My Photography Tips and Tricks
Hi There!
As requested by 'hallzandrods' from the Rods N Sods website, I will be writing some tips and tricks I use when photographing cars or other subjects which help me create interesting compositions and hopefully successful photographs.
I will start off by listing the equipment I use and find useful when I'm on the go, whether at car shows or out seeking a scenic landscape.
> The camera I use to shoot all my photographs is a classic Canon EOS 600D DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) which in my opinion is one of the best DSLR cameras out there, with thousands of tricks and functions to help you achieve awesome photographs which you'll be very proud of!
> Although I am not a firm user of tripods as I prefer to move freely, I do like to bring one everywhere with me just incase I need a crystal clear image!
> Extra Lenses (although are not necessary) are an extremely useful bit of kit to achieve perfect photographs but that perfection comes at a price which I am not able to pay but am saving up for! Lenses are definitely worth the price, especially with a zoom lens which enables you to shoot photographs from a great distance.
Now moving onto the good part, taking the photographs!
I have a certain checklist in my mind when I am taking photographs of classic cars because the composition is essential to having a good outcome.
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> Rule of thirds - The rule of thirds is used widely across most design
and photography areas. It is applied by aligning the subject in the
composition with guide lines and their intersection points, you allow
linear features in the image to flow from section to section. Having a
mental image of the rule of thirds when you take a photograph gives
you a sense of symmetry within the image which already makes it
easier on the eye.
> With most photographs I take, I check the distance between the 2 furthest points of the car and make sure they're even, from side to side and top to bottom, this is how I know if the subject is central within the composition. If I don't achieve this when I take the photograph I crop the image later on to correct this.
> Depth of Field - I enjoy experimenting with perspective for my car show photography. Depth of Field is the distance between the nearest and the furthest object in the image. I take a side angle shot of the front of the car which creates space and a 3D effect, giving the illusion that the car is close to you and going further away into the distance.
> Diagonals in images also create a good effect, having the subject on a dominant diagonal line going through the middle of the rule of thirds makes the composition much more interesting.
Editing in Photoshop/an editing software
I have a simple process to how I edit my images. I begin by cropping them so the car is central (if necessary) remembering to line up the distance around the edge. I then brighten the image slightly to bleach out the background which makes the main subject stand out against it. I then finish off using the contrast to sharpen the image, this also darkens the shadowed areas and highlights the lighter parts.
If needed, to add some extra colour I turn up the saturation and vibrance of the image which enhances the main colours. Sometimes if I want to add a 'vintage' type effect, I turn the image black and white or sepia which gives it the classic photography look.
I hope this gave you some tips for your own photography, if you have any other questions then feel free to contact me.
Thanks!