Forza 3 photography tips.

[Benmastaw00t]

Since I have this set up on FM.Net, I figure I would post it here as well! Enjoy!


Welcome to,

I am currently in the works of producing all of what I want done, but for the time being, what I am about to discuss is of extremely important value to you all.

To have any sort of idea where to start your photographic journey, you must first look at other people's work, and analyze what makes it such a great, or terrible photo. let's take a look at example 1.

This would be a great example of inspiring photography. Be prepared to learn some photographer's jargon!

1) The Subject: The Ferrari is without a doubt the clear subject in this photo. It's strong, bold, and the first thing you look at. The background and foremost ground is extremely blurred, so there are no overly distracting elements. The contrast is sharp; there's no harsh shadows or highlights, a wide range of color values.

2) The Approach: Here are some key things to know about how it was taken...

- Zoom: A greater zoom gives you a shallower "Depth of Field" (in other words, what and how much is in focus). Experiment to see what elements do you want to be in acceptable focus.

- Aperture: Aperture determines your DOF. In a camera, the larger the aperture (or F-stop) value is, the greater the DOF (more elements in focus). This is reversely proportional if the F-stop is a smaller value.

- Color: Color can also determine how much punch you want in the photo. Too much color is overwhelming, and too little used for the wrong reasons will make your photo uninteresting.

- Contrast: Contrast is how vivid the values are between black and white (or colors in this case). You want enough contrast to make the photo stand out, but not so much so that is creates harsh shadows and loss of details.

- Angle: Explore your subject from all angles! Shoot high, shoot low, tilt your camera, anything!

Now lets take a look at what a bad example would be.

While the shadows on the edge of the photo provide a creative framing, the angle is all wrong (you lose very interesting lines and details in the car).

Plus, there just isn't enough subject matter to determine what the main subject is in this photo.

Also, there is a lack of color saturation, it makes the photo look dull. And if you can see it, there is a bit of noise. Sometimes, noise can add a visually creative approach to a photo, but only if executed correctly. In this case, it's not.

Here are four simple steps that I want each and everyone of you to beat into your brain!

1. simple subject

2. no distracting background

3. explore from different angles

4. fill the frame

Hope this will get you a good aspiring start to your photography!

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The next part of this tutorial, I will discuss a powerful tool of photography, the "Rule of Thirds".

RoT is the concept of offsetting your main subject (or even subjects!) to a corner or a "third" of the photo frame. Doing so, if done correctly, adds a sort of energy to your photo, and this is definitely applicable to automotive photography. Let's take a look at some brilliant examples!

Photos Courtesy of FranticMunky

Photo Courtesy of SnF Twista

Do you see any underlying composition relative to any of these photos? These photos all have an energy to them, they feel alive, thanks to the rule of thirds!

If you need some more visual help, I have placed a grid over these photos:

I would like to elaborate on how crafty the last picture is. The AE86 and the M3 are both composed within rule of thirds, but you easily fix your eyes on the white M3. Your eyes almost move from the M3 to the hachi, thanks to the rule of thirds, and excellent camera work!

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*NEW! Slider settings by TRC RoxApex!*

To give photographers a good start where to have those sliders at, TRC RoxApex has been generous enough to share some of his slider settings in his gallery.

Click here to view his gallery.

 

[[empty space]]

I know it's personal prefernece but I don't like the ferrai picture. The colors are good but I find pictures that are zoomed in that much and don't really make use of the backround boring.

The second porsche picture needs to be zoomed out more because the subject is not completely in frame.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

@ Empty, these are not my photos. They are reference pictures so of course they aren't great.

 

[chromatic9]

The Golden Ratio is a better way to take a more interesting dynamic photo but is not widely known as the rule of thirds. It's a good starting point though.

Golden ratio is in your hand, architecture and many plant life. The true greats use it and also in close up portraits too like the Mona Lisa.

Using the Golden ratio forms a fluid line for the eye to trace through the picture, where the Rule of Thirds is more static. Your viewer's gaze will invited along the line of the spiral which creates a more symmetrical visual flow and a compelling experience. You want to place the subject (or focal point) of your photograph in the tightest end of the spiral, and the other elements of the picture should roughly follow the path of the spiral. The Golden Spiral can be rotated in the frame or transposed from top to bottom so you can create more variety when you are composing pictures.

This idea is best suited for landscape photography where the lines are long and dramatic but it can also be effective in close-ups and portraits. Once you understand the basic form of the Golden Spiral, this idea becomes intuitive and thus easy to apply. You don't need difficult mathematical calculations to produce an compelling picture.

Taking pictures using the Golden Spiral is a more fluid and visually compelling way to structure your photos than the more static Rule of Thirds. With practice this method becomes intuitive. It will create a more symmetrical visual flow, especially in landscape photography. Have fun experimenting with it!

You're best searching it in google.

I personally don't try to use these and just experiment. Not bothered if it goes against peoples basic view of thirds.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Thanks chromatic! That technique isn't too well known in automotive photography (imo) which is why I haven't featured it. Plus its rather an advanced technique, and I just wanted to start photographers off, you know?

 

[[empty space]]

@ Empty, these are not my photos. They are reference pictures so of course they aren't great.

i wasnt trying to insult the pictures, just giving feed back 👍

 

[heliockjent]

Hello Everyone..
I figureout some point which may be helpfull to others.
1.A good photograph has a clear subject - It may even tell a story about that subject. But the subject is clear and unambiguous.
2.A good photograph focuses attention on the subject- The view's eye is immediately drawn to the subject.
3. A good photograph simplifies - It includes only those elements that draw the eye to the subject, and it excludes or diminishes those elements that mights draw the eye away from the subject.
Anyone have more tips please share.