Ariel Atom, an Evo IX, and some misc., some recent work, and my first thread Options

[berns]

Haven't properly introduced myself yet, so here goes.

Name's Alex, I'm from NY and I've been shooting for a couple years. My focus was always on using available light and shooting mostly buildings, from abstract angles and recently, long exposures at night.
I've switched gears a bit since graduating last May, and have now moved onto the automotive side. I just picked up two alienbee 1600's and am shooting with a rebel XSi with the stock 18-55 IS lens, however, the atom was shot with a 5d.

I've been lurking around here for 5 months or so and am inspired every day -- some of the work on here is amazing.

Anyway, I have some criticisms of my own about these shots, but these are my first two attempts with lights etc... so I'm pretty happy thus far. All c&c welcome.

and if you're interested in seen a series of night shots from downtown Hartford CT, here you go. http://alexmbernstein.com/section/79817_architecture.html

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[Frederf]

I love the GT3 pics. The first of the two borders between a photograph and an abstract icon. And well, the wheel's pretty.

Is the Corvette a toy model?

[berns]

I love the GT3 pics. The first of the two borders between a photograph and an abstract icon. And well, the wheel's pretty.

Is the Corvette a toy model?

Thanks! the gt3 shot was at a car show -- there were tons of people around and it was impossible to get it alone, that's why you see the crowd reflected in the tail light.
The vette is a model, but I tried my hardest to make it look real in the studio.

[Jeeves]

I love 3. My only complaint being that the light is bright (causing some harsh shadows) initially on the atom itself, then falls off in the middle of the shot, then the ambient picks up on the building in the background. The shadows contrast to the feel of the soft light falling on the buildings in the back. Though that may have been the intent.

I love the feel of the buildings, but the atom pops out of frame a bit much due to the harsh shadows. Fantastic framing and scene though.

[MartijnGizmo]

In shots like #2 you should try to feather the light for more even coverage. Aim the light at the front on the back wheel or beyond the car and the light at the back on the front wheel and it'll look more even...

[berns]

I love 3. My only complaint being that the light is bright (causing some harsh shadows) initially on the atom itself, then falls off in the middle of the shot, then the ambient picks up on the building in the background. The shadows contrast to the feel of the soft light falling on the buildings in the back. Though that may have been the intent.

I love the feel of the buildings, but the atom pops out of frame a bit much due to the harsh shadows. Fantastic framing and scene though.

Yeah, I feel the same way about that photo. It was tough, I only had one light with me, so I had to comp it together with a few other photos. That was my first real shoot, and the atom was a difficult vehicle to light cleanly, because of all the exposed suspension and general lack of available light surfaces. The point of that shoot was to make the atom look out of place, way out of its element, so the city feel worked for that I think.

In shots like #2 you should try to feather the light for more even coverage. Aim the light at the front on the back wheel or beyond the car and the light at the back on the front wheel and it'll look more even...

Yeah, I wish i pointed them a bit further down the car and had them higher up, but the separation is what I was looking for in that shot. I took a shot with the whole car lit and it was just very bland and boring. I'm going to try shooting with some umbrellas next time, instead of the small reflector the Bee's come with. Thanks

[Jeeves]

Are you just shooting with the reflectors that come with them? or do you have a method of softening the light that you can use? [I'm assuming that's what you're saying, just looking for clarification]

[berns]

Are you just shooting with the reflectors that come with them? or do you have a method of softening the light that you can use? [I'm assuming that's what you're saying, just looking for clarification]

I'm just shooting with the small 7" reflectors the Bees came with. I have two small reflecting umbrellas I can use though to broaden out the light, I'm going to try shooting with them to avoid having such hot spots and get rid of the small focused points of light, in an attempt to make things more even.

[MitsuJDM]

Just saw the pics of the evo on evom. The pictures are great. The Evo looks great. Same with the Atom And GT3's being one of my fav cars.

[MartijnGizmo]

I'm just shooting with the small 7" reflectors the Bees came with. I have two small reflecting umbrellas I can use though to broaden out the light, I'm going to try shooting with them to avoid having such hot spots and get rid of the small focused points of light, in an attempt to make things more even.

Larger lightsources will only give you larger reflections on cars. In order to do any good they'd have to be really really large compared to regular umbrella's. I think that you're better off bouncing your flashes off a large surface, like a bedsheet, polyfoam boards, a white van, the wall/ceiling of a parking garage, etc.

You could also place your open reflectors further away for more even coverage on the car, or place them in multiple positions while shooting from a tripod and combining the shots in Photoshop afterwards.

[berns]

Larger lightsources will only give you larger reflections on cars. In order to do any good they'd have to be really really large compared to regular umbrella's. I think that you're better off bouncing your flashes off a large surface, like a bedsheet, polyfoam boards, a white van, the wall/ceiling of a parking garage, etc.

You could also place your open reflectors further away for more even coverage on the car, or place them in multiple positions while shooting from a tripod and combining the shots in Photoshop afterwards.

I'll give it a shot. As for comping them together and taking multiple shots, I don't mind doing that, but I like keeping it down to 1 or 2 frames. Anyway, it's beautiful in NY today and I'm off from work. Maybe I'll go out and shoot. Thanks for the advice dude