This photo is from a first try to light paint a car. It`s not a great quality. I used a Nikon D300. All I need is your advice on how to improve my work. Thank you! :)
This photo is from a first try to light paint a car. It`s not a great quality. I used a Nikon D300. All I need is your advice on how to improve my work. Thank you! :)
I like it, but I see ways to improve. Try adding more highlights, cars love being lit from above, as 90% of the time the environment does that. Take some shots with the lights on, add those into the shot, it'll really help liven it up. The contrast needs some bumping, its a clean shot but I feel if you pushed the highlights and shadows (preferably in camera) you can get a solid image.I've attached a light painted shot using a simple aperture LED panel (Nothing special) and probably 17 takes :) Great first try!
Great advice and photo example. These are the kind of comments this group needs ;)
Thats why I joined :) Hoping we can all grow together! I know I am always learning!
I see a great start. Bright where it needs to be.
Ash is correct, turn on the lights. Notice that Ash has a background that adds depth to the shot...black is flat. Pop some light in the cabin or turn the interior lights on so it doesn't look like a cave. Separate the car from the background (underneath the car). The more the car is separated from the background the more attention it gets and the more dynamic and dimensional the shot becomes. I personally like filling black spaces with light...even just a hint of light.
Guys, thanks for your comments! :) I really apreciate it.
@Ash Murrell how big was that LED pannel? didn't you get some weird reflections
@Cédric Bloch - The LED panel was an Apurture Amaran AL-528 (a cheap LED panel I use for video work usually!). To avoid the weird reflections I angled the light to avoid them, and painted in smooth motions. I work on specific areas of the car, IE The top line first, or the panel side. Many shooters try to light the car in LONG exposures, I prefer 4-7s as the noise is dramatically less. The dramatic difference the LED vs Strobe makes though... Strobes give such clean light, shadows are crisp etc, Light painting seems to suffer a little, its not as crisp, which is fine if thats the look you want. Here's the "Strobed" version of the car with an ND6 instead of an ND10...
thank you very much for your answer! First I thought some guys use big LED panels but it makes sense to do a "smooth" lighting!
I'm also interested in information on affordable lighting diy or affordable store bought. I have a white corvette to shoot soon for a friend. I have a led shop light that's about 47" long or so. Is there a good way to soften the light I don't want to get him to a location and fail with lighting. Also should any kinda filter be used ?
My method is to use a softbox. I simply place my led lantern/wand that I bought at Home Depot into the softbox and voila!
@Craig Duncan Google DIY ICE / lightstick - I have the parts, just been too lazy to build it... That being said, it looks like a great way to start! The apurture is $200. I'd recommend save up and buy either a pixel stick or an ICE light if you want to buy a unit, both are tremendous units and will be much better to use than my LED panel which is a pain in the butt 90% of the time (I do with the gear I have :) ).