The Modern Car Image

Drivers that truly have a passion for their luxury cars need to find as many ways to express this love as possible. This expression can expand beyond the occasional washing and waxing. Displaying the automotive love that drives you can take the form of photographs. However, the traditional snapshots of cars can be challenging to present in new and dynamic ways. Taking photos of cars to heighten their appeal for either resale or hobbies requires moving beyond the old angles that everyone has seen. These images will simply not make the grade.

Set the Scene

The first step towards success is to give the environment due consideration. The environment includes the background that will be present and the ambient lighting of the setting. The lighting is of particular importance. This factor can effect everything from the clarity of the shot to the balance and saturation of your colors. Serious photographers will want to work with lighting factors while shooting the actual photo. However, the colors and exposure can be adjusted on a computer if you are in a crunch for time.
 

Get In Close

Detailed shots of the interior can be nice pieces to accent shots of the entire car. These kinds of photos can be particularly frustrating, especially when it comes to capturing a sharp image. If you do not have some sort of tripod, then it is wise to add it to your collection of equipment. The tripod stabilizes every shot for greater detail. The details and resolution of the image can make or break your efforts. For the best results, speed up the camera aperture and lower your ISO settings.

Capture a Feeling

Cars can display brilliant personalities in the same way that people can. In order to achieve this effect, pick flattering angles and decide on the “good-side” of the car. Determine the kind of feeling you wish to get across, and frame shots that will emphasize this dimension of the vehicle. Wide angles will exaggerate the car's features, for instance. Exaggerating perspective by taking shots from the level of the bumper or lower will give the car a much more aggressive appearance. Experimenting with these kinds of shots can be very beneficial. Attempt to get different effects with zoom functions while comparing those results to getting in position and losing the additional lens.

Light Strikes Again

Light can help or harm a photograph. People that love their cars will buff and wax until the surface of the car is virtually a mirror. Taking a photograph of a car with a surface that reflects too much light distracts from the actual beauty of the car's pure form. The excess light will wreak havoc with the exposure of the camera, making the balance of lights and darks seem unnatural or awkward. Filters for the camera lens can be very helpful in trying to dampen effects such as these.

Artistic License

Do not be afraid to crop your image and zoom. Capturing just the grill or the dynamics of the taillights can make for compelling photographs. The mind loves to take one small image and create the rest of the car from the imagination. It is a photographic technique that eliminates distractions in the photo and engages the viewer. Cropping is usually at its best when you choose a part of the car that represents its most distinctive features.

Author Bio: Jack has been a mechanic for 10 years and is a complete rev head. He has 5 cars to his name, and his past time hobbies include redoing old cars, going to car shows and writing blogs about cars.