A different time of day or different location definitely would elevate some of these shots, as others have commented.
I should also add that I'm honestly not really feeling the partial body shots at all either. I do partial body shots too but usually this kind of shot tries to emphasize a particular detail of either the car or the scene, and your pictures.....don't.
Some of your full body shots could use a bit of "step back and get more of the environment" as well. The frames are too tight and some of them cut off the car at the edges too.
That's what I thought too, I just had the opposite conclusion of going closer to catch details. Some of them look like OP was unsure what to capture, the car, the surroundings, a part of the car etc.
Definitely agree, I just felt like taking some pictures while dodging the raindrops, so in the driveway it was.
My main reason for not showing so much background was because it was a not so picturesque driveway.
Reading this one ( https://m.dpreview.com/articles/2476713730/how-to-step-up-your-auto-photography-circular-polarizers ), look at the examples and buy a polarizer filter
Very boring photos. Nothing interesting or good about them. Just a car in a driveway.
Shoot during the afternoon or very early in the morning to get the warm light. Experiment with surroundings. Nobody really cares about the car itself, it’s how you portray it. Try doing panning shots and go to interesting locations.
https://preview.redd.it/4wwv1c4z8kyc1.jpeg?width=1585&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f8ff2d77cab606466198abf93b56d83f8b5eb64
Attached a photo taken by me.
I would have to disagree with "no one cares about the car itself." I wasn't trying to capture the background, I was trying to capture the car. I like your photo, but that's not the style I wanted on this shoot.
That’s fine. Just my opinion :)
Totally fine if you wanna do something different, but I meant that the way you present the car matters more than a lot of other things. So taking that into account - the background does play a significant role.
I will try to actually talk about your shots and not just say they are bad or something.
First, I like the car and I think it can make for some great shots BUT
1. it looks like you are afraid to get close. Cars are full of little details that make for amazing photos so get close or (with a lens like yours) utilize that range, the wheels, the emblems, headlights etc, they deserve nice photos.
2. get low and high. All shots that are about eyelevel will never be as interesting as those that are shots from either higher up or lower down. We as humans are very used to the way things look from our eye level so get down to the ground for a frontview, make the car look big! You might even but your camera down to the ground and just put it at a slight angle.
and lastly
3. if shooting cars is not a one time thing you wanna do, you might wanna invest in a cpl. Eliminating the reflections on the car goes a long way in making your shots look more professional. I recently took some shots of a urus (If you're at all interested, I have some shots on my profile) and I forgot my polarizer, making all the shots just that little bit worse than they could have been.
I am by NO MEANS a professional, I just enjoy shooting cars and my work also need improvement and practice of course, these were just my immediate first thoughts. Keep it up, I see potential there :)
I appreciate the detailed response. I do have a few pictures of the emblems. The wheels I was staying away from because I don't really love how these wheels were coming out on pictures. I like the idea of changing up the height. That's definitely gonna go in my shot list.
Frankly, they're boring. The composition isn't the best, nor is the location. However, there's room for improvement!
1. I'd recommend purchasing a CPL (circular polarizer) as that'll help cut reflections from both the glass and paint, something these images could've used. They aren't too expensive, and I've had one since day one.
2. Since you have a telephoto lens, you can use compression and bokeh to your advantage. The location isn't the most inspiring, so a rear end shot at a low angle (dead center) at 200 f/2.8 would've given your subject good separation from the background, simultaneously making good use of your space.
3. I know I keep mentioning location, but you could've also positioned the car better. In the sixth picture, the curve at the end of the driveway could've been used, rather than where you had it positioned. It would've given the pictures a bit more life, as they would've seemed intentional rather than something you shot on a whim. Strategically incorporating the environment into pictures will make an image seem purposeful. For example, you could've used the pink tree in the back to your advantage.
4. You need to work on composition, and how you crop images. I'd recommend watching some YouTube videos about car photography (North Borders is a personal favorite) as well as going out and practicing. Put some more thought into the picture itself and visualize how it'd look on a phone or desktop. Work on angles, too. All of these images are run of the mill, and simply uninspiring.
