I'm going to stick my head out and ask that those of you who take images and do it well, make some sound suggestions for the rest of us. I'm really weary of seeing a great shot only to see one fender cut off the frame...or having to stand on my head to see the image because somebody thinks it's cool to shoot everything on a screwy angle. Maybe we could all learn something from those who do it best....Thanks...Centurion9
One thing I learned that really helps when your just beginning to really put thought into your shots is called the Rule of Thirds. It is a great general "rule" that helps you compose a good shot. Read more about it here: http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition_rule_of_thirds.html Of course as soon as you master this, you need to break the rules! Have fun
Ya need to poke around here.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=103 photographers corner!!!!! Group Maintained by breeder about the pics, and about the cameras! learn from the pros!!!!!!
Hold the camera with both hands, or use a tripod if you can. Just like with firearms... hold your breath and squeeze the trigger smoothly. The amateur that snaps a shot one-handed while walking with his camera or cell phone isn't going to get much sharp, or well composed. If you jerk the shutter ****on, the camera will shake badly. Gary
In these days when EVERYONE uses digital, get yourself a big memory card & shoot a TON of stuff, often moving a foot either way of what you have already shot will give you a big difference. Practice, practice, practice....and then...practice some more! Oh, and come join us in the group mentioned above
Some good advice here, especially about learning the "rule of thirds" and holding the camera steady. The car should be entering the photo and not leaving it. Especially if the car is moving. Using the rule of thirds will have the bulk of the car to the right - for example - so there should be more empty room to the left in front of the car and less empty room to the right behind the car. If you're shooting pics to illustrate a part or a particular install of parts or engines etc. centering the photo is ok. One of the biggest things that help me when shooting cars is to get the shot framed, then bend your knees with legs widespread and get the camera down to about the 4' level. And like said, get a big card for your digital, shoot a lot of photos and if you have a car or scene that you like, take several so you can choose the best one.
I use 125 asa B&W film when I want really nice shots on the fly. I have the cheapest Nikon 35mmSLR and a 24MM-1:2.8 lens mostly. Get out as the sun rises and/or as it sets. Lunchtime shots aren't bad but it is hard to get rid of the shadows under the car. Just a clear filter for the dust and periodically look at the lens to see if any debris has landed on it. Wind the film until you are on number "3' to guarantee the first shot you take is for real. Remember if you outsource your processing, you also outsource your image crop job. Do all you can to minimize any creativity of the Rite-Aid photo dept guy. Like gnichols said, pull both arms together at the elbows, hold your breath and squeeze. If your fat like me and have man ***s this can be awkward, or exciting. Take two or three if you think you screwed up. I am still going thru pics I took in the early 70's and love the fact that I took extras for safety. When a crowd is around a car, no big deal. To me, it shows in the photo that the car was wildly popular and its amazing how car details still are captured in accidental shots. The folks standing around sometimes give the car some proportion. To me there is nothing better that a knee-high custom with a tall person beside it. Remember that the very center of the lens is where the sweet spot is. If your aperture is wide *** open, the outer edges of your shot will be blurred. I try to close the aperture down as much as possible and then some just so the image is going right through the center of the lens. I compensate for this with slow shutter speeds which means you have to practice holding still, no drinking the night before. Finally, I guess I would say that metalflake is hard to capture. That's what make metalflake so mysterious. And as far as angle or framing or clipping off a fender, I say that 30 years from now its the picture you will be proud of no matter what.
Great tips Guys....Thanks very much! This should make quite a bit of difference in my work....I appreciate it....Centurion9
I'm thinking the main problem with cars not centered in the frame or parts cut off is due to these new fancy cameras where you hold it out 2 feet from your face and look into the screen on the back all full of sun glare. get a camera that looks like a camera with a viewfinder, that way you know whats going to be in your photo because you are looking at it when you snap the pics. keep the sun behind you when the shot allows it don't have plastic ****pers in the background I don't like people in my photos at all. sometimes you got to wait or come back later. I've even gone so far as to take several shots of a car I like and combine them on the computer until all the people are gone. same thing with lawn chairs and coolers and other junk. if I have a chair in my shot I'll move it. never touch coolers though.. someone may think you are steaing thier beer. shoot from a variety of angles. if every shot in your slideshow is a standing front left 3/4 view it will be boring.... some from the right, some from the left some down low and even some taken above your head. sometimes I have to take 2 or 3 to get the whole car in the pic but it is a neat view from up above. try to avoid cars half in the sun and half in the shade... especially light colored cars. take lots of pics and only post the good ones on the HAMB. if you are going to post a link rather than actual pics don't include the pics of your buds and what you had for dinner. digital is free no matter how many shots you take. take as many as you can get then go through and delete the crummy ones. after a while you get a feeling for what looks good and what ends up in the delete pile and take fewer bad shots.
.... get yourself some photo editing software so you can fix things after. get a big memory card and shoot your pics at the highest setting. if your camera has digital zoom don't use it... just get close to what you are shooting. a pic with digital zoom will be more pixleated than one shot without.
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