I'm getting materials together for this year's calendar contest. As with last year, there will be a post for advice for photographers, and I want to put this up early to get any further ideas and integrate them so there will be one stop shopping for advice. So, Goody, Daytona, anybody who works with cameras, throw out advice for me to include
Advice:
Cameras:
1 – Use a camera with at least 6 megapixels (MP). These have been around for a few years, so they’re not state of the art and therefore not expensive.
2 – If your camera has the ability, mount a polarizer filter. It will give you bluer skies, whiter clouds, and help you minimize reflections where you want to do so.
Posing & Composition
1 - Pay attention to things that might be “growing” out of the car as you pose it. This could include trees, utility poles, street signs and poles, or parking lot lines. Move yourself or the car or both until the shot is clean.
2 – Make sure that there’s ample room around the image; don’t cut off parts of your car, or get too close to the edges of the image.
3 - Think outside the box. Get up high (on a ladder, on a balcony, etc.) or down low (on your stomach, in a gully). Shoot head-on or tail-on. Tilt the camera. Shoot in rain or snow.
4 – Shots with the front wheels turned toward the camera tend to be more pleasing.
Photographers:
1 – If you don’t feel confident about your ability to get a good image, look in your local craigslist, under SERVICES – CREATIVE. You will likely find listings from people who are trying to break in to photography, and in order to build up their portfolios are offering to do shoots for free. They will usually say that they’re looking for models (who isn’t?), but trust me, they’ll be happy to shoot your car.
Locations:
Places that tend to lend themselves to helping you make good shots:
1. Lakes, ponds, rivers…in short, water
2. Churches
3. Bridges
4. Barns
This is not an exhaustive list. Basically, look for something dramatic, and put your car in front of it (if you can do so, and, if needed, if you can get permission).
Many people don’t think that cars should be photographed on grass. Personally, this doesn’t bother me. I’d much rather see a car on grass than on pavement with parking lines sticking out at odd angles. Still, it’s something to be aware of as you pick locations; some of the same people who may not like cars on grass are people who are voting in the calendar competition.
