Tip of the Day: Car Shots

Cars can be tough to photograph, with shiny surfaces, lots of reflections, and so many angles to shoot from! Here are a few tips to get you started taking better car shots.

1. Shoot at a low angle. Unless you can shoot from 3 or 4 feet above the roofline of the car, taking a slightly-to-dramatically lower angle can make the car look more impressive, especially if you shoot it against a cloud-filled sky or evening skyline.

2. Never fire your flash directly. Flash fired straight at the car are your enemy: Every flaw in the paint will show up in high relief. Instead, move the flash off-camera and use side lighting to accentuate the lines of the car.

3. Wet the ground. This trick has been used since the dawn of the automotive age. Water increases the levels of contrast in the image and adds a reflection of your subject, creating a feeling of dimension.

4. Avoid standard lenses. Shoot with a telephoto or wide-angle lens; avoid anything in the standard focal lengths. Wide-angle lenses are good for getting a sense of place into your shots, showing the car in context. Telephoto lenses are great at accentuating the lines of the vehicle and maintaining a good sense of separation between subject and background.

5. Bring along a bin of cleaning supplies. Even on a freshly washed and waxed car, there’s always some spot you miss. Having along a chamois and a couple spray bottles of Windex and tire shine has saved my bacon on many a shoot.

Taking pictures of cars is a great way to experiment with different techniques, using a subject that won’t complain if you spend an hour setting up the shot. Experiment and have fun!

—Matthew Panzarino
Contributing Blogger