This is Photography

[Pussy30]

Yeah most commercial stuff is definitely shot with artificial light, but I just can't seem to like it usually. I guess it's just a personal preference.

Everyone has their prefence. I have just as much respect for someone who takes a dark room and can light a model with 10 different strobes and get it exactly how they envisioned as I do someone who can walk through a forrest and make the light fall on a model in a surreal perfect way.

[VicSkimmr]

I'm not starting a war, just wondering if you've shot cars w/ artificial light? It's a pain in the ass. I think strobes can really bring out a car if done right. Not that I have any idea how to do that yet. I'm still learning. lol

Yes, it's the Canon site, but accept anyone.

Agree w/ all other comments.

I haven't, and I know it's a royal pain. It's certainly impressive when done well and I can respect all the skill that goes into it, but it just doesn't do it for me.

I'm not trolling around or anything either, but I do feel like a lot of people buy strobes and flashes too early on and never get to appreciate what natural lighting has to offer. I also know that I'm in the vast minority and that most people love artificial light. But that's what's so great about photography :D

[e30 gangsta]

Here is some shots from me. All handheld. I need a polarizer :(

[emoshun]

Could have link to this in high res?

[VicSkimmr]

I used to feel that way but I've become incredibly impressed with their ability to design on the computer. It's an entirely new aspect. jeff ludes portfolio and scott dukes portfolio online if you're interested...

I just checked out Jeff Ludes' portfolio, I really like it! But I'd have to say that most of it looks naturally lit too, just with insane amounts of post processing work done (which I have the utmost respect for). That's where I really fall short. Though some his shots are obviously lit with strobes and whatnot because you can see multiple light sources. They all look really nice. When it is blended like that so seamlessly it looks really nice.

To my eye, his work looks mostly like HDR, but where the photographer hand blends the different exposures together instead of running them through some half assed program.

[e30 gangsta]

Thats the highest res i have:( i lost my hd with all those shots. All i have is whats on my flickr sorry. Glad you like it though.

[87e30]

I just checked out Jeff Ludes' portfolio, I really like it! But I'd have to say that most of it looks naturally lit too, just with insane amounts of post processing work done (which I have the utmost respect for). That's where I really fall short.

To my eye, it mostly looks like HDR, but where the photographer hand blends the different exposures together instead of running them through some half assed program.

A lot of his backgrounds or cars are CGI.

If you read through some of his build ups he can manipulate scenes so well that it can be incredibly hard to tell what is actually going on. In every build up I've read there is a large amount of artificial light in the build up.

That's how he does it though, it looks so natural but too perfect. Incredible work... his portfolio is the reason I'm on a "boring" career track. I don't want to rely on creating the design genius this guy (and others like him) possess.


Rollers above look good to me... more focus on backgrounds would be my thoughts.

[VicSkimmr]

A lot of his backgrounds or cars are CGI.

If you read through some of his build ups he can manipulate scenes so well that it can be incredibly hard to tell what is actually going on. In every build up I've read there is a large amount of artificial light in the build up.

That's how he does it though, it looks so natural but too perfect. Incredible work... his portfolio is the reason I'm on a "boring" career track. I don't want to rely on creating the design genius this guy (and others like him) possess.


Rollers above look good to me... more focus on backgrounds would be my thoughts.

It wouldn't surprise me. If it's done so well that it looks natural then I'd say he's doing it right :) That's some insane work that must go into those. I wonder how many hours of post he puts in for each one.

I guess maybe he artificially lights the shots of the cars static and then takes multiple exposures with a rig? I dunno, it's so well done that I can't even tell what all went in to it.

I'm sure at some point I'll venture into artificial lighting too, but I've still got too much to learn with natural light before I attempt it. I'll probably get a flash soon to help with my macro stuff though.

[87e30]

It wouldn't surprise me. If it's done so well that it looks natural then I'd say he's doing it right :) That's some insane work that must go into those. I wonder how many hours of post he puts in for each one.

I guess maybe he artificially lights the shots of the cars static and then takes multiple exposures with a rig? I dunno, it's so well done that I can't even tell what all went in to it.

I'm sure at some point I'll venture into artificial lighting too, but I've still got too much to learn with natural light before I attempt it. I'll probably get a flash soon to help with my macro stuff though.

He has a team of people that do post work. (recently I saw him write that he edited the shot entirely himself which was rare)

I know on some rig shots they light the car statically and then blend exposures. There are so many combinations of things to do it's mind blowing. A lot of times they will move the lights around the car in different frames and then blend it together to accent the lines of the car. Of course jeff has such nice gear that he has tons and tons of lights and huge strip soft boxes etc etc.

I originally got my single strobe to blend car shots together, but it's not always worth it and I've had way more fun using my strobe inside to turn boring stuff or impossible stuff into something a bit more fun. Lots of opportunities arise with one little speed light.

[izthistaken]

Blending lights is tough. I haven't done it in a while but using a bare flash can cause hot spots which are hard to remove, also you lose a lot of the lines in the cars. The first two are just a single flash fired multiple times. The second group I merged a couple pictures along with firing the flash a couple times. It's tough working a budget. lol


Dodge Ram RT 2009 more edit. by izthistaken, on Flickr


2009 Dodge Ram RT final edit by izthistaken, on Flickr


Also, the reds are hard to get right....clearly I failed in that department.


Dlines Pontiac G8 by izthistaken, on Flickr


Dlines Pontiac G8 by izthistaken, on Flickr

[izthistaken]

Want to hate your pathetic lights and lack of studio?

http://forums.dieselstation.com/index.php?showtopic=33967

WATCH THIS!

http://vimeo.com/21794329

[87e30]

^ I know a lot of REALLY good shots have been taken bare strobe.

Just takes practice.

[87e30]

Awesome video! Damn I need to get out and shoot some more cars... its been a while. (Because my e30 hasn't been on the road and it's really ugly I have no subjects haha)

[izthistaken]

Shadowed by izthistaken, on Flickr

[nickpro]