Audi RS4

[Stephan Bauer]

Looking for some Comments and Critique on a recent photoshoot i did with a Audi RS4. Since this was my first photoshoot i want to hear how i can improve for some future shoots. Thanks a bunch guys!
1.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//16811_IMG_1179.jpg
2.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//25362_IMG_1202.jpg
3.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//27314_IMG_1215.jpg
4.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//7995_IMG_1269.jpg
5.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//29858_IMG_1270.jpg
6.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//30171_IMG_1277.jpg
7.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//29671_IMG_1285.jpg
8.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//16137_IMG_1307.jpg
9.
http://serv4.imagehigh.com/imgs//8312_IMG_1313.jpg

[Phil Royle]

Those RS4s are very nice. Anyway, I'll kick this off with some general comments about all the pics:

1. I don't like pictures of cars where it is plainly obvious that it was taken in a parking lot. If you're stuck with parking lots as your only location, get a little lower and eliminate the parking lines that way (keep in mind, this is a personal preference). Also, watch for the reflections in the side of the car. I can see a Chevy truck in the side of the car in this shot. Also, keep an eye out for what's in the background. While it's not too bad in this shot, there is still a pole growing out of the roof.

2. Same comments as on #1 about parking lots and reflections.

3. I like this shot a lot. My only comment is on how the nose is over exposed and the rear is under exposed. Ideally this shouldn't be the case, but since I don't know the conditions and the location, I'll assume there was nothing you could do.

4. I mostly like it. The lower angle makes the ugly background less noticable. I love the sky. The reflextions in the side of the car aren't ideal, but they also aren't a deal breaker for the shot. All in all, I like it. And kudos on exposing the car and the sky just about right in the same shot. The car could be a touch brighter, but it works for me.

5. I'm not too fond of the angle or the location. The background is kinda ugly.

6. I'm still not digging the background choice and the fact that I can see it's a parking lot. The image of the car itself is nice, though.

7. Same comment as #6 about background. I can't tell it's a parking lot as much, though. I also don't understand why there is a guy in the car if it's not an action shot. With someone sat there I think the car should be moving...but that's another personal preference thing. I fully acknowledge that publications like C&D and R&T and MT put people in the cars for beauty shots. If it makes you feel any better, I don't like it when they do it, either.

8. Not too bad, although watch the background. On this one you have two poles growing out of the roof.

9. I find the angle a little harsh (possibly due to the angle of the front wheels), but I'm sure you were limited on angles due to the location. What kills the image for me, though, are the reflections in the side of the car and in the side windows.

All in all, not bad, but I think the location kinda killed the images in this case. The focus looks dead on, though, and although I don't know what camera settings you used, it looks like a good f-stop was picked.

[Jeff Wilson]

You camera work is good, but those locations are pretty bad. The location in 3 really has promise, but you need to be lower and closer so you can 't tell the grafitti is just on part of the wall. I personally would have put the car on the sidewalk and shot from the street for that location. (nice BIG sidewalk too)

A shallower DOF would have helped 6 and 7, particularly with lower angles and more separation between the car and tree/fenceline.

4 Could use some fill flash and again shallower DOF. That background really disrupts the image. The other images just don't do anything for me, not bad, not good.

I think it's all in the location, the exposures are very good, focus is spot on. A little work on the DOF in a new location would make a world of difference.

[David Castrillo]

Were you using a Circular Polarizer? I believe so, because you can see the bubbling from the tint in the rear window of number 8. I really like how you made the car 'pop' out though. Great exposure and focus, but as was said before, composition and location could use some work. Keep at it man!

[Daniel Buck]

alot of images to critique! :)

In general (I'm saying these with out reading others replies, so there may be some overlap) I think the car paint is very good looking in all of the shots, save for shot #2 it looks a little bit flat in #2.

I'll try to comment more later when I have time, but in general I think you have captured the car very well, but your choice of locations seems to be the lacking part of the photos. A better location would fix the backgrounds, and maybe clean up the reflections a bit, the 'sholder line' of the car gets lost in alot of these photos.

[Mike Ditz]

I really like the grafitti background. And the compsition in the shot. Maybe a crop in a little...
In the other shots you really have to pay attention to what is reflected in the car and what is behind the car. Be more creative in shoosing locations. The ones you chose are either too junky or not junky enough. What does the background say about or how does it relate to the car?
If you are going to have some one in the car a dark shirt is preferable and keep the big potato of a hand off of the top of the sterring wheel...driver shouldn't be looking at the camera, unless she's really hot!

MD

[John Thawley]

Location(s) just aren't doing a thing for the car...

I disagree with Mike about the graffiti shot. To me, it looks like a car got in the way of your graffiti shot.

The wheel turned in is overdone... you've got it to where it's affecting the stance of the car.. it should be just turned in slightly to give a bit of a look at the wheel. A lot of these look like your selling the wheels.

For the most part though, I see the direction you want to go in, but I think you're trying to copy what you've seen as oppossed to applying what you've learned or concieved. Alot of these shots might have worked if you'd gotten out there and found a place where you had an horizon to work with.

JT

[Daniel Buck]

The wheel turned in is overdone... you've got it to where it's affecting the stance of the car.. it should be just turned in slightly to give a bit of a look at the wheel. A lot of these look like your selling the wheels.

I would have to dissagree. I'm not sure what the consensus is for professional shooting and magazines, but me personally, I like seeing the sharply turned wheel. :) Although with all of these shots in a series, it does get maybe a bit repetitive.

[Mark Delbrueck]

My Favorite is Number 4. It provides a great balance between the foreground and background. The dramatic sky lends a monotone look to the shot, and works great with the silver paint. My only suggestion for that shot would be to clone out some of the reflections, to give the paint a nice even (and distraction free) surface.

[Stephan Bauer]

Thanks alot guys! Appricate everyone's imput! I personally really like the Graffiti Location and wish i had more time to shoot there. ANd yes i was using a Polerizer. Look foward to useing some of the things i've learned and improving appon my next photoshoot!

[Mike Blumenstein]

I would have to dissagree. I'm not sure what the consensus is for professional shooting and magazines, but me personally, I like seeing the sharply turned wheel. :) Although with all of these shots in a series, it does get maybe a bit repetitive.

My rule of thumb is a lot of wheel turn is okay as long as you hide it... look at #1 and #7 IMO there is too much becuase you can see the tread poking out on the Passenger side of the car... Where as #6 is the same set up but at a different angle that hides the tread. I like a lot of wheel turn, but I don't like it if I see the tread.

To the OP, overall I like the exposure and focus but didn't feel the backgrounds.

[Bob Chapman]

Given fairly consistent comments from others (FWIW, I'm with JT on the wheel turn), I'll mention only the following regarding #3. You missed an opportunity to utilize the "gazes" of the graffiti females. I'd have positioned the Audi such that they were "eyeing" the car. Then I'd have narrowed my attention to the car and those two females, allowing into the frame just enough additional graffiti as was needed to provide proper context for the shot.