Automotive photography 101 - the car photo guide essentials
/Capturing the Essence: Automotive Photography Basics
In a world where cars are not just a mode of transportation but also a symbol of engineering marvel and aesthetic beauty, automotive photography has gained significant traction. From sleek sports cars to rugged off-road vehicles, each automobile has a story to tell, and automotive photography is the medium that brings these stories to life. Whether you're an enthusiast or a professional looking to dive into this captivating realm, mastering the basics of automotive photography is crucial to capturing the essence of these mechanical wonders. I’m a Porsche guy, have always been since a kid. That’s really all I want to shoot, all day, everyday. I do, however make the most out of any vehicle shoot whether it be a broken down car that a friend is trying to sell online, or a paid shoot for a marquee brand - knowing the fundamentals is essentials and will garner you the best resulting visuals.
**1. Choose the Right Location and Time: Just as with any form of photography, lighting is a key factor in automotive photography. The golden hours of sunrise and sunset are your best friends. The soft, warm light during these times can highlight the curves and contours of the vehicle while adding an alluring glow to the surroundings. Urban settings with interesting architectural elements or natural landscapes that complement the car's design can make for compelling backdrops. So, when you’re looking to capture a particular scene or location - you will have to wake up really early or work into the night to take advantage of the lack of traffic, and available light or theme.
**2. Bring Out the Details: Automotive photography is all about highlighting the intricate details that make a car unique. Close-up shots of the emblem, wheels, exhaust pipes, and other distinctive features can add depth to your photographs. Utilize a macro lens or switch to the macro mode on your camera to capture these finer points. Don’t have either of these, a longer length lens will always give you a more compressed image, really allowing you to capture those little nuances. Remember, it's often the little details that can leave a lasting impression.
**3. Consider the Composition: Compose your shots thoughtfully to draw attention to the car's best features. The rule of thirds is a tried-and-true composition technique; imagine a grid divided into nine equal segments and place key elements along these lines or at their intersections. Experiment with different angles – shooting from ground level can emphasize the car's power and stance, while shooting from above can showcase its sleek lines.
**4. Play with Reflections: Cars often have reflective surfaces, and mastering reflections can add an artistic touch to your photographs. Puddles, glass buildings, or even a polished surface can create captivating reflections. Pay attention to how the reflections interact with the car's bodywork to create interesting visual effects.
**5. Utilize Depth of Field: Controlling the depth of field allows you to emphasize the car while blurring the background, giving a three-dimensional feel to your images. Use a wide aperture (lower f-stop number) to achieve a shallow depth of field. This technique is particularly effective when shooting the car in motion or when you want to isolate specific details. You’ll notice lots of my photos utilize depth of field - I generally shoot many images with my trusty 24-70mm f/2.8 or my 85mm f/1.4. Both with a shallow depth of field allowing for those visually appealing blurry backgrounds. Tip for you, if you have a lens that doesn’t have a low f-stop number (example would be f/4 and above), using the zoom on the lens will compress the image and give it a more blurry background than if it was at a wider focal length (ex: 85mm will be more blurry than 24mm). There is also an updated lens blur option in Lightroom, the trusty lens blur tool in Photoshop and many photo editing apps
**6. Freeze or Blur Motion: Decide whether you want to freeze the car in action or convey a sense of speed through motion blur. For freeze-framing, use a fast shutter speed, while a slower shutter speed with panning can create an impression of speed and dynamism. Static vehicles are generally easier to capture for a few reasons, when considering rollers of cars, you will need to have a few things:
Crew - you will need a minimum of three people, one to drive a camera car, one to drive the car being captured, and yourself.
Equipment - having a video, and still focused camera really helps here. If you’re in a vehicle moving at speed, swapping a camera from being mounted on a gimbal, or even swapping lenses isn’t the best idea if you drop something out the window/or back of vehicle, among the multiple extra problems you can have
Safety - how are you capturing the moving vehicle? Thinking about your own personal safety with a harness, and seatbeat (obey all traffic laws), if you’re filming out the back of a vehicle, out the side window, or you have a rig on the back of your vehicle (if you do, you’re likely not reading this blog).
Time of day/location - this can make a big difference of the quality and possibly some of the safety aspects of a moving vehicle. The time of day, like most photo/video spots will have to be away from peak times, so early morning is always optimal especially with traffic in an urban setting. Rurally, you may even benefit from daylight hours, and weekdays based on the exact location you’re planning to capture the vehicle.
**7. Post-Processing Magic: Post-processing is where you can enhance your images further. Adjusting contrast, saturation, and highlights can bring out the car's colours and features. Be careful not to overdo it; subtlety often works wonders. Experiment with different filters and presets to find the aesthetic that best suits the car's character. This is where you can really figure out where you want to build a portfolio and style. There’s a distinct difference between a stylistic approach and what a corporate or brand may want for their commercial content - so be aware and prepared with that.
Creating an editing style takes time, and you’ll quickly realize what you enjoy, what pushes you to improve your skillsets and challenges you to capture the visuals. An unpopular opinion in the photo/video realm - editing is just as important if not more important than the photos themselves. Not a fan of editing, think about assembling a team for help or to even ship the work over to someone you trust! You can then focus on what you do best, and truly enjoy!
**8. Patience and Perseverance: As with any form of photography, practice makes perfect. Be patient and willing to learn from your mistakes. Experiment with various techniques, angles, and locations. The more you practice, the better you'll become at understanding how light interacts with cars and how to capture their essence effectively. I really cannot emphasize the importance of this - take as many photos as you can - I’ve gotten flack from it on numerous occasions but if you’re someone late to pick up a camera, or just learning how to take more professional photos; you’re going to need to smash that shutter 10-20k times before you really start understanding what’s really going on with your camera.
In conclusion, automotive photography is a blend of artistry, technical skill, and a deep appreciation for automobiles. By mastering the basics, along with an understanding on why the fundamentals matter so much; you can embark on a creative journey that allows you to tell stories through stunning visuals. Remember, each car has its own personality – your job as an automotive photographer is to unveil its charm through your lens. So, grab your camera, find your favourite vehicle, and start capturing automotive magic!
Got any specific automotive photo/video questions? Send me a message here and let’s start the conversation!