Some from my automotive class

[Jessica Germiller]

Critique please:-D

can anyone give me some tips on how to get rid of all the reflections in the chrome?? I unfortunately did not bring my foam core with me...otherwise I wouldn't have this problem. Anyway...no matter how hard I try it always looks blotchy if I try to fix it...any suggestions?

http://static.flickr.com/44/187845358_53435627c8_o.jpg


some more of the Jetta:

http://static.flickr.com/55/187845357_d6031ac84a_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/75/188641152_11d6ce93e0_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/77/188641151_c2926fa164_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/56/188641149_011ce95d46_o.jpg



And Carerra GT Interior:

http://static.flickr.com/78/188625894_33990f65e5_o.jpg

And Nissan Murano:

http://static.flickr.com/59/188641150_bc31c71ca1_o.jpg

Thanks-hope I didn't post too many pics...not sure if there is a limit...CC always welcome:D

-Jess

[Jeff Boerio]

Jessica,

I will assume that you can't re-shoot the entire scene with the Jetta. One thing you could do would be to take a picture of the Jetta in any location from the same type of angle and perspective and make sure the chrome is reflecting what you want (white, whatever). Then cut/paste (or layer/mask) the pieces into the original image.

A graphic artist told me that chrome is a reflection, not a color. Maybe you can spend time in Photoshop "painting" the chrome pieces the color you want the chrome to be reflecting? Or, clone/texture in the gravel from the surface?

- Jeff

[Jessica Germiller]

Thanks Jeff...I will definately try that. I actually tried making the chrome neutral and then I changed the opacity so that a little color was showing and it made it much less noticable and distracting...however I am still not pleased with the reflection being there at all (I think its the fact that it was a really stupid mistake on my part).

I will definately try that suggestion...and if it doesn't work I guess I will have to live with it:-(


Any more comments? Constructive Criticism??

Thanks everyone!
-Jess

[Todd Corzett]

I think #1 almost tells a story, and to be honest... I didn't even notice the reflections in the chrome until it was pointed out (see, everyone catches different things). While I'm a fan of having more space behind a car than in front... I think if the car had been facing to the right, rather than the left, the shot would have been stronger. The empty dirt burm tot he right of the frame doesn't add anything, so maybe if the shot was composed without it... but I wouldn't sacrifice the background for it though.

I really like the headlights in #2 and how you can see them cut through the fog... I just wish the car wasn't so centered in the frame. Maybe just putting it off to the left? Maybe the bottom left 1/3rd?

I really like #3... just something about the highlights and shadows... I'm a detail shot man myself.

#4 seems a little bland to me... there's nice motion in the wheels/background, but it doesn't really make the car "pop" at all. It's also kinda a weird angle... not a full side, but not a 3/4 either, kinda in "no-(wo)man's land".

#6 is strange... I see the VW logo, but what is it? I don't get it...

#8 I love the exposure on, but nothing really stands-out as saying "Porsche" to me. I see the Carrera GT logo in the dash (barely), but maybe if the rest of the wheel was included (with the Porsche logo in the center?) it would work better for me?

I like #9, but my eye keeps getting drawn to the muffler under the car. Maybe shooting from a higher angle would help that? I'd also kinda like to see more of the background... it looks like a nice place, why not show it?

I'm being quite critical here, I think they are outstanding photos... just the devil is in the details sometimes.

-Todd...

[Joel Parker]

#6 is the inside of a mk5 VW's headlight

[Todd Corzett]

#6 is the inside of a mk5 VW's headlight
Ah! I get it... cool :)

-Todd...

[Mike Ditz]

I don't really see a compelling reason to have white chrome in a location situation. Maybe in the 80s or 90s big foamcore reflectors were standard, but these days I think there is a more realistic look to a lot of automotive phorography. You have the badge and the grill reflecting the sky and some of the bumper reflectinf the rocks, It looks good. The dirt ridge could be taken out in PS.
The foggy shot could use some burning and dodging to makle it more spooky(?) a gradual tone down of the sky would help as would a crop up from the bottom. Emphasize the headlight beams, while darkening everything else.
Nice wheel center thingy shot, but I would crop out ot PS out the valve stem and darken all the stuff in the dark areas like calipers, etc. Make it more graphic.
Blue panner doesn't do it for me. Not sharp, light not so good, either there's a body in the trunk or it's accelerating, making the space between the tire and body uneven (nit picky). It's best to have the driver be off the gas and off the brake to keep the body neutral when passing by the the picture takin' zone.
Neat headlight detail, looks like it's from 1940 movie.
Porsche interior is shot from a very odd angle, the passenger's knees viewpoint, and what is the subject, what are we spozed to be looking at here? The shifter? the trim on the gauges? Isolate the object of interest with lighting camera angle or focus.
Murano...kind of boring. Light is not so good, camera placement is like you plopped the camera down and never moved it 3 feet to the left ot higher or lower on the tripod. It's just there...

Mike

[Jessica Germiller]

Thanks for the responses guys!

Todd:
I agree with you on shot #1...I do think if the car was turned the other way it would have been a stronger shot. Maybe I will get the chance to go back sometime...and get lucky with the fog again-lol. Now that I look at it it bothers me-its kind of wierd to have the car facing OUT of the frame. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

#2 has always bothered me that it was centered...if I tried to crop it out in PS it either cut into the beams too much or it cut off the curve...which I really liked. Next time I will try to crop it better in-camera.

#4-I agree its pretty of bland...still practicing with motion stuff...its not completely sharp either.
p.s. LOL on the "no (wo)mans land"

As Joel said-#6 is the inside of the headlight. I thought it was a really cool design element on the Jetta.

#8 and 9 I agree with what you said on both of them. I can't believe I didn't include the steering wheel...I remember I was trying to go more for the shifter and gauges...but I still should have shot a few with the wheel as well. And the murano exhaust has ALWAYS bothered me-maybe I will try to black it out or something (?)

And you were not 'too critical' at all-how else am I supposed to learn? if someone notices the little details that I don't I appreciate it so much, because thats something I will look for next time...so thank you:)

Mike:
Thanks for the responses. Thanks for the input about the chrome situation...I think it bothers me so much because my automotive teacher was a huge stickler on it. but thanks for your opinion...its starting not to bother me as much anymore.
I will try to do some burning and dodging on the fog...maybe I will try to re-crop as well-lol. And I will definately try to remove that valve stem as well.
I agree with the pan shot-i definately need more practice. What 'color' background might make the blue-silver car stand out more??


Thanks again everyone-sorry for such a long response.:o

-Jess:D