Someone came to a local MX5 meet with this beauty and I tried light painting it with what I had at hand, that is to say my phone's flash. It's only one exposure as I couldn't get more without people around it. Any advice on how to properly light the car during the exposure rather than just waving the light around hoping for the best?
Well you didn't help yourself starting with a black car!! Easily the hardest color to light paint. Honestly I'd start with anything else and understand how light spills onto the car, then go to darker colors. With a black car you have to be very good about highlighting the body lines you want without causing strange specular highlights. The area over the front wheel arch for example. go somewhere actually dark ( the trucks in the back are distracting) and just keep making passes. The iphone light is very very small and you might have better luck diffusing it a little bit. Watch your white balance just keep trying. This has a ton of potential.
Hey, sorry for the late answer! Thanks for the great advice. This was a very messy attempt on the spot, as I was there for the car meet primarily. I didn't choose the location either and didn't want to bother the owner, but the white trucks indeed are pretty terrible! I only own a cheap speedlight but it came with a diffuser, do you think it could be appropriate? Also; I suppose several exposures would be best if trying to get a good result? I need to practice this technique, it looks like tons of fun when done properly!