Retro Classics Auto Show

[LenDog]

I went to this show yesterday and it was my first serious attempt at photographing cars. I did some reading on dPS and other sites to get some pointers before going. The show included bikes, trucks, and other machines as well as cars.

It was a crowded indoor event with a combination of natural and tungsten lighting. People and reflections were everywhere and I had neither the access nor the equipment or the post-processing desire to do more than simple crops and other minor adjustments.

The link above the photo is to a flickr set from this shoot, please consider those in your critiques.

Regardless of the people and reflections, I'd like critiques on:
- Choice of subjects, opinions on the parts of the autos I chose to photograph.
- Composition, are they protrayed in a way the makes the machines stand out?

Your likes, dislikes and recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Retro Classics Show Stuttgart



All were handheld shots taken with a Sony @330 DSLR and Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 100-200. The uploaded image is 1/25 at 50mm (75mm efl), f/2.8, ISO 100, a little slow but posted as a sample.

[MrBeta]

Love the composition and the DOF but it looks a bit underexposed on my screen. Perhaps it's just me though. Great shot otherwise. I LOVE some of the others on Flickr.

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by MrBeta

Love the composition and the DOF but it looks a bit underexposed on my screen. Perhaps it's just me though. Great shot otherwise. I LOVE some of the others on Flickr.

Thanks MrBeta, the one posted was a bit underexposed. Specifics on the other photos? Trying to sort what works here...

This is your best photo of the group - I give it a 3 out of 5.

Retro Classics Show Stuttgart on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

- Choice of subjects, opinions on the parts of the autos I chose to photograph.

The choice could have been good. Execution here was lacking.

- Composition, are they protrayed in a way the makes the machines stand out?

Short answer. No. They aren't. They don't say anything about the car other than what you can already see. None of the shots scream "BENTLEY" or whatever.

Your likes, dislikes and recommendations?

I'd say you need to study the cars more. Everything presented here is rather, "garden variety". Look at the cars and really take notice of what makes each car stand out and make it so.

I don't mean to be as harsh as I'm sure I'm sounding. The only way is UP from here!

~Eric

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

This is your best photo of the group - I give it a 3 out of 5.

I don't mean to be as harsh as I'm sure I'm sounding. The only way is UP from here!

~Eric

Thanks for the feedback! Any suggestions, based on what you saw, as to better subject choices and how I could improve the composition to bring out the "Machine"? That may not be a fair question, given the limited perspective (avoiding crowds) but if a "should have..." jumped out at you I'd like to hear it.
I love cars, photographing them is something I need to work on.

It's hard to say...

When you look at a particular car, what is it that yells out to you about the car?

This is a 1956 Jaguar 120, what makes this car so special is it's 5 humps. And to answer your question, yes.. .this was take during a CAR SHOW with 1,000 people around.



honestly, want the best automotive photography out there?

Get a subscription to Top Gear Magazine, yea... it's $150/USD/Year, but my god is it good.

[freezeframe03]

I know hood ornaments are rare these days and they can be a great addition to a car photo. However...I think this one could say more to the viewer if your perspective were lower, with a portion of the body of another car in the background (if it were the same car manufacturer). I don't know if I'm conveying what I mean to here. Having trouble digging up the right words to use.

I also am thinking this shot as you have taken it could be better with more of the car body in focus. That's questionable yet for me without actually knowing if it would look better.

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by freezeframe03

I know hood ornaments are rare these days and they can be a great addition to a car photo. However...I think this one could say more to the viewer if your perspective were lower, with a portion of the body of another car in the background (if it were the same car manufacturer). I don't know if I'm conveying what I mean to here. Having trouble digging up the right words to use.

I also am thinking this shot as you have taken it could be better with more of the car body in focus. That's questionable yet for me without actually knowing if it would look better.

Thanks freezeframe, I understand what you're saying.