How to make those cool car shots

[MichaelChang]

<p>Came across this interesting site on car shots. The setup is rather elaborate but the results speak for themselves:<br>

<a href="http://www.rigshots.com.au/video1m.htm"><Time lapse video on how it's shot></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.rigshots.com.au/howto1.htm"><Detailed how-to tutorial></a></p>

[Charles_Webster]

<p>Michael, that's a nice shot, but please link to it. You are prohibited from posting pictures for which you do not have the copyright on PN. The moderators will remove it without creating a link if you don't.</p>

<p><Chas></p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Yes, I forgot, Charles. Thanks for reminding me, but my "edit" privilege has expired so perhaps the moderators can forgive my mistake and remove the image.</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>Nifty. Funny how the web has changed the game in so many areas. It's almost too easy to find out trade secrets that photographers once held near and dear.</p>

<p>During the mid '90s I met a freelance photographer who did a lot of work for custom car magazines. Looking at his portfolio, I admired the combination of zippy color and contrast while retaining full detail and subtle gradations, which seemed impossible given his choice of film - Velvia 50 - so naturally I grilled him about his technique. He was a bit cagey about details but it turned to all be careful selection of location and lighting. He'd found some ideal locations, mostly industrial parks, where the combination of open shade and neutral gray concrete reflected diffuse lighting just right for his straight Velvia shots. Absolutely zero digital editing. No use of supplemental reflectors - the concrete structures of his favorite industrial parks provided everything. No polarizers, no tricks. He was meticulous about prepping the car surfaces and ensuring his angles never produced unwanted reflections in any surfaces. And he checked the weather reports to be sure he arranged shoots on days with ideal lighting. That was it - just basic smarts and hard work, which some folks mistake for "common sense."</p>

<p>Ironically, even tho' nowadays you can find trade secrets easily with a few minutes of Googling, there are still hundreds of n00bs who can't find a clue when it slaps 'em across the chops like a soggy "get a clue" illustrated instruction manual.</p>

<p>Which means the future is safe for self-motivated, self-directed photographers, even when there aren't many trade secrets left.</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>I think ingenuity and inventiveness comes from a desire to do things in a brand new way, so when once mysteries are demystified, someone will come up with something at the next level starting the game all over again. This raises the average level of competence and keeps those on top on their toes in order to stay there.</p>

<p>I believe the idea of keeping secrets goes away when one feels secure about ones craft, even at the multinational level as when FedEx , early on, complete with site tours, gave away details on how they ship anywhere to anywhere else overnight. It's said that humans share 90% of the DNA of a halibut, so yes, I would agree that information alone doesn't equate the ability to produce results.</p>

<p>On the issue of trade secrets, there is one that still puzzles me. I once watched a movie where the camera seamlessly flew just above the ocean, on to the beach, over a few streets of houses, then right through a window on the 2nd floor and continued with actors' dialogue. This was not a high budget film and didn't look like CG was involved. The scene lasted all of 30 seconds, but boy was it great. Wish I knew how it was done. </p>

[railphotog]

<p>Thanks for the links! I've always wondered how they did those shots, especially the ones taken from in front of the cars. Never thought they'd just remove the actual rigging in an editing program.<br>

Now what I'd like to see is how some product shots of new cars are done - showing the complete interior. I assume they cut the roof off the car to do it or ?</p>

 

[MichaelChang]

<p>Bob, to my knowledge, it's a 360° Virtual Reality panorama shot just as one would traditional panoramas but wrapped in a special container, usually QuickTime. </p>

<p>Try googling "QTVR Panorama car interior". </p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Oh, I might have misunderstood... the roof-ff interior shots might just be CG and not real photography. There is a thread on this going a couple of days back:<br>

<a href="00T5Rb">http://www.photo.net/casual-conversations-forum/00T5Rb</a></p>

[nogub]

<p>An easy way to make that is to ask someone to drive the car slowly, you just need to put your tripod in the smallest posible over the car's hood. Set for a slow shutter speed, normally 4 or more works well. Then, tell your asistant to drive slowly. While the car is running, be aware of the camera's safe, since you are using no locks for your tripod.<br>

To avoid being disturbed, make this in a country road or in an empty parking lot.</p>

[john_jovic]

<p>Michael, thanks for posting that. It's my site and it's there for people to see so thanks for doing that.</p>

<p>Lex said; "Which means the future is safe for self-motivated, self-directed photographers, even when there aren't many trade secrets left."</p>

<p>That is so true, and always will be. I wish more people understood that. I love to learn new things and it's one of the main reasons I've been a forum junkie for years. I have to admit that I don't have much respect for people who parade their skills on forums but never reply to those 'how do you do it' questions that inevitably follow. There are many of those people out there, they are welcome to keep their secrets, but I still have far more respect for anyone who is willing to share than for any one who isn't. That's a subjective view that I have and obviously many will disagree.</p>

<p>Lex, and Michael, it's so true that just knowing how some thing is done doesn't mean that you have all of the other qualities to be able to do these things your self. I'm all for sharing information and knowledge. When I started shooting cars there was absolutely no information anywhere on how to do these kinds of images, or even basic car photography. The internet has changed all that and I'm trying to add as much information as I can on the car photography field as my day job is shooting cars for magazines but I also sell specialised rig gear as per the rig shots site.</p>

<p>Thanks<br>

JJ</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Small world, John, and pleased to meet your acquaintance. I've always admired people who are willing to take the time to detail their work and sharing it freely - thank you.</p>

<p>I stumbled across a reference to your work on the HV20 site while surfing for ideas on building my video rig. It was also referenced elsewhere but I can no longer remember where after nearly 80 browser tabs open:<br>

<a href="http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=19632">http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=19632</a></p>

<p>Your site was bookmarked as interesting and I'll be looking forward to your future content.</p>

 

[KenPapai]

<p>I said a week or so ago, the current issue of SHUTTERBUG magazine has a long, fairly extensive article on pro car photography.</p>