Car Photography - Questions

hangu · 05-28-2010, 05:32 PM

Going to shoot a few photos of my friend's car tomorrow afternoon, first time ever shooting cars. I would appreciate some advice from other members on where to go (in NYC), what equipment/lens to use and how to do it. I'd like to get a few dusk shots, as well as a few night shots with streaking lights in the background.

I'm thinking of bringing:

tripod
Voigtlander 40mm f2
Pentax-A 50mm f1.4
S-Takumar 85mm f1.9
Pentax-K 35mm f3.5
kit lens
maybe a cpl filter (is it that important for cars?)
maybe the Panagor 90mm f2.8 Macro lens for the car logo

I wish I had a wider than 35mm lens... but I'll have to make do with what I have. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Gaelen · 05-28-2010, 05:50 PM

Most car shots I do with a 50-135mm, the fast 50 will be your friend at dusk and I'd recommend bringing a flash or flashlight to fill in any dark spots unless you want to be PP'in for hours afterwards.

fractal · 05-28-2010, 06:54 PM

Wider!

I find a wide angle lens to be vital when shooting vehicles. Also, try to be creative with your angles, for example try to get some height and some right down on the ground.

clmonk · 05-29-2010, 05:56 AM

CPL will work fine on skies and grass/leaves but it will not work on reflections off of metal. Just saying...

legboy · 06-01-2010, 04:04 PM

My car work is done with camera mounted to some part of the car, when I see really good car imagery it normally involves motion.

05-28-2010, 05:32 PM	#1
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	Car Photography - Questions Going to shoot a few photos of my friend's car tomorrow afternoon, first time ever shooting cars. I would appreciate some advice from other members on where to go (in NYC), what equipment/lens to use and how to do it. I'd like to get a few dusk shots, as well as a few night shots with streaking lights in the background. I'm thinking of bringing: tripod Voigtlander 40mm f2 Pentax-A 50mm f1.4 S-Takumar 85mm f1.9 Pentax-K 35mm f3.5 kit lens maybe a cpl filter (is it that important for cars?) maybe the Panagor 90mm f2.8 Macro lens for the car logo I wish I had a wider than 35mm lens... but I'll have to make do with what I have. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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05-28-2010, 05:50 PM	#2
Gaelen Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 749	Most car shots I do with a 50-135mm, the fast 50 will be your friend at dusk and I'd recommend bringing a flash or flashlight to fill in any dark spots unless you want to be PP'in for hours afterwards.

05-28-2010, 06:54 PM	#3
fractal Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,547	Wider! I find a wide angle lens to be vital when shooting vehicles. Also, try to be creative with your angles, for example try to get some height and some right down on the ground.

05-29-2010, 05:56 AM	#4
clmonk Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern TN Posts: 269	CPL will work fine on skies and grass/leaves but it will not work on reflections off of metal. Just saying...

06-01-2010, 04:04 PM	#5
legboy Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston Posts: 8	My car work is done with camera mounted to some part of the car, when I see really good car imagery it normally involves motion.

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