Image for Online Catalog

[Jamie Holladay]

I have been afforded the honor/opportunity of having my car on the opening page of BankstonNissanParts.com's (http://www.bankstonnissanparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=AccessoryCatalog&catalogid=4865&siteid=213941&categoryID=96635)240SX parts section. I have only had the 240 back from the body shop for 3 weeks and have not had an opportunity to shoot it a lot or properly. I have posted a few shots here from my trip to Orlando (http://community.automotivephoto.net/forums/showthread.php?t=400). That was the photo that I submitted, but I really did not want to use that photo. My job has kept me quiet busy, weather and AutoX has kept me from capitalizing on shooting on Sundays. I shot these 6 photo this afternoon. There is no PP other than resize for posting, a slight crop to a couple of them and a horizon correction to one. The webmaster is wanting an image by the weekend, therefore I probably will not get the opportunity to reshoot the car. There are not a lot of great locations to shoot the car where I live unfortunately. (although I am open to suggestions). There will be a small caption on the photo as well. If you guys don't mind offering opinions on these I would appreciate it. Oh and maybe reccomend one to post on the site.( PP suggestions would be welcome as well). Thanks in advance.

1.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3783_RS.jpg

2.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3796_RS.jpg

3.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3802_RS.jpg

4.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3811_RS.jpg

5.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3813_RS.jpg

6.
http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/IMG_3852_RS.jpg

[Todd Corzett]

Photographically... I like #2, but I think for a parts catalogue people are going to care more about the car than if it's a "good photo" or not. I'd go with #3. As for post... I'd smooth-out the highlight a little that accents the bodyline across the door. Also take out the little "spot" above the front wheel arch. Maybe clone-out some of the lines in the foreground?

One question I'll ask though... and it will show my ignorance towards the 240z... but what is modified on the car (ie. why it's cool from a "parts" perspective)? Whatever the answer is... choose an image that highlights that. #6 shows-off the exhaust system nicely, but hides an aftermarket FMI.

-Todd...

[Jeff Kapic]

I think #3 would be the choice of the bunch. I also agree about the post work.

[Mark Delbrueck]

Jamie-

First off, I'm STUNNED by your progress from the last post. WOW. Seriously, its like night and day.

I really like the lighting on number 5, but don't like the angle. What I like about the lighting on #5 is how the reflections are even across the belt line of the car, and how the paint really makes the car stand out from the background. I think the angle of #3 is the most promising. Personally, I'd do some procssing to the background to set the car further apart from the brick wall. I think the contrasting colors of the wall vs the paint could end up working well for you, but you need to make the car "pop" away from the wall. Instead of "clashing" make these differences in color work for you with some processing. Basically masking out the car and applying some work to the background would be the direction I'd take. I'd be willing to work on a few shots for you, just let me know.

[Jamie Holladay]

One question I'll ask though... and it will show my ignorance towards the 240z... but what is modified on the car (ie. why it's cool from a "parts" perspective)? -Todd...

Basically because of all of the Mods that are done to the car. I did a auto to manual swap and a KADE to SR2DET engine swap and some major upgrades to the engine, etc. taking it from 205 hp at the crank to over 400 at the wheels to keep the answer brief. The exter of the car has the aero of a 180SX type X which is JDM.




I'd be willing to work on a few shots for you, just let me know.
I may take you up on that!

Thanks for all of the comments!

[Keith Schoeler]

Although #1 has a nicer reflection on the car, I like #3 the most for a few reasons... It provides a standard view of the car that everyone will want to see given the purpose of the photo. It doesn't have as many background distractions that the others do. I like #4 but I don't think it is the right image to stand alone for this.

For Photoshop....if it was me, I'd drop the hell out of the car. clean up the pavement, clean up where the pavement meets the brick, and burn the hell/levels/curves out of the bricks.

[Jamie Holladay]

Thanks for the suggestions /comments. I am going to use #3.

[David Lister]

Of the ones you have posted, I think you're right to go with No3..

But I still see "wall" not "car".. I prefer uncluttrered backgrounds for this sort of "product" shot.. So a car parked on desert road with a plaindesert/sky light background kind of thing would work.. car parked in front of lots of detail and things to distract the eye.. kind of does not do it for me..

Maybe you could sharpen in layers and use a gausian blur to take out the impact of the background, lightening it up at the same time..

Or just let them do it..!!!

The last one might have been more interesting shot further back, with the car placed bottom right.. But maybe something even more interesting in the background..

I think my problem is with that wall.. it's neither bland, nor super interesting.. either would work better than the middel of the road one you have..

IMHO, of course...

[Jamie Holladay]

Thanks to everyone for all the comments. I chose Image #3 and had some great help with PP from Mark. Here is the final Image that will be going on the site. I wanted to post the image and thank Mark for the PP work.
Jamie

http://www.24zero.com/silvee/cat/240sx_1_Titled.jpg

[Jacob Leveton]

i don't like the post work. But then again, i've never been a huge fan of the burn look...

[Todd Corzett]

The vignetting could be done without (it makes it blend into the black background of the page a bit, so i think that will be nice), and the front end looks a little over-saturated.... but I really like the job on the side body lines. I think it will have a nice impact.

-Todd...

On a side note, you may want to add your website address to your copyright for just a little extra advertising.

[Mark Delbrueck]

Thanks for the comments about the post work. Todd- I actually didn't touch the saturation of the car at all, but I think I might have over done the background and ground a bit.

Jacob- What would you have done to the post work to make the shot better?

[Jamie Holladay]

Thanks for the comments about the post work.
Certainly, Thanks again for the help! I also added that in the image data.

On a side note, you may want to add your website address to your copyright for just a little extra advertising.
There will be a small article under the photo with a link. I thought that would be the way to go. I could change it though.