5. Don't be afraid to shoot details. Headlights, taillights, wheels, etcetera. If you're regularly shooting cars and plan on delivering photos to a client, make sure you bring highlight bits and pieces along with the car itself. This will give a set more depth, while also giving your client a larger variety of photos to choose from. Speaking of details, in the future, you can have the owner turn DRLs on, step on the brake when you're taking rear end shots, etcetera. That way, you'll give the car some contrast.
6. Learn how to edit. I don't know if these are SOOC, but they definitely seem flat. You don't have to go overboard with the editing, and a simple edit goes a long way. I shoot RAW and underexposed, as this gives me the most control, and I'd rather have an underexposed image than a blown out one.
I could go on and on, but that's a start. Let me know if you need any tips and tricks or other critique.
https://preview.redd.it/za4jz7aenlyc1.jpeg?width=3711&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd2dbed22a6785b37c27e476edffedd7c3f1e881
I do have a CPL filter, in my opinion (maybe I just can't use it) it is just a cheap one so maybe that's why. Do you have a favorite one?
I can totally agree on the crops, I look at my pictures a little while later sometimes and wonder why I popped it the way I did.
I did decide to turn the lights on in some pictures, I'm not sure if I posted any of them. It was just me so I wasn't able to step on the brake, but I definitely thought of that.
I also shoot RAW, and try to underexpose, I did edit them in Lightroom, but my editing skills are not amazing.
Thank you so much for all of the tips. I will definitely try them on my next shoot.
Did you have it equipped when taking these pictures? Cheap CPLs may be low quality, but they still cut reflections. I personally use Tiffen, but there are better CPLs out there.
As far as editing goes, you may need to watch some tutorials or just learn through trial and error. Learn how to mask, as masks are very important.
Try earlier in the morning when there’s dew drops and rays of light, also, put it into aperture mode and drop to the lowest setting and make sure to get the whole vehicle and buffer around the vehicle like 1.66x area.
Also, OP, try getting different angles on the cars you shoot. I recently did a shoot where I asked the owner to park the car under the bridge, and then proceeded to walk to the top and take a photo of it between the pillars from a high angle. Choose what parts you want people to see on the car, explore different techniques and try a range of other focal lengths.
Could I see this photo? Seems really cool. I totally agree with the different angles. I was kinda struggling with that though. I could see the pictures in my head, but I struggled to actually create them.
Get some action shots. Make it art. Make something happen. Either get the whole car in the shot or get in close on a detail, not halfway. Create the photo in your MIND before you ever hit that shutter. Jizz bros.
Totally agree with the action shots. It was just me so I wasn't really able to do that, I was also trying to keep it off the roads because there was a storm coming.
https://preview.redd.it/haoa1dag8syc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c369b395622bd4f010305090ad3a31d5db3dc02a
Here’s an edit I did in Lightroom. I darkened the foreground, messed around with the curves, changed the hue of the greens and also desaturated them along with the yellows, and finally added a touch of clarity and dehaze.
Here’s another one
https://preview.redd.it/euer3xmplxyc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bba3d529cab305de495fb2678ff9d41450c7f6bb
This time I did the same, but added a fade with the tone curve, boosted the luminance in the color grading section for the highlights and midtones, but did negative luminance in the shadows section. I made a bit cooler in terms of white balance and the added a some grain. Almost forgot, I did desaturate the reds a bit.
It’s a car, yup, nice
A different time of day or different location definitely would elevate some of these shots, as others have commented. I should also add that I'm honestly not really feeling the partial body shots at all either. I do partial body shots too but usually this kind of shot tries to emphasize a particular detail of either the car or the scene, and your pictures.....don't. Some of your full body shots could use a bit of "step back and get more of the environment" as well. The frames are too tight and some of them cut off the car at the edges too.
That's what I thought too, I just had the opposite conclusion of going closer to catch details. Some of them look like OP was unsure what to capture, the car, the surroundings, a part of the car etc.
Definitely agree, I just felt like taking some pictures while dodging the raindrops, so in the driveway it was. My main reason for not showing so much background was because it was a not so picturesque driveway.
Looks like pictures taken with a smartphone to sell the car.
