without post processing. It's what comes out of the camera for me! I know my way around image manipulation pretty well, and that would be way too easy! Heck, I'd get DOF, and super sharp pics on every shot no problemo That's no fun.
I guess its alright to skip it if you're looking for constructive criticism, but doing without it completely isn't advisable.