exigeracer's Car Photography (Spring '10 opener)

[exigeracer]

S2000 peeking through. Had some fancy aero bits, but there was too much traffic and people to get any shots on the street.

Evo, not too many of these around. Again, one of the busiest shopping streets in town so couldn't get very many clear shots.

I've been seeing the MCS around town, and finally bumped into it in an alleyway. I think this is what you guys mean when you say my city is photogenic? I don't like the graffiti alley shoots, but the nature of the car and it's graphics totally fit in with the handstyles.

Thoughts on any of the material?

 

[Beerz]

They look great!

I'd really like to have a camera that pulled the depth of field you got on the 1st Evo shot. I can only get some while doing macro or long zoom shots with the background really far away from the subject.
I really have to upgrade as soon as I have my finances back in order which may take about 6 months or so...

2nd Evo shot I feel like there's something missing from it. Probably a bit more contrast and playing with the levels/curves would work out to make it more appealing. Car colour doesn't help either. And that Audi passing by is a bit distracting. Damn Audi...

The Cooper shots are just great, fantastic combination of location and subject. 👍
Really like everything about those.
Only needed one or two close-up shots to make it a perfect set.

 

[exigeracer]

They look great!

I'd really like to have a camera that pulled the depth of field you got on the 1st Evo shot. I can only get some while doing macro or long zoom shots with the background really far away from the subject.
I really have to upgrade as soon as I have my finances back in order which may take about 6 months or so...

2nd Evo shot I feel like there's something missing from it. Probably a bit more contrast and playing with the levels/curves would work out to make it more appealing. Car colour doesn't help either. And that Audi passing by is a bit distracting. Damn Audi...

The Cooper shots are just great, fantastic combination of location and subject. 👍
Really like everything about those.
Only needed one or two close-up shots to make it a perfect set.

And here I am complaining I'm not getting enough drop-off!

The curves were a little wonky, I didn't spend much effort on getting it right. I also decided to leave the Audi in the shot. Tells a little story at the risk of distracting. Just the nose of the Mits was a little boring as well.

Thanks for the feedback for sure!

 

[Speedster502]

Thought I'd drop a few words here seeming there's in general not much activity around here.

S2000 I'm not sure I'm feeling it on this shot. I'm even quite sure what I think is wrong with it, I can't complain about the background on it as you've said the street was busy so I'm not expecting nothing to be there. The colours and everything seem to be fine, must just be matter of personal taste I suppose! But I do like the perspective that leads into the S2000, that's a good spot!

Evo I like both of these shots actually, the first one although the BG is a bit distracting with having two Mini's in it, it seems to work. The DOF as Beerzy said has worked really well on it, it isn't a photoshop blur is it? If not then what lens were you using, if you don't me asking? Overall a nice shot, and something else which caught my eye, the number plate is quite unique as well.

The second Evo shot probably could have done with a little bit of a lower angle as if to be looking up at the car rather than being level to it, in my opinion. You did a nice job of avoiding being caught in the reflection on the side though! I'm not sure whether I'd call the A8 a distraction or not to be honest, without the A8 I'm pretty sure it would look far too empty but on the other hand it does kind of distract you from the main point of the image. Overall, nice.

Mini All three of these shots are good, great background to support the kind of urban gritty look of the car. The two compliment each other well and make the images pleasing on the eye. In terms of composition, I think the first two are better than the last. They just seem more natural in my opinion. Colours are nice in the shots too, glad you didn't make the shots include much more DOF or I think it might have ruined the excellent effect you have there.

Only needed one or two close-up shots to make it a perfect set.

To finish off, I'd like to agree with Beerz. We have all seen your excellent at taking pictures which show off the whole car which are great. However, sometimes take a photograph of a specific area of the area can create some great abstract effects while still showcasing the car. I'm sure you know what I mean, it would be intresting to see you trying something different with the cars as well as still doing the "show the whole car" photos. Hopefully, I'll get see some of them sometime!

 

[exigeracer]

Thanks for the commentary, I appreciate it.

The DOF as Beerzy said has worked really well on it, it isn't a photoshop blur is it? If not then what lens were you using, if you don't me asking?

The DOF is from the lens. It's a stock 18-70 f/3.5-5.6. With a half decent lens I could've gotten a lot more drop off, trust me. That would've also made the car pop a whole lot more. In fact, I could've probably gotten more with my lens if I put a couple more minutes into it.

The second Evo shot probably could have done with a little bit of a lower angle as if to be looking up at the car rather than being level to it, in my opinion.

Good advice, I'll keep this in mind 👍

I'll work on some detail shots. It's something I've never really tried much of.

 

[boiltheocean]

Just like to say I'm a fan of your work, you've seen and captured some pretty nice cars!

 

[AOS-]

Fiiiiiine, you convinced me I go to school in that weird building up in the air!

