[TWiTCHY]

Was taking photos of my Audi after debadging it the other day when I decided to take a quick photo of it in the garage. Think it has a lot of potential. What could be done differently, besides the noise and minimal blur? I plan to set up the shot again to redo the photo, so any comments on how I should go about improving the photo, both on the "set" and in PP?


Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: (1/15)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 138 mm
ISO Speed: 3200

How would changing the aperture and shutter speed affect the way the lights appear in the photo?
What should I do with the background?
Should I crop the sides of the garage out?
Should I take off the lens filter to remove ghosting/flare?
Should I use a polarizer?
Should I leave fogs on?
Should I turn on low-beams?

[1HotA32]

nice now lets see more of it :D.. i love some audi's

[UdubBadger]

I'd try to get some light inside the garage going on, maybe if you have a cool florescent lights (like this Amazon.com: GE 10167 Slimline Fluorescent Under Cabinet Light Fixture, 8-Inch: Home Improvement ) and set them up on the sides of the car to give it a cool glow. Some better lighting on the actual car is optimal so you can shoot faster and be able to see the LED's

[TWiTCHY]

So it's the long shutter that's blowing out the LEDs? Makes sense...

I wanna try avoiding lighting the garage - as you can see, it's pretty messy and I don't have the equipment for that anyways

[Twizted_bunny]

Might try raising aperture? Worth a shot, but I worry about you losing DOF and the star effect...

[TWiTCHY]

Originally Posted by Twizted_bunny

Might try raising aperture? Worth a shot, but I worry about you losing DOF and the star effect...

I thought the aperture was high enough at f/6.3, and doesn't a higher aperture = stars? The reason I shot at a higher aperture was because I wanted that effect. Raising it more will just mean I'll have to use a higher ISO and/or longer shutter speed, which if I'm correct, will blow out the LEDs too much like they are already.

[UdubBadger]

twitch, those lights are really cheap, you can get them at like target or walmart. I promise you they won't disappoint. Plus you're not lighting the whole garage, just the car and you can use things to block the light from reaching parts of the garage you dont want them to since everything will be out of sight.

[Vudoo4u2]

if you notch the ISO down, youll get far less hazing from the light and the LED's wont be blown out as much...

if you also get some lights (not necessarily in the garage), but some fill light for the car in front, you'll be able to shoot a bit faster as well to get more detail in the car itself.

F 6.3 is probably a bit too closed, if you shoow perhaps F 3.2 @ the right angle, you'll still get the starring you're looking for, but be able to get more detail from the car itself.

[BMDubz]

You could expose for the car with the lights off, then you could expose for the lights with them on. Merge the layers and use a mask so that the lights come through. You would need a tripod for this and you might loose the star effect. You would also need a bit of fill light for the car.

[CJW]

possibly also have someone flash them on quick while hiding in the seat...

But I agree with adding additional lighting would also make it stand out more.

[BillLee]

Originally Posted by BMDubz

You could expose for the car with the lights off, then you could expose for the lights with them on. Merge the layers and use a mask so that the lights come through. You would need a tripod for this and you might loose the star effect. You would also need a bit of fill light for the car.

this.

[TWiTCHY]

Here's a redo. I'm not sure if it's of any improvement but I like it better than the first. Not necessarily what I was going for; the LEDs are still just as blown out but shooting at F/8 really makes the lights stand out with the star effects.