Hey all you photographers lurking out there refraining from posting your awesome stuff. I was wondering if anyone could give me some legitimate advice on photographing the inside of cars.

For this image I did a 9 frame panorama with the strobe fired from the same spot each time, I wanted to get the effect of a proper wide angle lens. This however doesn't work if you want to light the interior well.

Also, way too many distortion issues to count and pieces that had to be layered in.

This approach I did tonight to counteract the previous image I was unhappy with. It is multiple layered exposures to get the dash lights, then I fired my flash in the footwells, and through either window through a 48" diffuser.

I read that you should ideally have the parking brake off and car in neutral (and be on flat ground haha!). I totally overlooked the steering wheel angle, but considering its slight inward tilt I'm not too bothered. The angle and framing aren't perfect but its quite hard to get my eye to the viewfinder when the camera is back there on a tripod (on the back seats).

I'd appreciate it if anybody had any tips or tricks to share that they use shooting interiors or cars in general. I am more than happy to answer questions and explain further how I made these images too.

 

Do you have a bubble level on your tripod/hotshoe/etc.?

The lack of BFC helps.

#2, the lighting in the door pockets is unbalanced, remove the key chain, tilit the rear view mirror so that it fills out all black, same goes for side view mirrors.

The even lighting and lack of distortion, and presence of the mirror make me prefer #2 over #1, that said I'm there's still a hot-spot over the left of the wheel, while the blue under the speedo seems underexposed and the shadows are uneven on the downtubes from the switch bank separators, also may want to switch the tach digital display from speed to temp, and there's a funky kink in the leatherette at the top of where it ends on the shifter that makes it look unbalanced.


FYI- While I can see this stuff on the computer screen, I still cannot see it with my brain in the viewfinder, and you're doing a very good job.

 

I think photo #2 is good and close to very good. Lighting is the trick as well as camera position. There are a couple of hot spots that could use work and camera angle is very good and proportions are good. I did like showing the top of the winshield and some of the rooof in #1, but the fisheye view doesn't ever turn me on unless it's part of a ''Artistic Look". I would also like to see what a change of having the headlights on a neutal backgound might do. Keep it up you are getting there, show us some more.

 

They're great shots and I'm envious!

I'm happy to pitch in with some thoughts, in case they're helpful.

For the shot in my signature (larger version here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co..._-_Cropped.jpg) I had the tripod in the boot. Because I don't have a sufficiently wide angle lens. But I do think it gives a more natural viewing angle of the interior.

I think your use of a wide angle lens is good for the roof and window area, as it stops the windscreen looking so square and 1930s, which was a problem I had without one. Your lighting in #1 also adds more curve and interest to the pillars. (But the wide angle lens does make the seats look strange - might be OK from the boot though.)

As noted, the photo needs to be straightened - I did the same to mine after the copy on NAM. Easy to do in software.

I wouldn't bother trying to light the footwells - they don't add much interest and can distract from the strong form lines on the dashboard and centre console that are so good to work with on the Series 1 MINI interior.

I really like the very blue effect you've managed, and my personal thought is that the orange lighting in #2 works against that - I think the single, strong colour has more impact.

Some sort of exterior could help, but it's important that it doesn't distract from the strength of your interior image.

I'd also change the steering wheel angle so that the full circle of the rev counter is visible if possible. (Again, the camera in the boot helps.)

Anyway, them's me thoughts...

 

Ok, not a constructive critique or anything, but I love #2! And the blue really helps.

BTW, that hanging cup holder though...

 

Thomas all the stuff that Motor On mentioned in his critique can be fixed using photoshop. Let me know if you need any help with anything.

The following shot was taken with natural light and completely reworked with photoshop. I try to even everything out and make it look like it was shot in a studio.

 

This thread is now officially full of AWESOME information! Thanks so much everybody. I'm reshooting it in a pitch black open area tonight, I think if I can open the doors I can light parts of the insides better. The steering wheel/tac suggestion was great, if I move it up a tad then it should be fully visible. Maybe I'll have the footwells slightly light, mainly just the pedals showing. I also have blue footwell lights I'll see about working in.

I'll just take a base exposure with the lights off and one with them on, so I can create two different versions. Having 1 strobe isn't so bad after all.

I'll do everything possible to have the camera sitting perfect in the boot. The easiest way is probably to shoot tethered in Aperture so I can see the photos large and adjust my camera.

(fyi shot #1 is a 9 frame panorama, not from a wide angle. Thats why its horribly messed up)

Another thing I think I need is dash lighting. I'll add another shot with the flash diffused through the 48" disc through the windshield. I'm taking a bed sheet to attempt to use as a diffuser with a friend too. I may as well drape it across the windshield and light it up.
--image from MINI USA--


You guys rock. Pretty sure I won't be learning this stuff at the university. I'll post more tonight or tomorrow!

