Had a chance to get some pics of this Chili Red MCS over the weekend.

Geographical location: San Pedro, CA
Lighting conditions: Overhead sunlight
Weather: Mid 80's (asphalt even hotter)
Shooting situation: MINI GTG, cars parked close to each other, other MINI owners browsing each others' vehicles
Camera: Nikon D70
Glass: 18-70mm DX (kit lens), 10.5mm DX fisheye

The Pix
Pic 1 (tried to use palm tree as part of frame)


Pic 2 (wanting to make sure side graphics are highlighted)


Pic 3 (playing with the fisheye)


Pic 4 (Is palm tree funky?)


Pic 5 (hoping background isn't too cluttered)


Pic 6 (trying to spotlight gradients in the graphics)


Pic 7 (ouch! ashpalt was burning!)


Note:
Some of you may know whose MINI this is. I'm deliberately posting this here in Photo for photography feedback. (So reserve non-tech/political comments to other forums.) Additionally, I avoided snapping pics under the hood since there are enough of those floating around.
Given the aforementioned conditions, how would you shoot this automobile?

Oh . . . the owner was very compliant with me shooting. He even offered to close the hood for more pics. Needless to mention, I've offered him a CD of hi-res versions.

-J/C

 

I don't have any advice on photography...but I just have to say that is one of the most exciting Minis I've ever seen! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the Mini with twin-turbos and 400 hp?....or am I thinking of someone else?

 

The front end shadow is the main issue I see. Did you have your reflector with you?

I would also have cropped two of these a little differently.

• Photo #1 - I would have cropped the right side to the point at the top right corner of the wall.
• Photo #7 - I would have cropped off the top to remove the low hanging leaves, the little wedge of tree, and the security camera.

Otherwise, it looks like you did really well given the environs.

 

agreed on photo 7

just a side question.. where can i get one of those hood scoops?

 

That question/answer and others related to the car are found in this thread.

Let's keep this one to photo feedback.

 

Those are some cool shots dude... do you use a circular polarizer at all?

 

I was wondering this too.
Also, I was thinking it could be bracketed
Tell us tell us! Thats decent dynamic range you got there, considering you shot at the worst time of day... GJ

 

Thanks for the feedback. Forgot I had reflector in trunk of car.
I was kind of debating as to taking out that security camera since I took out a pipe that was leading up to it.


Used circular polarizer on the kit lens. It's my understanding most fisheyes incorporate polarizers already. (Not sure if it's the case in a DX lens.)
Additionally, I exposed for the highlights (in most cases, the asphalt). Underexposing some helped darken the sky a bit also.


Vertigo,
I did bracket over/under.

Shooting RAW helps out quite a bit also.


-Juan