[Lefty]

Nice pics man!

[Emay]

If the contest is focused on killer shots of machines, find a different back ground that doesn't distract from the car. While Urban graffitti walls are cool, they don't go far in contests.

The other thing to avoid is things growing from the top of the car and harsh sunlight. These are super harsh because the highlights are starting to blow out and the shadows are cast straight down.

I just posted several golden hour shots in another thread. Have a look. I assure you these shots you posted would carry more interest at dusk or dawn.

[jrfan4life]

Originally Posted by Emay If the contest is focused on killer shots of machines, find a different back ground that doesn't distract from the car. While Urban graffitti walls are cool, they don't go far in contests. The other thing to avoid is things growing from the top of the car and harsh sunlight. These are super harsh because the highlights are starting to blow out and the shadows are cast straight down. I just posted several golden hour shots in another thread. Have a look. I assure you these shots you posted would carry more interest at dusk or dawn.

Thanks for the pointers.. I tried to take the pics infront of things that were totaly differant than the object so the car would stand out. I have soooo many pics in the usual surroundings... Trees.. Tall grass... Water... I went a differant rout.

[Emay]

Well here's the thing about car photography. People over think it. Getting spot on lighting and crisp sharpness of the subject is not easy. Yet people start trying to make the background part of the shot.

Cars belong on the street, creativity in that is separating the car from the surroundings to make it the focal point. The best way to do that is use aperature to make DOF bring the car out. There was an article out not so long ago that emphasized the do not's of automobile photography.

The graffitti could work if it wasn't so distracting. Your eye's can't help but go to the wall every time you look at the picture, which means your machine isn't the focal point any longer. Maybe a change in DOF to make it not as noticable.

Anyway, just trying to help.

[Emay]

Here's an example of a layer mask doing the depth of field work I'm talking about. Getting the car away from the wall and running a hot aperature will net this right from the camera. I pulled some of the highlights down as the sun is very harsh and your exif data was off the charts in areas of the pavement and the flicker in the headlamp. I also removed some of the leaves on the ground to the right of the car as well as the filled crack in the pavement.

Again, this is chopped, just trying to show via example, how you can use a busy back drop for some saturation and color, but keep the car ripped and the sole focal point.

[marcd]

livin in nj but parents are in bellingham

[jrfan4life]

Originally Posted by Emay Here's an example of a layer mask doing the depth of field work I'm talking about. Getting the car away from the wall and running a hot aperature will net this right from the camera. I pulled some of the highlights down as the sun is very harsh and your exif data was off the charts in areas of the pavement and the flicker in the headlamp. I also removed some of the leaves on the ground to the right of the car as well as the filled crack in the pavement. Again, this is chopped, just trying to show via example, how you can use a busy back drop for some saturation and color, but keep the car ripped and the sole focal point.

Emay... That looks freeking awesome... I am learning a lot but yet I have sooo much more to learn... I can tell you have been at this for a long time. I would love it if you can work some more of your magic on my 2 pics... I dont know how much edditing is allowed on the pics in the contest but if I were to win you would recieve some crisp greenbacks.....

[Serlin]

I have a buddy that does a lot of automotive photography,
check out some of his stuff at; Solid Axle Studios..

You can get some good ideas here,

Solid Axle Studios -- Custom Graphics & Automotive Photography -- Enrique Romero- powered by SmugMug

[Emay]

Originally Posted by jrfan4life Emay... That looks freeking awesome... I am learning a lot but yet I have sooo much more to learn... I can tell you have been at this for a long time. I would love it if you can work some more of your magic on my 2 pics... I dont know how much edditing is allowed on the pics in the contest but if I were to win you would recieve some crisp greenbacks.....

That was just a quick edit, I wouldn't submit anything like that because it's flawed badly. Was just trying to give a visual to explain making the car pop. If you look close you can see I would need to go back around the edges of the car as I didn't soften the layer mask or sink any real time into making things perfect.

I wouldn't be comfortable tag teaming a contest. I'm not a Pro, just a hobbyist. I do however know the business and the time vested by anyone being serious. I'll offer advice, and leave things in your own hands to put em to use.

[jrfan4life]

Thanks man for your advice... I am going to poke around with them also and see what I can do... Im just learning photo shop... so is a slow process........ ya know

[TheUNZippee!]

Fantasticular

[XectriK]

It's a descent shot but I think a sunset or sunrise shot would work better for a contest. Especially because your car isn't black. It'll stand out more that way.

[TheUNZippee!]

Everyone's a critic

[jrfan4life]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! Everyone's a critic

LOL... its all good... Im the one that asked for advice and I listen to all my peeps..... lol