The rain had just let up and the air was crisp and clean. I love the smell of rain. There was a little drizzle in the air. I took a deep breath, having grown up in Seattle, it was my absolute favorite weather. I got in the Subie and started home, I gazed up at the mountain in our town and saw it- epic fog. I love mist, fog, and atmospheric depth: love it. I didn’t have much time, so I set off to Mt. Jefferson State Park and started the ascent.
I started up the mountain and kept climbing. The road was wet and the sun was getting low, it was beautiful. I unrolled the window and heard the tires racing across the damp pavement and the birds chirping outside. I kept going, switchback after switchback- but no fog. Did I miss it, maybe it burned off? I kept heading up the mountain past the overlooks and was starting to get worried. Then it happened.
I entered the mist.
Now it was time to shoot some epic car photos. These are 5 of the best practices that I have for shooting epic car photography.
Wheels Face you
Make sure this is done correctly. If you want to look like an amateur then skip this step. Nothing looks worse than if this step is not completed. The car looks stagnant, boring, and even lifeless. The idea when shooting an inanimate object is to create a story- to create motion. By pointing the wheels towards you you are able to create just that.
Shoot Through Something
The idea here is to add some depth. The more visually interesting your shot is, the more compelling your visual will be to others (and yourself). This is when creativity comes into play; how will you do it. Will you pick up a leaf? Will you bring a piece of crystal? Will you hike up higher? Regardless, shoot through something and you will be amazed at the result (but make sure your focus is dialed-in correctly).
Doesn’t have to be moving
The car does not have to be moving to get great photos, so your excuse of not being able to do it because you do not have a driver is not valid. Focus on frame placement and get creative. Focus on lens angle and shoot up to the car, straight on, and down- boom you have 3 photos to start with! Find details that are interesting and let the camera capture the craftsmanship.
Pay attention to Lighting
This is vital. The last thing that you want is an over-exposed or under-exposed car photo. In post-production, there will be the need to tweak things and modify aspects of the photo to make it stand out and showcase your style and because of that, you want to utilize tools like the histogram and ND filters to make sure that your shot looks great. This is difficult when outside because you might have an extended dynamic range and you will just have to be creative and solve the issue.
Environment is Everything
With car photography, the most important aspect is the environment. Make it epic. Make it cool. Make it rad. Whatever your mood is- make it that! As you do you will see such cool visuals come to life and you will also have so much more creativity.
Summary
Each one of these is an important part of the process but let me know what you think. These are not all-encompassing but they are what I felt were most important the other day. Thanks for taking the time to read through this and if you are looking for more best practices head over to Medium or follow me on Twitter. If you love car photography follow me on Instagram to see the entire collection. Well, now you know. Keep those 5 best practices in mind and get out there and start creating.
Stay humble and hustle harder.
-Nate K.