Hey gang, got a new to me car recently and i want to take some nice photos of it, but i've never really shot cars. any of you here do it? is a CPL necessary?
what focal lengths are recommended, certain angles or views of the car, etc?
picrel, last photo i could find of trying to "shoot" a car, its ancient i sold my Contour in like 2011. I can't remember ever being happy with a car photo i took.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1414Image Height1593Scene Capture TypeStandard

>>4413303 (OP)
h3y there anon
i shot cars as a freelance thing during high school so maybe i could give you some tips. but first of all, i like op picrel because its so mediocre. I love cars like that. i think its something beautiful that not enough people think about, a little scene with a blob car under a green tree in a parking lot. i dunno.
anyways, heres some tips i hope help.
location is key. the car can be cool, but the location totally makes the photo. i liked bridges, abandoned places, cool stretches of road, interesting stores, etc. look around on google maps, or pay attention when your driving around and mark places down on your phone. i used a parking lot by a lake for most of my 'professional' shoots.

second, angles are important. theres front left corner, back right corner, etc. a trick is to stand at a corner of the car, and walk backwards. try getting low, or bring a stool and get high, that can make things interesting too. i had a rock by the lake id always stand on.

third, always have the headlights on, even in the day. it just makes stuff look cooler. also, turn the front wheels so the hubcaps are facing the camera, it always makes things better.

theres also editing tricks, like turning down the saturation in wheels, windows, etc and turning up or down the limonscity on paint to make it look more rich. this guide taught me everything i needed to get started.
https://www.lightroompresets.com/blogs/pretty-presets-blog/how-to-edit-car-photos-in-lightroom

ill think about more, but for now, heres an example photo i took that i was proud of at the time. this is a front-right corner angle.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D5600Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.2 (Windows)Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaFocal Length (35mm Equiv)75 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2021:06:25 23:00:52Exposure Time1/1250 secF-Numberf/1.8Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/1.8Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3748Image Height5454RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4413304
rolling shots are also really fun and are a huge step up from static shooting. for all my rolling shots back in the day, id have my gf drive while i hung out the back window lol. looked goofy but it got the job done. a rule of thumb to make everything work is to match ur shutter speed with the speed ur driving at. so 1/60 for 60mph. besides that, just take a million pictures and one aughta be good.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D5600Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.3 (Windows)Maximum Lens Aperturef/4.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaFocal Length (35mm Equiv)37 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2021:07:22 00:50:49Exposure Time1/40 secF-Numberf/9.0Exposure ProgramShutter PriorityISO Speed Rating320Lens Aperturef/9.0Exposure Bias-1 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length25.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width4000Image Height6000RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4413306
this is such a boomer-coded photo lol

>>4413306
>>4413304
tthanks anon looks like some good tips to start looking up from there. Do you use a CPL with your shoots? I wonder if the reflections on glass arre better kept or not. I'll have to scout locations while i'm out and about, a bit different from what you'd want for portraits and such. Dont know if i'm up for doing "rollers" lol i dont want to drop the camera, but that's a cool shot.
Here's one i found in my catalog, taken on film. i like this better than my OP but still crap, cant controll people in the background and such.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS RCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 14.2 (Macintosh)Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Image-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2025:03:09 01:17:54Exposure Time1/4 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo FlashFocal Length100.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard

>>4413307
not him but if you've got a triumph rocket in my book you're free to be as boomer as you want because you've already achieved greatness

>>4413307
haha yea it is i guess
said boomer was riding the bike and paying me and he loved the photos so i guess it works.
now that i think of it, most of my customers were boomers

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D3500Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.3 (Windows)Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaFocal Length (35mm Equiv)75 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2021:09:05 01:58:13Exposure Time1/4000 secF-Numberf/4.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating250Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3883Image Height5825RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4413310
i dont use a cpl, i just edit the windows later in post to look like i do haha. cpls are expensive and i was a broke highschool student using my schools d5600 and kit lense.
ur photo of the truck looks like a photo someone would snap on their phone to post on facebook to flex theyre new police truck. its nothing artistic. its wayyy too cramped and the angles all wrong.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D3500Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.3 (Windows)Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaFocal Length (35mm Equiv)75 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2021:10:12 22:46:08Exposure Time1/4000 secF-Numberf/1.8Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/1.8Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3502Image Height4449RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4413319
He too old! He too old for that NSX! Good thing it ain't no Mustang!

>>4413303 (OP)
>>4413310
CPL's are almost a necessity when shooting cars, but don't let that stop you from using reflections in a creative way if you can.

