Golden Hour plus 1
Mar 18, 2013 11:19:15 #
Went to "Cars and Coffee" Saturday AM in Franklin, TN. It was around 8:30 when we arrived, cars were parked facing east or west in a shopping center parking lot. So, the sun, still low in the sky, brightly lit the cars' front, OR rear. Terrible lighting. I didn't bring my speedlight and the camera's flash (D5000) was inadequate as you might imagine. Are there any secret tips for this situation? There are hundreds of people milling around, cars are parked about 30" apart, so any cumbersome lighting apparatus is out of the question. Maybe sometimes, as the song goes, bad is bad.
Mar 18, 2013 11:35:43 #
The only thing I would do is work in tight. wide angle lens and get in to shoot interesting details and interiors. It is the only way to use the small camera flash and also keep out lookers and their reflections in hubcaps etc. as you shoot the cars. A perfect world would be a single car sitting in nice light with trees in the background and no people or other distractions. Go with what you've got, and make the best of it. It is surprising how a distinctive tail light or grill can make a great car image. My humble opinion. JB
Mar 18, 2013 12:52:00 #
"A perfect world would be a single car sitting in nice light with trees in the background and no people or other distractions."
You got that right, Ollie.
You got that right, Ollie.
Mar 18, 2013 12:54:43 #
FredCM wrote:
Went to "Cars and Coffee" Saturday AM in... (show quote)
Watch what the newspaper photogs do in a situation like this. Find some people between you and the sun, get down low and shoot a silhouette. Shoot several. Makes interest where there isn't much when you can't see the forest for the trees.
Mar 18, 2013 13:07:05 #
Thanks. The get down low is tough with these knees, or what's left of them. The D5000 couldn't focus, the cars ($$$) were too shiny, so I'd manually focus, change to live view, open the articulated screen, and bend over as best I could. But the front of a back lit by the low sun Lambo still looks awful. Sigh. The speedlight would have helped I suppose. Photoshop brightens them some but you know, if it's too dark, it's too dark. No secret solutions I guess.
Mar 18, 2013 13:16:10 #
Mar 18, 2013 14:03:53 #
Here's the situation, first one is when we arrived, last one is as we were leaving. Solution is to wait and hope no one leaves!
Mar 18, 2013 14:20:31 #
Phooey, 2 tries to upload, different approaches, and both crashed. Pictures must be too detailed, taking too much bandwidth. Oh well, not important anyway.
Mar 18, 2013 14:21:13 #
Mar 18, 2013 14:34:33 #
Try uploading 1 at a time...20mb is the most you can up-load at any one time....1 file or 3 files....can't be any bigger than that.
Mar 18, 2013 15:01:23 #
FredCM wrote:
Went to "Cars and Coffee" Saturday AM in... (show quote)
I know there are limits to what the built in flash can do, but if used strickly as a fill (2-3 stops under) you might be surprised. Would have thought that in the morning could take photos of part facing the sun. Opposite in the late afternoon. A CP might also have helped. As for people and closeness of cars, my experience has been nothing much can be done. When I did something like this I made it a point of arriving very early, before the crowd arrives, or staying late until most have gone home. Have found that as they are leaving many are willing to pause for a few seconds while you take the picture. If show is sponsored by a club, I also make it a point to give them copies of the photos. Be surprised how far something as simple as this can get you.
Mar 18, 2013 17:20:10 #
That didn't work either. I guess I'll have to export them from iPhoto at lesser quality. What the heck, it's a D5000, not a Hasselblad. I wonder if it's Frontier.... Regardless, lesser quality coming up.
Mar 18, 2013 17:26:23 #
All right, "Large" quality, "medium" size. These 3 followed us in, a Lambo, 911, Ferrari, and $450,000 (?) Porsche. Just a small sample of what was there.
8:30 AM
Mar 18, 2013 17:27:36 #
That worked! This one is as we were leaving. Same 4 cars plus a few more in the row.
9:30AM
Mar 19, 2013 06:11:26 #
If you are going to do a lot of work with cars in shows like this, a wide angle lens (but not ultra wide, they get too wierd) with a polarizing filter and learn to use it. It will help with glare around body reflections and cleanup reflections in the glass. It will help to saturate the colors in the paint. Also, you should use a fill flash with a diffuser. Unless the day is overcast or complete open shade, sun lighting will always be terrible. As for crowds, well, a little patience and a watchful eye...and maybe a courteous dose of assertiveness (but remember everyone there is trying to have a good time too)
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