Tips for taking pics of black cars?

timn · 04-21-2008, 05:42 PM

Does anyone have tips for taking pics of black cars?

I have access to an SLR and point and shoot. Would love some tips for both from the pro camera takers here. Whenever I take pictures of my car, the lines aren't defined and the car looks like a black blob of metal...

It makes me wish I had white, sometimes!

CRZ410S · 04-22-2008, 08:59 PM

Turn off the flash, slow down the aperture (more open), and shot form an angle. Post your results!

TurboFan · 04-24-2008, 09:09 AM

Is the car moving or stationary? Sunny or dark?

Wash the car. Dirt on a black car shows very easily in a pic.

If you use a flash, you'll need a softbox, or the reflection off the car will suck.

And always, always, always USE A TRIPOD! Just a friendly reminder from yur Uncle Larry.

I don't know that I'd go wide open on the aperature. I'd probably stop down to f/4, or maybe even f/8, depending on how much light I had available. You'll get a greater depth of field, which will bring more of the car into focus, making it appear sharper. Also, most lenses are sharpest at the lower 1/3 point of the aperature range - usually around f/8 or so.

This one is an HDR, but the car was shot at f/8.

MpoweredM · 05-01-2008, 08:01 AM

Shoot in the morning, or evening. Never mid day. Never in direct sunlight without proper lighting... Here are some of my black car in different conditions...
This shoot started early in the morning and by the time we were finished I shot my car... Pretty much direct sun at 11am...

Clearly noticable, cloudy day. Long exposure..

Out of direct lighting (sun)

You start to lose detail in the car to properly expose the entire scene as seen here in direct sunlight..

Partly cloudy day.. perfect for a nice fliter when shooting a black car..

Again, here is a cloudy day...

Just some examples of details shown and not shown in different lightings.. :dunno: if it helped at all.

Logik · 05-08-2008, 02:53 PM

look into a polarizer filter if you notice a lot of shadows/clouds on the black car.

jasonn · 05-09-2008, 03:19 AM

its all about the angle. you don't want it washed out and you don't want it too concentrated. at the same time, you also want the lines to show.

kwakr738 · 07-08-2008, 11:18 PM

Great tips and nice shots!!

04-21-2008, 05:42 PM	#1
timn First Lieutenant 51 Rep 321 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palo Alto, Ca iTrader: (4)	Tips for taking pics of black cars? Does anyone have tips for taking pics of black cars? I have access to an SLR and point and shoot. Would love some tips for both from the pro camera takers here. Whenever I take pictures of my car, the lines aren't defined and the car looks like a black blob of metal... It makes me wish I had white, sometimes!
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04-22-2008, 08:59 PM	#2
CRZ410S First Lieutenant 17 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 08 335i Vert Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbs of Philly iTrader: (0)	Turn off the flash, slow down the aperture (more open), and shot form an angle. Post your results! __________________ E93 08 335i Vert \| 6 spd \| Barbera Red ext/Blk Int \| Sprt/Prem pkgs \| Comfort/Nav/Ipod/Sirius \| + some custom work
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04-24-2008, 09:09 AM	#3
TurboFan Ski bum 317 Rep 6,198 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Knee deep in the pow iTrader: (8)	Is the car moving or stationary? Sunny or dark? Wash the car. Dirt on a black car shows very easily in a pic. If you use a flash, you'll need a softbox, or the reflection off the car will suck. And always, always, always USE A TRIPOD! Just a friendly reminder from yur Uncle Larry. I don't know that I'd go wide open on the aperature. I'd probably stop down to f/4, or maybe even f/8, depending on how much light I had available. You'll get a greater depth of field, which will bring more of the car into focus, making it appear sharper. Also, most lenses are sharpest at the lower 1/3 point of the aperature range - usually around f/8 or so. This one is an HDR, but the car was shot at f/8. __________________ 1999 e46 328i Ti Silver / Black[retired] 2007 e90 335xi Jet Black / Black[retired] 2011 e70 X5 35d Vermillion Red / Cinnamon 2011 e92 M3 LeMans / Fox Red extended
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05-01-2008, 08:01 AM	#4
MpoweredM MafiaImaging 29 Rep 310 Posts Drives: '21 m3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (2)	Shoot in the morning, or evening. Never mid day. Never in direct sunlight without proper lighting... Here are some of my black car in different conditions... This shoot started early in the morning and by the time we were finished I shot my car... Pretty much direct sun at 11am... Clearly noticable, cloudy day. Long exposure.. Out of direct lighting (sun) You start to lose detail in the car to properly expose the entire scene as seen here in direct sunlight.. Partly cloudy day.. perfect for a nice fliter when shooting a black car.. Again, here is a cloudy day... Just some examples of details shown and not shown in different lightings.. :dunno: if it helped at all. __________________
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05-08-2008, 02:53 PM	#5
Logik New Member 3 Rep 23 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	look into a polarizer filter if you notice a lot of shadows/clouds on the black car.
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05-09-2008, 03:19 AM	#6
jasonn JDM Slut 143 Rep 4,233 Posts Drives: 07 e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2014 PORSCHE CAYMAN [10.00] 2013 BMW X1 [9.00] 2014 BMW X5 xDrive35i [9.00] 2013 PORSCHE 991 [10.00] 2007 BMW 335i [9.08]	its all about the angle. you don't want it washed out and you don't want it too concentrated. at the same time, you also want the lines to show.
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07-08-2008, 11:18 PM	#7
kwakr738 e21 respect 34 Rep 599 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	Great tips and nice shots!!
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