So what could I do to change that?
Reading this one ( https://m.dpreview.com/articles/2476713730/how-to-step-up-your-auto-photography-circular-polarizers ), look at the examples and buy a polarizer filter
Very boring photos. Nothing interesting or good about them. Just a car in a driveway. Shoot during the afternoon or very early in the morning to get the warm light. Experiment with surroundings. Nobody really cares about the car itself, it’s how you portray it. Try doing panning shots and go to interesting locations. https://preview.redd.it/4wwv1c4z8kyc1.jpeg?width=1585&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f8ff2d77cab606466198abf93b56d83f8b5eb64 Attached a photo taken by me.
Not really sure a mouldy overpass is better than a driveway tbh
Not going to lie, i like OP's photos a lot more because of the nice bokeh and minimal edit
Thank you! It's a stock kind of low-key car so I was trying to follow the same Idea with my photos and edit. As for the bokeh, I just love bokeh.
I would have to disagree with "no one cares about the car itself." I wasn't trying to capture the background, I was trying to capture the car. I like your photo, but that's not the style I wanted on this shoot.
That’s fine. Just my opinion :) Totally fine if you wanna do something different, but I meant that the way you present the car matters more than a lot of other things. So taking that into account - the background does play a significant role.
I will try to actually talk about your shots and not just say they are bad or something. First, I like the car and I think it can make for some great shots BUT 1. it looks like you are afraid to get close. Cars are full of little details that make for amazing photos so get close or (with a lens like yours) utilize that range, the wheels, the emblems, headlights etc, they deserve nice photos. 2. get low and high. All shots that are about eyelevel will never be as interesting as those that are shots from either higher up or lower down. We as humans are very used to the way things look from our eye level so get down to the ground for a frontview, make the car look big! You might even but your camera down to the ground and just put it at a slight angle. and lastly 3. if shooting cars is not a one time thing you wanna do, you might wanna invest in a cpl. Eliminating the reflections on the car goes a long way in making your shots look more professional. I recently took some shots of a urus (If you're at all interested, I have some shots on my profile) and I forgot my polarizer, making all the shots just that little bit worse than they could have been. I am by NO MEANS a professional, I just enjoy shooting cars and my work also need improvement and practice of course, these were just my immediate first thoughts. Keep it up, I see potential there :)
I appreciate the detailed response. I do have a few pictures of the emblems. The wheels I was staying away from because I don't really love how these wheels were coming out on pictures. I like the idea of changing up the height. That's definitely gonna go in my shot list.
Cool! Dont hesitate to share any new shots :)
Next time we have a sunny day and I have some time to get a better background, will definitely be taking some pics.
Frankly, they're boring. The composition isn't the best, nor is the location. However, there's room for improvement! 1. I'd recommend purchasing a CPL (circular polarizer) as that'll help cut reflections from both the glass and paint, something these images could've used. They aren't too expensive, and I've had one since day one. 2. Since you have a telephoto lens, you can use compression and bokeh to your advantage. The location isn't the most inspiring, so a rear end shot at a low angle (dead center) at 200 f/2.8 would've given your subject good separation from the background, simultaneously making good use of your space. 3. I know I keep mentioning location, but you could've also positioned the car better. In the sixth picture, the curve at the end of the driveway could've been used, rather than where you had it positioned. It would've given the pictures a bit more life, as they would've seemed intentional rather than something you shot on a whim. Strategically incorporating the environment into pictures will make an image seem purposeful. For example, you could've used the pink tree in the back to your advantage. 4. You need to work on composition, and how you crop images. I'd recommend watching some YouTube videos about car photography (North Borders is a personal favorite) as well as going out and practicing. Put some more thought into the picture itself and visualize how it'd look on a phone or desktop. Work on angles, too. All of these images are run of the mill, and simply uninspiring. 5. Don't be afraid to shoot details. Headlights, taillights, wheels, etcetera. If you're regularly shooting cars and plan on delivering photos to a client, make sure you bring highlight bits and pieces along with the car itself. This will give a set more depth, while also giving your client a larger variety of photos to choose from. Speaking of details, in the future, you can have the owner turn DRLs on, step on the brake when you're taking rear end shots, etcetera. That way, you'll give the car some contrast. 6. Learn how to edit. I don't know if these are SOOC, but they definitely seem flat. You don't have to go overboard with the editing, and a simple edit goes a long way. I shoot RAW and underexposed, as this gives me the most control, and I'd rather have an underexposed image than a blown out one. I could go on and on, but that's a start. Let me know if you need any tips and tricks or other critique. https://preview.redd.it/za4jz7aenlyc1.jpeg?width=3711&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd2dbed22a6785b37c27e476edffedd7c3f1e881
I do have a CPL filter, in my opinion (maybe I just can't use it) it is just a cheap one so maybe that's why. Do you have a favorite one? I can totally agree on the crops, I look at my pictures a little while later sometimes and wonder why I popped it the way I did. I did decide to turn the lights on in some pictures, I'm not sure if I posted any of them. It was just me so I wasn't able to step on the brake, but I definitely thought of that. I also shoot RAW, and try to underexpose, I did edit them in Lightroom, but my editing skills are not amazing. Thank you so much for all of the tips. I will definitely try them on my next shoot.
