Notices
964 Forum 1989-1994
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Car photo tips for DSLR guys

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-18-2009 | 11:35 AM
  #1  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default Car photo tips for DSLR guys

I know there are a few of you shooting DSLRs, and yes even those damn Noink guys are included so here's a tip for you. Buy a polarizing filter for your car shots. Here's 2 shots; the top is without the filter, the bottom is with. Notice the detail now present in the seats.



Old 08-18-2009 | 11:39 AM
  #2  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

Second tip is try to find a spot not cluttered by houses, trees, light poles, etc. A tip I got from a guy that shot cars for CM High performance magazine told me to shoot a car in a natural habitat- like concrete or asphalt. Cars aren't normally on grass or sand, unless it's a 4-wheeler in a mud bog He also told me to try getting all 4 tires in the shot, so get low. Now this last one depends on the angle you are after, and what you are focusing on for the shot; just something to tuck away as a suggestion.
Old 08-18-2009 | 11:44 AM
  #3  
Wachuko's Avatar
Wachuko
Professor of Pending Projects
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,891
Likes: 23
From: Orlando, FL
Default

Originally Posted by hawk911
... He also told me to try getting all 4 tires in the shot, so get low. Now this last one depends on the angle you are after, and what you are focusing on for the shot; just something to tuck away as a suggestion.
I am teaching that to my daughter... she loves using the camera

Old 08-18-2009 | 11:45 AM
  #4  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

so who was shooting whom? Wait!!!!!! There's like 3 cameras involved in that shot!!
Old 08-18-2009 | 02:39 PM
  #5  
jimq's Avatar
jimq
Burgled
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22,383
Likes: 15
From: Altamonte Springs, Fl/Gwynns Island, Va.
Default

Jaime was that a recent picture? Are they doing the get togethers at the village again?
Old 08-18-2009 | 04:15 PM
  #6  
tbennett017's Avatar
tbennett017
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 4
From: Portland, Oregon
Default

I concur about the polarizer, especially on a dark car. You can get some striking effects out of good paint that way. (it filters reflected light)

I have a circular polarizer, which can be rotated to see different effects.
Old 08-18-2009 | 04:43 PM
  #7  
ilko's Avatar
ilko
Agent Orange
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,207
Likes: 572
Default

My wife's not around to ask her, so let me ask you guys - what's the difference between a UV and a polarizing filter?

kthxbai!
Old 08-18-2009 | 04:53 PM
  #8  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

I throw UVs away, and the polarizer is used to eliminate glare off reflective surfaces. It's like fishing glasses so you can see the fishies in the water. it works on angles; angle of the glass or water to the sun. I'm sure their's a more informative explanation on the net somewhere; I'll find it for you.

UV filters are like sunscreen- they block certain types of light rays, but they do nothing for reflections.
Old 08-18-2009 | 04:56 PM
  #9  
ilko's Avatar
ilko
Agent Orange
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,207
Likes: 572
Default

Got it, thanks. I started looking on ebay and there are different sizes from 30mm to 80mm and beyond. What does this number mean? Not the diameter of the lens I assume.

Edit: Figured it out. That's the filter thread measurement. Mine's 58mm.
Old 08-18-2009 | 05:02 PM
  #10  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

it's the size of the front element on your lens. There's a number, usually stamped, on the front of the lens. the bigger the front element, the more $$ they are. I need an 82mm filter for my 24-70 f2.8. I had planned to get a step-down so I can just use one filter, but since this one is okay, I'll just get a second. Makes for swapping lenses faster to have both filter sizes.
Old 08-18-2009 | 06:24 PM
  #11  
jimq's Avatar
jimq
Burgled
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22,383
Likes: 15
From: Altamonte Springs, Fl/Gwynns Island, Va.
Default

Will a polarized lense fit on my Kodak brownie box camera?
Old 08-18-2009 | 06:36 PM
  #12  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

yes it will Jim, just use a REALLY big hammer
Old 08-19-2009 | 12:47 PM
  #13  
hawk911's Avatar
hawk911
Thread Starter
Race Car
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,951
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Default

Originally Posted by ilko
My wife's not around to ask her, so let me ask you guys - what's the difference between a UV and a polarizing filter?

kthxbai!
From the B&H website for a CPL: Light rays which are reflected become polarized. Polarizing filters are used to select which light rays enter your camera lens. They can remove unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water or glass and also saturate colors providing better contrast. The effect can be seen through the viewfinder and changed by rotating the filter. The filter factor varies according to how the filter is rotated and its orientation to the sun.

NOTE: Circular polarizers are specifically designed for use with auto-focus SLR cameras (They will also work on manual systems and video cameras without problems).

• This filter eliminates ultraviolet rays to remove haze from outdoor shots as well as polarizing the light to remove reflections, and increase color saturation, without affecting the overall color balance
Old 08-19-2009 | 12:51 PM
  #14  
Indycam's Avatar
Indycam
Nordschleife Master
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 2
From: not in HRM
Default

Originally Posted by jimq
Will a polarized lense fit on my Kodak brownie box camera?
Yes .
http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/news/0110161.html

http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/...Polarizer.html

Last edited by Indycam; 08-19-2009 at 01:36 PM.
Old 08-19-2009 | 01:05 PM
  #15  
Indycam's Avatar
Indycam
Nordschleife Master
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 2
From: not in HRM
Default

Originally Posted by tbennett017
I concur about the polarizer, especially on a dark car. You can get some striking effects out of good paint that way. (it filters reflected light)

I have a circular polarizer, which can be rotated to see different effects.
All pola filters rotate .
Non circular pola filters rotate .

A circular pola filter is a new type of pola filter that was made because some new cameras had sensors placed behind a mirror that had a pola affect on the light passing through the mirror . When the old linear pola filter was used on this type of camera the two crossed pole filters would become a N.D. (neutral density) filter . The light that would pass the first pola would only pass the 2nd pola if they were lined up . As soon as the 1st pola was rotated the polarized light would no longer pass the 2nd pola filter . So the sensor would be "in the dark" .

A circular polarizer is a old linear pola filter that has a "phase shift" filter behind it . The light passes through the pola filter , becomes "polarized" . And then the light goes through the phase shift filter , the phase shift filter takes the light that gets passed the pola and rotates the light rays so that the light coming out is no longer polarised .

http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Ex...age?appendix=C
"Circular Polarizing Filter
Converts linear polarized light waves to circular polarized light waves. Required whenever polarizing is desired using autofocus cameras and cameras that have semi-silvered reflex mirrors."

http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/...dbook12_15.pdf
"Highly efficient standard circular polarizing filter for all cameras with beam splitters in the light paths of their TTL exposure meter and with autofocus lenses. Circular polarization has the same pictorial effect as linear polarization, but allows for proper exposure metering and/or autofocus distance settings."

Last edited by Indycam; 08-19-2009 at 01:29 PM.


Quick Reply: Car photo tips for DSLR guys



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 09:00 PM.