Some pics of the Stealth Bomber (my car)

[static667]

I figured I'd take a few photos today and post them for critiquing. I'm working with my point and shoot camera here and messing with the shutter speed and ISO settings a bit. I think they came out a bit dark, but my computer monitor doesn't display as bright as it should. What do you guys think? I would like to get some input from Casey as I hope to learn a few things from him.














IMG_1026 by static667, on Flickr


IMG_1021 by static667, on Flickr


IMG_1015 by static667, on Flickr

[static667]

And those crazy looking plants in the background are my tomatoes. They kinda look like they are attacking my car...

[static667]

Bump. Need some pointers, here....

[GMATT]

Can't help with pointers, but like pic # 3,4 and7.

[billschusteriv]

I also am not qualified to give suggestions... but I think they look good (the tomato plants)... and I like the pictures too!

Car looks clean...


IIRC, I've seen previous recommendations to take the same shot with different settings to compare... so, if you can... you could change your exposure levels (-1, 0, +1), flash levels (-1, 0, +1), iso, and shutter speeds...

[slowCoupe]

I can offer some basic tips (I'm a part-time sports photographer)..

1. Use a tripod. Set the shutter delay and use it like a remote-shutter release. This will ensure the camera is 100% still during the exposure.

2. Use the lowest ISO possible to reduce noise. I would recommend staying in the 100-400 range.

3. Observe how aperture affects a) depth of field, and b) sharpness. Generally, a larger aperture (below 5.6) will have a more shallow depth of field, blurring the background but possibly blurring part of a larger subject like a vehicle. Generally, the smaller the aperture (f/8 and above) the sharper the image. Most lenses have a sweet spot for sharpness, contrast, and saturation around f/8.0.

You will read about diffraction effects at smaller apertures, f/16-f/22. While this can be a concern, if you're getting started I wouldn't worry about it.

4. Set shutter speed, exposure compensation, and flash output to get the exposure level where you want it. I suggest you research how the image histogram represents exposure values. Also look into using fill flash during the day, to reduce the shadows. Using the tripod, you will be able to use longer exposures than you could handhold (below 1/15sec), which gives more freedom to set your aperture smaller (higher f-stop) while still using a low ISO.

5. Obviously you're just shooting at the house, but when you go to get some killer shots, clean backgrounds will be your friend. Check out some corporate parks, empty industrial areas, and highway overpasses for good settings. Since you're working with a point & shoot, improving your Photoshop skills to enhance saturation/color, clarity/vibrance, sharpness/contrast, selective blur, and to adjust exposure will all improve your images. Lots of tutorials available on the web and YouTube. If your camera allows you to shoot in RAW, even better.

6. Fill the frame, don't be afraid to get close.

7. Regarding light conditions (mentioned before), the best natural light is available as the sun is coming up (the golden hour) or as the sun is going down (the magic hour). It's soft, diffuse, even light.

8. If your camera allows you to set custom white balance, learn about how to utilize it. You can set white balance quite accurately using a white sheet of typing paper, you don't necessarily need a grey card or other fancy target.

Hope it helps, if you want additional information don't hesitate to ask.

PS nice ride, I dig all variations of grey paint on the coupes.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Slowcoupe, thanks for the thoughtful response. You're going to fit in nicely around here.

Well done.

[lilcdkey]

thanks alot for that slowCoupe

[spencers]

My suggestion is to balance your photos out more.. Rule of thirds, I guess.

The first picture shows too much gravel, in my opinion. It is also clipping the passenger edge of your car. If you're going for a quarter shot like that, try to get the full nose in the shot. I can see similar results in some of the subsequent shots.

ie- don't do what my girlfriend did in my sig photo... Get the whole car in the shot. If you aren't trying to, at least make it deliberate that you aren't shooting the whole car. Otherwise it just looks hurried

Hope that helps!

[C Withers Media]

Take what slowcoupe said and mix it with what spencers said, throw in my philosophy that "The only zen you will find at the top of the mountain is the zen you bring with you", be creative and keep shooting.


Composition is everything...For those of you shooting with P&S, or iPhone or whatever....google Chase Jarvis.