>>4413303 (OP)
this is also a great youtube channel on the topic by a proper automotive photog, among the older videos there are a lot of tricks described
https://www.youtube.com/@capturingthemachine/videos

>>4413303 (OP)
>contour
What a shitbox

ye

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakePanasonicCamera ModelDMC-GX8Camera SoftwareSILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro 10Maximum Lens Aperturef/1.0Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaFocal Length (35mm Equiv)0 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2023:06:04 21:16:26Exposure Time1/1300 secF-Numberf/0.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating800Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length0.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2000Image Height2000RenderingCustomExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandard

>>4413816
it sure was, and yet i miss that lil nigga like you wouldn't believe. first car i bought for myself back in 2009. found another pic of it
>>4413792
>>4413798
thanks will check it out. i might have a cpl buried away somewhere now that i think about it but no such thing as a bad excuse to buy more shit i guess.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2024:02:18 22:46:05Color Space InformationsRGBImage Width2048Image Height1188Scene Capture TypeStandard

I recall there being several attempts at a car photography general but none have seemed to last into the present day.

>>4414163
I know when racing season kicked off we use to do motorsports stuff. Car photography is just niche enough as it is.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON Z 9Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop 26.2 (Windows)Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern970Focal Length (35mm Equiv)200 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image Width2511Image Height3766Number of Bits Per Component8, 8, 8Pixel CompositionRGBImage OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2025:03:11 21:35:15Exposure Time1/100 secF-Numberf/2.8Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating64Lens Aperturef/2.8Exposure Bias-0.7 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length200.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1600Image Height2400RenderingCustomExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4414163
there was a /p/ car server i was part of for awhile, wayyy back in like 21. Its dead now but it was good times. We could always revive it!
>>4414263
Beautiful shot anon!

>>4414263
Very nice shot, and those older air cooled Porsche 911s are just out of this world... I've been told you haven't lived until you've driven one of those... HARD!

>>4414263
Amazing shot!

>>4413303 (OP)

you like want to minimize geometric distortion 50-135mm lens is easy

>>4414653
this is hot

After 10 years of not owning a car I'm back in one. Need to remember to take my cpl out with me

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-Hand

>>4413304
>location is key
Never really thought about it but very true, all my favourite car shots I've taken have interesting backdrops

>>4413303 (OP)
Usually the most interesting angles are quarter views, from the front or rear.
I've found keeping your camera at about fender height is usually the 'sweet spot', and positioning yourself so you get a 'two point perspective' look to the car. For focal lengths I'd say anything above 35mm to minimize distortion. Picrel is taken at about 38mm equivalent.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeSONYCamera ModelDSC-P100Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS6 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2025-02-17T13:47:03-05:00Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/2.8Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/2.8Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Compulsory, Return Not DetectedFocal Length7.90 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2557Image Height1704Exposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardContrastSoftSaturationNormalSharpnessNormal

>>4413324
This place looks familiar. Is it on Uvas rd next to the reservoir?

>>4417033
hahaha u got me
>>4417029
this looks like shit doe

>>4417035
Lol nice. I ride my motorcycle there all the time

>>4416974
this ones actually really cool, i like it.
>>4417029
op here, i will probably try something quickly with my griiix since it's 40mm equiv as you suggest, before slinging a whole mirrorless kit out just to see how it turns out. but my basedboy ass isn't going out in minus weather for it lol, it was warm when i posted OP and weather deided to be minuses again shortly after (low minus 15 today)

I've been debating whether or not I should experiment with car photography, I've only taken a few mediocre shots at a car show once. I have some friends that may be willing to let me practice.

>>4413304
>>4413306
Thank you very much for the advice.

>>4414263
>>4416974
Sweet shots. Like others said, a good background does more for the shot than you know.

>>4417048

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:

>>4417040
its a great road. last summer i got my first kinda fast car, a supercharged cooper s with a stick, i took it back there a ton going wayyy too fast!
>>4417048
your welcome!

>>4417048
>a good background does more for the shot than you know.
A good background is key, but a good background on its own isn't very helpful. The picture should have something to tell, like what is this car doing here and why is it it here. Why I generally don't care for the stereotypical parking garage shots, the background is neat but what exactly is this saying about the car and what it's intended usage is?

