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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post your Z4 pictures! See sticky post at the top for details of the photo competition.
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MrPT
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by MrPT » Mon Jan 08, 2018 11:14 pm

Really informative post, Tom. :thumbsup:
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:34 am

:o

Wow. That’s about all I have. Amazing reply. Thank you so much. The photos in there are incredible!
28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by idej_z4 » Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:05 am

tomscott wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 4:18 pm Its all about light, where it is, what direction and how you use it.

I love shooting into the sun but you have to combat the silhouette by filling that area either by bracketing the exposure or by adding light with flash. You can only bring so much back with post production, have to get it right in camera.

Hope that helps :)
Some great tips in there for us amateurs - Cheers! :thumbsup:

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by tomscott » Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:22 am

No problem at all :thumbsup:

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by JPB » Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:30 am

Hi Steve,

As a photographer I'd recommend looking for clear backgrounds to put emphasis on the car. If your iPhone X has a depth of field function on it, switch it on (pretty sure they do). A cloudy day will help with soft light across the shiny body, but the sky won't usually make for a very good picture so frame the sky out if in doubt. If it's a bright day, try and find some shade and make sure the surroundings are of a similar brightness (to avoid clipping the highlights/shadows etc).

Also pre-focus on the car with a touch of the screen, it'll also meter (expose) for that area, so you can be sure your car won't be too bright/dark.

Hope that helps a little? Other than that, look for amazing sunrises/sunsets in dramatic locations. i.e. the reason photographers get beautiful landscape photos is because they visit beautiful landscapes. :)
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by Paulr » Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:52 pm

Epic scenery there. When I used to off-road my series Land Rovers we used to take pictures of our derring-do scary drives (and they were when you were on-board or watching from the side line) and when you reviewed them later it all looked a bit dull. So to give things real action and movement, and an epic sense of grandeur, takes some skill!
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by Marlon » Tue Jan 09, 2018 2:42 pm

Not much to add really, Tom's post is excellent.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is pics taken at eye level looking down at the car - I always crouch down showing the car at either drivers eye level or slightly higher.
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:48 pm

tomscott wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:22 amNo problem at all :thumbsup:
I’m trying to take on board what you’ve said in your post!! I took this today (and then nearly got the police called for trespassing!)
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28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:35 pm

I’m trying to get lower with the camera for a better angle, I’m also trying to focus more about the background rather than the car (as you say, otherwise it’s just an autotrader photo!).
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28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by buzyg » Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:37 pm

Factory pic. Love the setting Steve. Not enough Car though. and the light is dead flat. Which suits the setting but doesn't emphasise the car enough. Sometimes a tricky balance. Did you manage several variations, of the same scene, for us to have a bit of helpful fun discussing? See you put the lights on too. :thumbsup:
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by Smartbear » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:01 pm

I think that even having the front wheels turned at a bit of an angle adds a little more dynamics to the picture :?
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by buzyg » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:06 pm

Smartbear wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:01 pmI think that even having the front wheels turned at a bit of an angle adds a little more dynamics to the picture :?
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Well it looks better on your Lovely old E85. 8) Not sure turned the other way. Good point though. :thumbsup:
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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:09 pm

buzyg wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:37 pmFactory pic. Love the setting Steve. Not enough Car though. and the light is dead flat. Which suits the setting but doesn't emphasise the car enough. Sometimes a tricky balance. Did you manage several variations, of the same scene, for us to have a bit of helpful fun discussing? See you put the lights on too. :thumbsup:
Unfortunately that was the only decent shot I got because the security guard came out threatening to call the police :rofl: Good fun this photo taking malarkey!
28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:12 pm

buzyg wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:37 pmFactory pic. Love the setting Steve. Not enough Car though. and the light is dead flat. Which suits the setting but doesn't emphasise the car enough. Sometimes a tricky balance. Did you manage several variations, of the same scene, for us to have a bit of helpful fun discussing? See you put the lights on too. :thumbsup:
This is the original unedited pic...
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50A4A759-0E7D-4C38-990F-6B2F10C37221.jpeg (527.88 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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Some new pics - Advice to improve!?

Post by SteveSmith » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:30 pm

Smartbear wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:01 pmI think that even having the front wheels turned at a bit of an angle adds a little more dynamics to the picture :?
7E52258C-7BAC-463C-B112-C2FDCBCE91AE.jpeg5862114C-A7FB-4D83-9B22-77FE586547AC.jpeg96297A7E-E3B7-4BB1-A43B-7BC1D50BFA1A.jpeg
Rob
Whenever I try this I always think it looks worse!!
28i M Sport - Alpine White / Canberra Beige, 19" M359’s, H&R’s / Eibachs, BMS Stage 1 - 271bhp, Front Splitter, CF Rear Lip, Alcantara Steering Wheel and Brembo 4 pots

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