Taking pictures of a black car
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 799
From: Lake Geneva, WI
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As an old advertising photographer, I can tell you some pointers.
Shoot at sun rise or sun set, you can also extend your shooting time by shooting in a canyon. Always use a tripod and a a good SLR digital camera. Chose a background that complaments the car, but does not over power it. I have attached some examples. Actually a dark or black car is easier to shoot.
Never shoot with the car back light (the sun behind the car). There is a term from photo 101 that states, "The angel of incidents equals the angel of reflectance" So you want the sun setting or rising at an angel to the side of the car you are shooting so you get the nice long highlight in the side of the car. So you will see in my photos of my Red Jag and 2007 Vantage, I shot looking at the side of a mountain with the sun setting some what behind me. So the side of my care reflected the sky and the sunset. The car is a mirror, so don't have and thing ugly rejecting in the car. Hope this helps. Also, for shooting interiors, one easy way is to shoot late or early in the day. In the shade of a building, like my attached shots. The shot of my 2016 GT, is behind the same building as the interior shot. It was very late in the day this summer. The trick is to keep the direct light off the car.
Ron
Shoot at sun rise or sun set, you can also extend your shooting time by shooting in a canyon. Always use a tripod and a a good SLR digital camera. Chose a background that complaments the car, but does not over power it. I have attached some examples. Actually a dark or black car is easier to shoot.
Never shoot with the car back light (the sun behind the car). There is a term from photo 101 that states, "The angel of incidents equals the angel of reflectance" So you want the sun setting or rising at an angel to the side of the car you are shooting so you get the nice long highlight in the side of the car. So you will see in my photos of my Red Jag and 2007 Vantage, I shot looking at the side of a mountain with the sun setting some what behind me. So the side of my care reflected the sky and the sunset. The car is a mirror, so don't have and thing ugly rejecting in the car. Hope this helps. Also, for shooting interiors, one easy way is to shoot late or early in the day. In the shade of a building, like my attached shots. The shot of my 2016 GT, is behind the same building as the interior shot. It was very late in the day this summer. The trick is to keep the direct light off the car.
Ron
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 202
Rep Power: 27
Yikes...
Taking photographs of any color car is an art form in of itself, nothing in a thread will make you good at it without a hell of a lot of practice.
The approach depends on the wanted result... post up a reference shot and I'll tell you how to recreate it.
Source: 15 years of being paid to fake reality in Visual Effects, starting with automotive CGI (near 20 years of experience in general):
http://markomandaric.com
The approach depends on the wanted result... post up a reference shot and I'll tell you how to recreate it.
Source: 15 years of being paid to fake reality in Visual Effects, starting with automotive CGI (near 20 years of experience in general):
http://markomandaric.com
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,038
From: Oxnard, Ca
Rep Power: 62
Having owned three black cars, but not a professional photog or anything
If you want to really have your car "shine", you need to do it when the sun is high and not a cloud in the sky. Cloudiness will completely dull your picture
Shooting at dawn or dusk is only for background effect; the actual brightness or lines of the car will be lost, UNLESS you have a secondary light source to shine onto the car at certain angles
If you want to really have your car "shine", you need to do it when the sun is high and not a cloud in the sky. Cloudiness will completely dull your picture
Shooting at dawn or dusk is only for background effect; the actual brightness or lines of the car will be lost, UNLESS you have a secondary light source to shine onto the car at certain angles
Ron
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,051
From: Reno, NV
Rep Power: 62
Having owned three black cars, but not a professional photog or anything
If you want to really have your car "shine", you need to do it when the sun is high and not a cloud in the sky. Cloudiness will completely dull your picture
Shooting at dawn or dusk is only for background effect; the actual brightness or lines of the car will be lost, UNLESS you have a secondary light source to shine onto the car at certain angles
If you want to really have your car "shine", you need to do it when the sun is high and not a cloud in the sky. Cloudiness will completely dull your picture
Shooting at dawn or dusk is only for background effect; the actual brightness or lines of the car will be lost, UNLESS you have a secondary light source to shine onto the car at certain angles
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 123
From: Illinois
Rep Power: 14
IF CarPro CQuartz was used, please use the CarPro wash specifically for that coating. Also, CarPro Reload is specifically made for that coating to top it off every now and then (much like a spray wax).
If you are bare paint with the coating, drying the car with anything other than a Metro Sidekick blower ($85) you are inputting swirls into the paint.
Glad to help anytime with car care for the paint.
If you are bare paint with the coating, drying the car with anything other than a Metro Sidekick blower ($85) you are inputting swirls into the paint.
Glad to help anytime with car care for the paint.
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,167
From: South Carolina
Rep Power: 63
Awesome, To keep water from drying on hotter paint, I sometimes start at back top window working to the back, while spraying water forward to keep that area wet.
Normal---- I developed a pattern that allows me to get all cracks and seals and panels before they dry. You will figure that out after about 2-3 washings. Works on most cars for me, just adjust to how the car reacts.
Let me know if you would like anything else, pm me before purchases and I can help save you money possibly with places to buy.
Normal---- I developed a pattern that allows me to get all cracks and seals and panels before they dry. You will figure that out after about 2-3 washings. Works on most cars for me, just adjust to how the car reacts.
Let me know if you would like anything else, pm me before purchases and I can help save you money possibly with places to buy.