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON Z 9Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop 26.2 (Windows)Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern970Focal Length (35mm Equiv)400 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image Width4440Image Height2960Number of Bits Per Component8, 8, 8Pixel CompositionRGBImage OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2025:03:16 15:46:25Exposure Time1/40 secF-Numberf/4.5Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating160Lens Aperturef/4.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length400.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2400Image Height1600RenderingCustomExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown

>>4413319
the framing on this is driving me insane

>>4418444
I like this quite a bit. Can tell you're the anon from /cum/ I was speaking to.
This being a 400mm shot, I'm interested in how far from the track you are? My local track has spots you can get to within a few meters of the actual roadway.
This reminds me of Willow Springs, but I'm purely going off of the background vibe.

Also, fuck this >>4419913 guy.

I dont really feel like shooting cars is any different than anything else. Background, lighting, angles, and color grading. I think the reason it can seem hard to shoot cars/why you see so many shitty pictures of cars is because a lot of people just take head-on shots in a retail parking lot or a messy, poorly lit garage with no processing/editing. They just feel harder because its difficult to get the right conditions - you cant just pick one up, throw it in a bag and take it to a studio.

Saw this in the wild about 2 weeks ago when i happened to have my camera on me and the conditions were good enough for me to bother.

Then again I'd hardly consider myself a photographer so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeSONYCamera ModelILCE-7M2Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 14.2 (Windows)Maximum Lens Aperturef/4.0Focal Length (35mm Equiv)70 mmImage-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution236 dpiVertical Resolution236 dpiImage Created2025:04:03 05:59:35Exposure Time1/90 secF-Numberf/4.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating6400Lens Aperturef/4.0Brightness-3.2 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length70.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormal

>>4419913
You skipped mine, cunt

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-Hand

>>4419913
maybe u just dont like cars, man
what greats btw? larry chen?

>>4419913
>You thought you ate
faggot

>>4420075
this is only ambient light? looks pretty fuckin great

>>4420181
Thanks! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out as well. Ambient light only. It was around 11pm and the only lights around were the vending machine and a couple signs for the parking lot, but the lighting it created was so good I couldnt not take a pic.

>>4413303 (OP)
>Car photo tips?
Yes. Don't take them.

>>4420075
again. framing too tight. whats with you faggots?

First try at flash

[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeSONYCamera ModelILCE-7RM5Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop 26.4 (Macintosh)Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Focal Length (35mm Equiv)50 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image Width2048Image Height1366Number of Bits Per Component8, 8, 8Pixel CompositionRGBImage OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpiImage Created2025:04:05 15:09:40Exposure Time10 secF-Numberf/9.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating50Lens Aperturef/9.0Brightness-3.0 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceOtherFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2048Image Height1366RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormal

>>4420085
Why would you want criticism from someone who can't differentiate between camera tilt and road camber?

>>4420861
>sad fag that wants to be upset over anything
Kill yourself

>>4420861
ok. who's a "great" when it comes to car photos? larry chen is all i can think of.

>>4416974
kino

>>4414263
this is great

>>4420421
I like it. That's /cum/ quality. With a bit of industry-standard photoshop, I'd pass that off as a marketing shot. I'd say get a CPL to cut down the reflections, but they don't really work when light is parallel to the angle. I think there's polarising gels you can apply to the flash that work, but that's beyond me.

Good times of day and fitting environments are tough to come by. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

>>4420421
Nice did you try going directly behind and popping as a rim light?

finally brought my cpl


hopefully this is the last of the pics i take, tomorrow it might sell

OP here, tried to do something based on your posts lads but i had to go be a film faggot about it so it took me this long to develop and photograph the negatives lol. and the result is just your average car snapshit lmao. such is the film life.

>>4431835
Different side view and some underexposure. Not sure really like if i need to shoot from lower or higher, or what. i don't hate it but it seems very pedestrian.

>>4431836
Take 2 steps back, one step to the right, and crouch a little bit.

>>4431835
>>4431836
a better location would help you a lot, especially since that's a pretty pedestrian vehicle. try angling the wheels a bit too, it can look more interesting than just pointing them straight.

>>4420421
This is really nicely done. Like someone else said, it could pass for marketing material.

>>4431835
>>4431836
A little advice about angles is try to show the car from a way that isn't how it would be typically viewed by a person looking at it at regular height. So go up real high, real low, in close etc and just get weird with it.

>>4432185
Damn this looks nice.

>>4432191
thanks m8. I'd originally gone out there to shoot the lighthouse but the dude with the car was happy to pose it for a few shots

>>4420864

>>4432563

>>4413303 (OP)
Context is everything. A car in an empty parking lot just looks boring in my opinion. Interesting surroundings to frame the car are what really makes a good shot.

>>4432564
Now that, is an impressive shot.

I live in such a boring place, there's nothing interesting to photograph