Scion Fuse Concept

[Steve Demmitt]

Although in the end this series was for my portfolio and not intended for commercial use, my goal here was to deliver the kind of quality you would expect in a commercial shoot.

Do I think I succeeded in that? In some aspects I feel I did, but this was definitely a learning experience. I found many ways to improve in terms of lighting, workflow and planning.

I spent many hours in post on these 3 images. I don't really know the exact number but its alot. These are all composite shots, but they are all shot on location.

In the end though I am very proud of this work and I hope you guys enjoy what I have created.

BTW - I also updated my website with these shots and a few others
www.stevedemmitt.com

http://www.stevedemmitt.com/gallery/album1/large/018.jpg

http://www.stevedemmitt.com/gallery/album1/large/017.jpg

http://www.stevedemmitt.com/gallery/album1/large/016.jpg

[Steve Demmitt]

Oh one more thing
I also made a wallpaper of the 1st shot
Links are below

http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/thumb.jpg

1600x (http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/1600.jpg)
1280x (http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/1280.jpg)
1152x (http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/1152.jpg)
1024x (http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/1024.jpg)
800x (http://www.jtuned.com/media/gallery/papers/06_august_wallpaper/800.jpg)

[Michael Chu]

Always a fan of your work!

I really like the first one. The feel of the image like the streaks of light and the motion just screams, "SCION" based on their marketing.

[Todd Spoth]

you are one talented bastard steve. love that first one and the wallpaper as well. JTUND!

[Eric Kieu]

OMG!Magnificant photos!Those are just sick!!!!

Toyota could sell if they used these pictures in advertising. Such a step above the norm.

[Jacob Leveton]

dare to post a few 'before' or 'in progress' shots?

[Steve Demmitt]

I also shot this too B)

http://www.optikdesign.net/06_Photoshoots/1/sept06_ss_cover.jpg

[Anthony Soete]

My first post here will be to say that I'm speechless! ;)

Was it shot in a studio?

[Steve Demmitt]

Anthony: Nah it was shot on location, with external lighting.

[John Thawley]

Steve:

I really like the first image... nice.

I like the color and exposures on the other two... especially the car. However, in all honesty, the rail or horizontal bar that goes through the background is extremely distracting to me. I don't like how it "scales" the car. I have no idea whether this is a big car or small car... but the rail makes the car appear to be a "mini" something.... especially in the last image.

Regardless, this is really nice work. Great job.

JT

[Todd Spoth]

haha rhys with that thing??

too bad im always too busy to come to the cali FD's sigh

[Todd Corzett]

Ugly car... great shots! The first shot is great, but the quality doesn't come out until you look at the wallpaper version (no 1920x1200 version for those of us with big screens? - only kidding). I will agree with John about the horizontal bar... I didn't notice it at first, but now I just can't stop looking at it. Maybe if it was lower in the image (ie. not crossing just where the top meets the hood) it would be ok. I like the mood of the images, and how the car stands out but still blends in. The second shot has some nice yellow highlights reflected from the wheels that are lacking from the third shot. Part of me wants to see a more head-on image (something more towards a front 3/4), as the nose of the car is all that I can really get into (the side windows are just not my thing). Really great shot on the cover too.

-Todd...

[Steve Demmitt]

points def taken about the rail
I can see what you are saying
I thought it was a bit distracting on the front static, but I actually like it on the rear static shot

the car itself is hard to get a feel for in size, I think particularly on the rig shot, the distortion makes it look like an Infiniti FX
well at least to me anyway
I think this also has to do with the fact that there is nothing next to it that you can compare it to
no structure, or objects, its just a wall so you tend to get lost in that

Todd: I don't have any other full exterior shots, but I actually chose not to do the standard 3/4 front shot mainly because I didn't like how the car looked at that angle. Each exterior shot took me about 30 minutes (rig took over an hour) to setup and shoot so I was a bit choosy on what I wanted to do. I have one from overhead but I didn't really care for it all that much. If you want to check out the rest of the series, it will be up on JTuned.com later today.

thanks guys for all the comments

[Keith Schoeler]

I have probably commented numerous times that I enjoy your work....but these just don't do anything for me. I've been trying to put my finger on it - and I think what it comes down to is the overall artificial feel I get from them. A large factor could be that the car is completely unrecognizeable to me in terms of real life size/perspective/etc. I'll see if I can comment more with some better thoughts later on...

