I think ill get the chance to shoot my car next week. was wondering what the consensus is about the most flattering pose/angle for a C3.

whaddaya think ?

 

Is there a bad angle to view a C-3 Corvette?

 

Good call.

 

Look around the net at some car pics. Find some with angles and back grounds you like and go from there.

 

I know what I like. I was kinda wondering what others thought was the best. I like mine from the front 3/4 drivers side with the wheels turned a little to the right, and a little higher than eye level.

 

The C3 is probably the most photogenic car in automotive history. I'm not sure that you could take a 'bad' shot if you tried. Have fun!!

 

Drivers front quarter for me . . .

 

From the front...about license place level..

Also looking down the side from the rear

 

Silk sheets, no clothes, any angle.

 

First off, find a spot where the background will be uncluttered. That way your car will be the primary point of interest in the shot. Also, this lessens the chances that you'll end up with a shot that looks like something is growing out of your hood, windshield, etc.

Try to find a spot where the sun will be at your back, not behind the car. This will help light the car, and improve your chances of getting a well lit and properly exposed image. Just watch that you don't get your shadow in the image. Using a flash is a good idea too. Fill flash will lighten dark or shadowed areas and help keep the colors truer.

If possible, bring a ladder with you. This way you can get some height, which will show all of the car, front to back, unlike a ground level shot. Also, by using a ladder, your less likely to end up with background clutter.

If you have an SLR camera, use a short telephoto lens (about 75mm). A telephoto won't distort the dimensions of the car. Another neat trick if you have an SLR, is to get some different filters. One of my favorites is a cross screen filter. The filter has a series of criss crossing lines in it. When using it, any high lighted area (such as sun on a piece of chrome) will have a bright star like effect, in your final shot.

If your looking to get some great interior shots, use the widest angle lens you have. A wide angle will distort the interior, but because of the nature of interiors (many various shapes), the distortion won't be noticeable, and you will get more of the interior into the shot.

If your camera will allow you to turn off the auto focus, find a spot where you can shot through an opening in some tree branches or bushes. This will frame the car and ad some depth and interest to your shot. It's a little more difficult if you can't over ride the auto focus, as the auto focus wants to focus on the trees in the fore ground and blur the image of your car in the distance.

You may want to consider shooting some pics early in the morning, or late in the afternoon. Sunrises and sunsets offer the opportunity for some interesting lighting effects.

 

All of the above, plus open shade instead of direct sunlight.

Pete

 

 

the older C3s look good from behind with some side views...brings out the snow-cone back window, while giving a hint of the rise in the front fender

 

Don't tilt the camera for an "interesting" angle, you are always better off with photos where the perspective is correct.

Also, take note of the great tips posted by gbvette62 -

Frank

 

gbvette62 gives you some very good tips. I would only add...shoot, shoot, shoot. All pro photographers burn up a lot of film and/or a lot of digital. That way you will have a much better chance of getting that one outstanding pic. Shooting many pics is easy now with digital....no waste of film.

 

Well, I am a pro photographer but I don't shoot cars. I'll be pulling it into the studio to see what I can do lighting it on my own without Gods help. The big issue is reflections from the studio in the paint. I might try a dead straight on from the side shot first because it's most forgiving. It's high end digital so I ca use photoshop to help.... I like the outdoor pics of that red vette at night but IMO the background becomes more important. Lighting a car in a studio is a whole different beast......

 

BTW gbvette62 your advice is all spot on....

 

Why not include an 'action' shot - this was en-route to this summer UKCC Nats and at 'full bore' passing the lead photo car.

 

That's the plan. If I can get enough classic car photos to build a portfolio I'll be going after that kind of work.....

 

I don't do it professionally, but have been a photographer for many (many!) years. I have a portfolio of quite a few cars I've done for cruisers and "car people". The clientele showed up quickly affter seeing pics of my car. I don't have a studio for this, as most people want the poster type pics that I made for my own car. I use digital and photoshop plug-ins to mask and create any backgrounds. I have found the ideal natural lighting to have the sun at about a 45 deg. angle in the afternoon. This way you can position the car as you wish, front facing or back, or angle to get a warm light from front to rear on a 3/4 shot. The car itself will look "studio lit" and you can itsert the background of your choice. If using the natural surroundings, this is good also. If you have a studio, or even if not, take note of reflections on the car; most people overlook them.....check out magazine car photos; even some of the best have oddball reflections if you look close. Some become shadows that may enhance the photo. You can control this better with studio lighting.

Remember, any photo you like is a good one!

I took this pic in a store parking lot....