Trying to make car photos less boring, composition book recommendations? I've been hitting a creative wall lately on automotive photos so I haven't been taking as many in the last...

SirMontgomery Loc: Seattle

I've been hitting a creative wall lately on automotive photos so I haven't been taking as many in the last month. Does anyone have a good recommendation on any books related to composition in art or the golden ratio? I feel if I try to push harder in the art side rather than the cars themselves I might improve...
The photos are a collection from random events from the last 5 weeks or so. Any constructive criticism is much appreciated.

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Manual focus at 85mm at 1/80th is a PITA for moving subjects

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very nice

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Nice pictures but every picture of a 911 is exciting to me. LOL

gmw12 Loc: Indianapolis & Windsor/UK & Montreux/Switzerl

An excellent book is Michael Freeman's "Fifty Paths to Creative Photography". One of the "paths" is actually to forget rules (aka golden ratio, thirds, etc). You may also look at Harald Mante's "Photography unplugged".

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

Every car has something that makes it interesting. For me, the back of they corvette would be the focus point, but you have leaves in the way. The Ford engine (maybe in a GT) is just perfect. It stirs the imagination.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

SirMontgomery wrote:

I've been hitting a creative wall lately on automotive photos so I haven't been taking as many in the last month. Does anyone have a good recommendation on any books related to composition in art or the golden ratio? I feel if I try to push harder in the art side rather than the cars themselves I might improve...
The photos are a collection from random events from the last 5 weeks or so. Any constructive criticism is much appreciated.

You do have a great sense of composition. I would get the camera down lower and change the perspective of the images you create. That will give it a WOW impact.

This might help?
https://www.amazon.com/Digitally-Photograph-Cars-Performance-How/dp/1932494995

Have fun!

SirMontgomery Loc: Seattle

jccash wrote:

Nice pictures but every picture of a 911 is exciting to me. LOL

There's loads of them out here in the PNW, although I can't vibe as much with the people in the Porsche community. It's probably because my favorite Porsche is the 928 which most have a strong disdain for...

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fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

Nice series...love the variety.

Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia

SirMontgomery wrote:

There's loads of them out here in the PNW, although I can't vibe as much with the people in the Porsche community. It's probably because my favorite Porsche is the 928 which most have a strong disdain for...

Nice shots. I don't throw shade on the 928. My 993 loves to see all of its brothers and sisters, even if she is the best looking one in the family

CusopDingle Loc: central CT

One you know.

The other - besides being a quick and dusty scan- , do you know this one?

(Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor 50mm f/2, Kentmere 100)

autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

I shoot a lot of cars, and cars are large subjects, sometimes you have to think small, as in details. There are special points of interest on almost all cars, emblems, mirrors, taillights, etc. Think about angles, think about how everyone else will shoot the shot, and find a new way to shoot it. Think about leading lines, how a piece of trim will lead the eye to your subject. I know rules can be broken, but I think you need to have and understand the reason for doing it. The rules of design go back centuries, and they do make a difference, and it could be the difference between a good photo and an exceptional photo. When shoot a front of a car I focus on the headlights. I see them the same way as I see the eyes in a portrait. Get away from shooting from your standard upright position, get low, try your wide angle lens, get in close, typically they have deep focus even if your one foot away from the subject of the shot. Unless you're planning on doing a fair amount of corrective editing try to keep as many distractions out of the shot, even competing colors will draw the viewer's eye away from your target subject. This is not always easy at car shows and cruise nights with lots of people, and hoods and trunks open. When you run into that grab a small detail of the car. And there are times that people will actually add something to your shot...not only the visitors, but also the car owners. Feel free to take a peek at some of my shots over on flickr, here's the link
https://www.flickr.com/photos/20127329@N06/

Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia

CusopDingle wrote:

One you know.

The other - besides being a quick and dusty scan- , do you know this one?

(Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor 50mm f/2, Kentmere 100)

She's a beauty, if I say so myself! Here is mine.

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autofocus Loc: North Central Connecticut

SirMontgomery wrote:

I've been hitting a creative wall lately on automotive photos so I haven't been taking as many in the last month. Does anyone have a good recommendation on any books related to composition in art or the golden ratio? I feel if I try to push harder in the art side rather than the cars themselves I might improve...
The photos are a collection from random events from the last 5 weeks or so. Any constructive criticism is much appreciated.

I know manners are becoming a thing of the past, but a thank you would be nice!

SirMontgomery Loc: Seattle

autofocus wrote:

I know manners are becoming a thing of the past, but a thank you would be nice!

I'm sorry, I appreciate the advice. I've been insanely busy so I'm on the forum rather intermittently.

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