No doubt this is some impressive work - just a personal preference difference.

[Steve Demmitt]

totally understand
not everyone will love it and not everyone will hate it

I will say though, for the first shot, artificial was def intentional, =)

[Mike Ditz]

i like the rolling shot, it looks CG and photo-y at the same time. Nice monochromatic colors. The other shots seem sort of almost there after looking at the rolling shot. The lighitng on the two static shots has some issues, you can get away with unconventional lighting on the moving shot because it has so much energy and movement. The statics need to have some more refined lighting (or edgier lighiting), since it's just sitting there, and we are taking our time to look at it. Nice work!

Oh- I kind of like the rail in the background, it gives some depth to the image and breaks up the wall. The placment of it could have been better (higher or lower) but it adds a little something to the shot...

MD

[Steve Demmitt]

whats your example of more refined or edgier lighting?
and whats unconventional lighting?
I don't think I quite follow on that one

[Austin Langley]

dare to post a few 'before' or 'in progress' shots?
I'd really love to see the same. The shots are amazing and i'd really like to see the before so i can visualize the entire process of how it was made.

[Steve Demmitt]

ill see what I can put together
problem is, its not just one photo
its a combined set

[Austin Langley]

ill see what I can put together
problem is, its not just one photo
its a combined set
GIF maybe?

[Mike Ditz]

What I am calling unconventional lighting are some of the large hotspots, the lack of a highlight along the beltline and allowing some parts of the car to fade almost into the background. I don't think this is bad, especially for this car. It works very well, but IMO it wouldn't work so well with a duller, less cool car.

As far as the second part about refined lighting I mean having the light give shape to the car, it's working pretty well in the rear shot as you can see the bends in the metal and the different planes, There is good definition around the taillight, etc. I think if the pools of light were less 'spotty' it would make the look less bulbous and longer. It looks almost like the light source is an umbrella.
We (as humans) are used to seeing things with the light coming from above so when the lights are placed lower than 'normal' it can subliminaly look a little odd. To me it looks like you placed your lights lower rather than higher.
And without a highlight (or a 'glow' on the BG) along the roofline there is the possibility of a 'tonal merge' with the car and the background.
To me, edgier would be a bit darker and spookier with smaller sources of light and more shadows. Maybe a splash of light or a dark shadow on the background . For lighting two shots in a half an hour for each you did a great job.

Boy those are some mighty big wheels!

MD

[Steve Demmitt]

Yeah those wheels looked like they were cut out of a giant block of aluminum. Kinda gave off a domestic muscle car feel. I think thats why the rear looks like a crossfire/magnum to me.

With a less cooler car or something that doesnt have these hard edges I would have shot it differently

The hotspots or spottyness was intentional.
I really like the way a metallic car tends to look when you hit it with some bright lights.
I also wanted the hard edges to pop out a bit more, but I see your point on the bulbous comment.
It tends to give off that feel and I probably could have done something better to lessen that quality.

I do see what you are saying in regards to the lower angle of the lights although some of the lights were in fact up high.

The rim light or backlight is something I regretted not doing after it was all said and done, but as I said before I learned alot when it came to doing this kind of work. Next time though, I will make that a priority.

The rigshot was actually lit up as well. That shot was probably the hardest to do out of the bunch and required a number of different shots to build.

I think next time I will do some better planning, get an assistant or 2 to help out, and really focus on lighting each part of the car even more.

I thank you for your post. It was very insightful.
I can't wait for the next shoot. =)

[Mike Ditz]

Something to try is to set the camera (lock it down) and light one part (side, front, wheels, background) at a time, merging in PS. This way you can have lights or flags or reflectors in the shot, getting the best light on each section, is easier than lighting the whole car at once, especially if you are not using specialized ligitng equipment. You seem to be pretty proficient in PS, to say the least, blending shoudn't present a problem.

MD

[Steve Demmitt]

funny that you mention that
thats exactly what I did for that series

[Mike Ditz]

oh...

never mind.

MD

[Britt McTammany]

Beautiful work. Would love to get more information on the lighting set-ups.