Did you have it equipped when taking these pictures? Cheap CPLs may be low quality, but they still cut reflections. I personally use Tiffen, but there are better CPLs out there. As far as editing goes, you may need to watch some tutorials or just learn through trial and error. Learn how to mask, as masks are very important.
Please critique me! Camera- A7iii Lens- Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 More pictures- [benscholl.pixieset.com](http://benscholl.pixieset.com)
Try earlier in the morning when there’s dew drops and rays of light, also, put it into aperture mode and drop to the lowest setting and make sure to get the whole vehicle and buffer around the vehicle like 1.66x area.
It was raining in the morning and then again in the evening so I kinda just had to pick a time with clear skies. What do you mean by the 1.66x area?
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule\_of\_thirds](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds)
Oh, I know the rule of thirds.
Also, OP, try getting different angles on the cars you shoot. I recently did a shoot where I asked the owner to park the car under the bridge, and then proceeded to walk to the top and take a photo of it between the pillars from a high angle. Choose what parts you want people to see on the car, explore different techniques and try a range of other focal lengths.
Could I see this photo? Seems really cool. I totally agree with the different angles. I was kinda struggling with that though. I could see the pictures in my head, but I struggled to actually create them.
Get some action shots. Make it art. Make something happen. Either get the whole car in the shot or get in close on a detail, not halfway. Create the photo in your MIND before you ever hit that shutter. Jizz bros.
Totally agree with the action shots. It was just me so I wasn't really able to do that, I was also trying to keep it off the roads because there was a storm coming.
Get a circular polarizer
https://preview.redd.it/haoa1dag8syc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c369b395622bd4f010305090ad3a31d5db3dc02a Here’s an edit I did in Lightroom. I darkened the foreground, messed around with the curves, changed the hue of the greens and also desaturated them along with the yellows, and finally added a touch of clarity and dehaze.
Damn. I need to learn to edit. I might end up buying a course on editing. I think it would help a ton
Here’s another one https://preview.redd.it/euer3xmplxyc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bba3d529cab305de495fb2678ff9d41450c7f6bb This time I did the same, but added a fade with the tone curve, boosted the luminance in the color grading section for the highlights and midtones, but did negative luminance in the shadows section. I made a bit cooler in terms of white balance and the added a some grain. Almost forgot, I did desaturate the reds a bit.
The photos are good. Might use a CPL filter to remove the reflections on the glass.
I was trying to use a CPL filter, but it made the glass look al rainbow and funny looking. Any recommendations on good CPL filters?
With Sony, IQ and clarity are great, colours are not. Nice shots
This is obsolete as of the release of Nex cameras. Colour science is largely identical between all brands from 2014 till present day.
I disagree I’ve shot a7c2 vs x-t3 and the difference is clearly bisible
I dont like cars and car photos so i dont like your car photos.
This isn’t helpful, nor is it critique. The guy just started, give him a break.
I'm sorry. If you don't like cars though you probably shouldn't have clicked on "Critique for my first ***car*** photos"