 

Just make sure you diffuse the heck out of the light hitting the dash. You can black in the window sheild in post processing, or use a gradient like the mini ad you posted.

 

My input on the lighting:

a fill on camera axis (maybe 2 stops below the key lights in each window) would have worked wonders.

Also, remember the laws of light. Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection, thats why there are hot spots. Feather the lights shooting in the windows more and get more even coverage and less hotspot.

 

Make sure to PS the reflections out of the shift **** then too.

I s your monitor calibrated? I can see brush marks the windows

 

Better?

New monitor hasn't been calibrated yet. Sorry for butting in on the thread.

Cheers

 

There's a reflection in the steering wheel emblem too

 

Wow, alot of art dirctors on here.

 

Maybe it's just me, but wouldn't it just be easier to do the shot like a studio shot than it would be to photoshop everything after the fact?

 

This is far from perfect, but the only shot I got last night. This is the only image of this kind I have ever tried to capture. I used a bed sheet to diffuse the hood light, but I am about to build a proper frame for it now so it can be stretched tight and work better. Expect a much more improved one in the next few days. I'll get another interior shot soon, I just spent 2.5hrs trying to shoot the front of this BMW 550i with a friend last night.

 

Alot of my stuff is shot at Cars and coffee and car meets. I try to go for the details, rather than a static image of a bunch of people standing around the cars. Plus I don't have a studio big enough to shoot cars at my disposal, and I enjoy working in photoshop.

Looked at your web site by the way. Nice photography!

Sorry for the Hijack, Thomas.

 

I like everthing about it, except the grass. I don't believe in shooting autos in the grass, unless it's a truck or some type of off road vehicle. Love the strobe work on the front of the car.

Great work Thomas!

 

I agree about the grass, but it was different and vibrant so I thought it was worth a try. It contrasts great with the color of the car.

Now today I set out to build as big of a diffuser as I could. It covers the side of my MINI at 8'x5' but I have realized I will have to move it around and get multiple exposures to light the whole side properly. It should work great for interior photography, creating dash lighting and blowing the windows out white. I'll make an interior shot tonight using this and my 48" disc and see how much better I can do.











It collapses down with the longest piece being 4.5ft. I can trim probably 3+ inches off each side to make it cram into my MINI better. I also need to build an attachment for my flash to prevent the light from spreading too far wide. I'll update later tonight.

 

Holy sheet Batman!!!! That's awesome!!

 

I always forget about that site. I got a new one in the works. Most of that stuff is pretty old.

I havent been shooting much lately (other than school stuff which keeps me really busy.) I'm mostly assisting these days. Hopefully within a year I'll be picking up my own advertising/editorial jobs.

03minime, thats a cool diffuser. What are you shooting through it?

 

^^^That's ThomasW's diffuser ^^^

 

I only have a Vivitar 285hv flash, full manual and I got it just for strobist stuff. An SB-600 would be nice though, that will be my next flash for on camera work. I use a Cactus v4s wireless trigger system, $35 from gadgetinfinity.com and works absolutely perfect with awesome range. I'm shooting with a 3 year old D40 body too, so all my gear is as cheap as it gets. A D90 should be coming soon. (I want the 300s but I'd rather wait and buy the latest pro body in a few years when I graduate)

 

Get a couple of Alien Bees.

 

I definitely want some studio strobes, but I knew I wanted to start out with normal flashes for portability. It is just so awesome being able to carry a camera bag and a tripod/lightstand bag and have all my gear with me. After I get a speedlight I'll try to get studio lighting. Shooting with my friends flashpoint strobe with modeling light and softbox, it definitely makes life easier.


Hot off the press, around an hour of shooting and an hour of processing. My massive diffuser worked great for the windshield, I just had to take 3 shots with it to the left, centered, then to the right. I fired the strobe once through the side windows and once through the open door frame each time. I added an exposure this time around with the flash shooting straight at the dash. I'm quite happy with this image! I think I like it more than the dark one.

-mirrors are awkward, I need to concentrate on them next time and what to do
-air vents...NOOOOOOO!
-tac can't be any more visible, i have a different tripod to try to maybe get the camera a tad lower
-i need to figure out how to light the door panels
-i really need to learn how to edit out the huge glare on the dash piece each time

I've got an angled side image I am working on now.

--update--
Image finished. Not entirely happy with the light. It isn't soft enough and looks like some cheesy photo for an auto magazine or website, not a brochure by MINI.

 

Sweet!