Love the BTS pullback shots I always forgot to do them and kick myself later on The AB800's are pretty sweet, I've got one of them and a White Lightning X1600 as well (got a great deal on a used one so I couldn't pass it up).

I really like the shots, they're great as far as exposure and balance (esp. if it's your 1st go round with strobing a car) but I just don't care for the location much. I love your car, but the background has too much going on and I keep getting distracted (but at the same time it's a cool spot, not sure what I would have done differently really).

Were you using any filters? I really like that last head on shot but am curious if there was a CP filter used? I always like using my cp filter when shooting cars, esp. when using strobes during the day since it helps cut down the ambient a little bit (I'll also use an ND4 or ND1.2 when I need something really strong, haven't broken out the 10 stop yet ). Now, I'll admit, I haven't strobed many cars so take that all with a grain of salt I'm more comfortable using them on my daughter or friend's kids. Now I really want to go out and use mine on my car.

 

Thanks, the Rotas do look good on these MINIs. I'm drooling over a set of Volks, but the Volks are $$$$...

 

Another good filter to use during the day when shooting cars is a polarizer. I used one on the shots above and it really cut down on the unwanted glare and deepened the colors a bit too.

 

i tried my hardest to remember to take the BTS shots, it really does help going back and looking at the set up to see what i should change. i agree with you on the location. i really don't plan ahead where i'm shooting.for this shoot i was more concerned about testing out my lights and getting a hang of using them for the first time. i'm still relatively new to the Seattle area and don't know of cool locations. i just happen to come across this and hoped i wasn't in some no trespassing place. as far as filters go, i didn't use any in this shoot, besides the UV that's always on my lens. i do have a CP for one of my lenses and have used it on cars and it really does make the car look cleaner after most of the reflections are removed. i want to get an actual set of filters, like the Lee system. i just need the money but i spent it all on the lights.

 

So you're near Mike Gilbert, he's in Seattle somewhere I think. You should go look him up and stalk him til he agrees to show you his tricks I know I would if I lived out there (I'd post a link to his Flickr but it's blocked at work, he does some amazing automotive work, mostly VW/Audi but also others).

I hear you on breaking the bank with the lighting but I feel it's a worthy investment I just have a CP filter and a few ND's. I went with all 77mm filters and use step down rings on the 2 lenses that aren't 77mm, it saves me money in the long run. I'd love to get into the Lee filters but it seems like such a big investment (a lot of landscape guys on a forum I frequent swear by them www.newschoolofphotography.com great bunch of guys).

As I said before, you've inspired me to do my best to get my lights out and shoot my car with them, maybe this weekend if I'm lucky

 

Cell phone ftw

 

 

Apache Leap in the background...

 

I really love the PP work Tommy.

 

What a stunning MINI! The tinted windows really make the roof appear as if it is floating above the body. Wow!

 

^ +1. I'm also a fan of the body-color fenders and sideskirts, it works really well with your car.

 

[QUOTE=KevinC;3464925]Apache Leap in the background...

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Yeah, I missed the side skirts....

 

Thank you! They were actually taken and edited ony iPhone from an app called Snapseed. They were the first time I ever messed around with any picture editing and I'm pretty proud of how they came out

 

I had a little fun with my S the other day:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xstartxtodayx/6811617354/

 

Snapped this with my iPhone


(post-processed in PS5 mostly to embed metadata)

 

I took this right before I had to get rid of my MINI:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6808413952/http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6808413952/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/alstauffer/, on Flickr

PP 'lightly' in Lightroom3

 

mini wine-7 by raaawrr, on Flickr

 

quick shot at the beach last night since it was so beautiful out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xstartxtodayx/6852395154/http://www.flickr.com/photos/xstartxtodayx/6852395154/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/xstartxtodayx/, on Flickr

 

^^ great shot! love the edit.

 

Thanks

 

A couple that I took at a car show earlier this month.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6971632385/http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6971632385/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/alstauffer/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6971633533/http://www.flickr.com/photos/alstauffer/6971633533/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/alstauffer/, on Flickr

 

^^ Nice shots I really like the edit on the 2nd one giving the metal a liquid look/feel to it, the red and chrome look awesome.

I snapped some shots of an old school red Mini like that last year at a local show, if Flickr wasn't blocked at work I'd post them up but I guess I'll have to wait til later when I get home.

 

 

From last night, near Popham Beach, Maine.





From this winter, MINI abstract art:



Back to Popham Beach....