Omg, all these exotics are near downtown?!

I hopefully will see you next year @ ocad, yo. When you graduating?

 

[exigeracer]

Thanks Union.

OCAD University '11 BDes in ID.

 

[AOS-]

it's funny how it's still called OCAD when its now a uni. When are they officially changing the name?

 

[exigeracer]

it's funny how it's still called OCAD when its now a uni. When are they officially changing the name?

Haven't heard the latest. It was the biggest scandal when they were deciding on a name (University of Imagination? I think I'd rather drop out).

Last I heard is that it had to be submitted to some governmental bureau to be approved by them.

 

[Cano]

I've been seeing the MCS around town, and finally bumped into it in an alleyway. I think this is what you guys mean when you say my city is photogenic? I don't like the graffiti alley shoots, but the nature of the car and it's graphics totally fit in with the handstyles.

Thoughts on any of the material?

go to heck, dude

I would SO use your city as location.

Very nice colours here, PP is prefect, no icky reflctions to talk about, nothing wrong in any of them... heck, if the wheels were turned towards me I'd use them in a mag.

Bleh, I'd still use them.

 

[exigeracer]

Thanks!

 

[kikie]

I missed this thread due to my absent the last couple off months.

I don't know how you do it but 90% of the photos are very beautiful. Not sweet talk but I think you've got an eye for making nice photos!

These 2 are my favourite

 

[exigeracer]

Winter update!

As all the nice cars are tucked away, I've resorted to photographing cars if they're clean enough. I thought this one was so shiny because everything else is salty, but back on my computer monitor, it really does sparkle!

TE37s.

 

[Keef]

Wow, Volks on a Bimmer! Don't see that too often. The man has good taste... It'd be nice if he'd have gotten them in a slightly less lame color though.

 

[exigeracer]

I didn't get to see them up close, and it could've been the salt, but the finish looked as if
they were powdercoated and not the nice clearcoat you get from the factory.

PS, also shot a Laguna Seca M3 with huge LE37s almost a year ago:

Really muddy colours in PP though.

 

[McLaren]

Love the TE37's. Def. a possible buy from me in the upcoming months. You captured them greatly on both BMW's. 👍

 

[boiltheocean]

Liking the exposure on the last BMW shot. The faint red stream of light looks cool.

 

[AOS-]

how do you get that red light streak across the photo? Nite time setting? Low shutter speed? and still manage to not get a blur of a passing car in the photo?

 

[exigeracer]

how do you get that red light streak across the photo? Nite time setting? Low shutter speed? and still manage to not get a blur of a passing car in the photo?

8 seconds of exposure from streetlights alone isn't enough to expose the passing car, but its taillights still etch in nicely.

 

[boiltheocean]

8 seconds of exposure from streetlights alone isn't enough to expose the passing car, but its taillights still etch in nicely.

Long exposure kicks ass. I experimented with it a few days ago but just ended up drawing rude stuff. Have you ever had the urge to do that?

 

[exigeracer]

Long exposure kicks ass. I experimented with it a few days ago but just ended up drawing rude stuff. Have you ever had the urge to do that?

Uhh.........

No. I'd get urges to draw wee-wees and pee-pees sorted out before it becomes a social problem for you.

 

[Beerz]

Very nice shots again, mate.

Love the Z4 with the dirty snow (wish we had snow where I live), and those rims suit it nicely.

Not feeling the rims on the 1st E46 (they're apparently 17's, and bad replicas; should be at least 18" to work on that car). But the reflections are pretty nice.

The last one I think I had seen already, fantastic shot every way you look at it. 👍

 

[boiltheocean]

Uhh.........

No. I'd get urges to draw wee-wees and pee-pees sorted out before it becomes a social problem for you.

Well it wasn't those but.... I was rather bored and there isn't anything interesting in my room to take pictures of. I drew a Halo around my dad but thats about as good as it gets.

 

[Cano]

the Volked BMW pic is quite good Exige, even with the somewhat busy background you always seem to work it out to make it look decent.

The moving merc is also cool, very urban.

 

[exigeracer]

 

[boiltheocean]

Love the first shot. Not so sure about the second but that most likely down to my taste. Great work as usual though.

 

[Sprite]

Hope you dont mind but I totally agree with you on this image, it needs all the stuff taking out of the background, so I gave it an attempt.

Original

Modded version

 

[exigeracer]

Holy smokes. It was taking me forever to do it, so I had given up. I was trying to leave in the wood walkway, which was what was giving me problems. You've just flipped the sides I see. Thanks!

 

[Sprite]

Yeh just flipped it around and then blocked in the rest of the gaps then I tried to make it less symmetrical. Only took about 20 minutes to do, I prefer your colours , I don't know how I managed to change the colors but hey hum.