How I took my long exposure of the Lexus LF-LC

[jimhuntphoto]

NAIAS Contest Winner - Lexus LF-LC Spin by Jim•Hunt, on Flickr

I didnt want to jack bigrobo89's thread so I decided to start this to share with you how I took the above shot that ultimately won the North American International Auto Show contest for its category. I started to write this as a reply to a question from trooper5010's question on shooting the single frame and rotation long exposure shot...

You have to know what you want as your end result before shooting this, heck with all photography should know what you want before you start shooting. After that its easy as pie to execute. Hopefully. I've never tried this before and finding an exotic car on a turntable isnt easy to find.

I sat and watched this car spin for about 5 minutes and decided that an isometric view would probably look the best. I didnt want head on or a profile because I didnt think the spin effect would come off to well.

Before I set my tripod down I looked at the background and made sure that I didnt have any distracting objects back there and tried to make sure that everything was symmetric. Then when I started to compose I made sure that before I pressed the shutter release that the whole car fit in frame as it rotated. I screwed the 3 stopper on.

I set my focus and as the front started to rotate in I fired the shutter release. I use a self timer set for 2 seconds so Im not touching the camera when the mirror flips. That frame, the blur or spin, was for like 25 seconds, f4, shot around 11mm. Then I take the filter off and then take the single shot at 1/60 when the car comes back around.

For poops and giggles I did this several times. I shot the car at every angle possible with the filter on and with the filter off. All in all I spent a good 20 minutes in this one spot.

The cool thing with this is that the background kept changing as its a video wall, see below. I did this throughout the day but found that the red car and black background in combination with the chrome proved to pull off the best effect. For instance, the white Ford Fusion didnt look nearly as well when I tried this effect. See below.

I then brought both images into photoshop and masked them together. That part literally took a minute. Added some contrast, curves, and sharpness and bam done!

The whole point in my rambling here is to think different when shooting and plan it accordingly. Long exposures can be used for many different things you just have to see the end result and then go out and do it.


Lexus LF-LC by Jim•Hunt, on Flickr


Challenger SRT Spin by Jim•Hunt, on Flickr

For this Ford shot I added the Ford logo to the video wall but overall because of the white car the effect doesnt work to well.

fusion spin web by Jim•Hunt, on Flickr

[OsmosisStudios]

That first shot is jaw-dropping. Exceptional work!

[Glayva]

Brilliant concept and expertly executed. Thanks for the "how to".

Excellent work.

[GuruBhai]

Nice shot and nicely explained.

One fine day i'll try this too.

[Sariahrose]

I would have to agree with OsmosisStudios- Amazing!
Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[jpun1]

sorry for the noob question...

what filter did you use and why did you feel the need to use a filter? thanks! awesome shots! very creative!

[Optikal iLLusion]

First off I'd like to add to the oooo and ahhhs and say this is superb.

Originally Posted by jpun1

sorry for the noob question...

what filter did you use and why did you feel the need to use a filter? thanks! awesome shots! very creative!

Since this was a long exposure shot im gonna say the filter he used was 3 stop Neutral Density filter. Typically at shows like this the lights are around the cars are pretty bright so the only way you would be able to take a long exposure would be to block the light coming through the lens so thats what the ND filter is for. It basically let him keep the shutter open and get the blurred motion effect in the bright light.

Someone feel free to put me in my place if im wrong.

[jimhuntphoto]

Originally Posted by Optikal iLLusion

First off I'd like to add to the oooo and ahhhs and say this is superb.

Since this was a long exposure shot im gonna say the filter he used was 3 stop Neutral Density filter. Typically at shows like this the lights are around the cars are pretty bright so the only way you would be able to take a long exposure would be to block the light coming through the lens so thats what the ND filter is for. It basically let him keep the shutter open and get the blurred motion effect in the bright light.

Someone feel free to put me in my place if im wrong.

Perfect my friend. I specifically chose a 3 stopper as I feel my 10 stopper would be to much. The reason for the 3 stopper was 2 fold, first it allowed for spinning shots like this, second it was the fact I didnt want people in my shots. Pretty simple really.

[Optikal iLLusion]

Originally Posted by foteck

Perfect my friend. I specifically chose a 3 stopper as I feel my 10 stopper would be to much. The reason for the 3 stopper was 2 fold, first it allowed for spinning shots like this, second it was the fact I didnt want people in my shots. Pretty simple really.

I have often wondered what situations people would use the lower stop ND filter for. I've been planning on buying a 10 stop for day time long exposure but I'd never give the 3 stop and between a thought really. You've inspired me! haha.