NicholasUK's photostream

1 x raging fireball in the sky aimed at the front of the car
1 x sb900 @ 1/2 through 32" softbox camera left at 60 degrees ish to hood
1 x sb600 @ 1/8 through chuffin big umbrella camera right aimed at rear panel / wheel
1 x sb28 @ 1/8 snooted at front wheel
Triggered via cactus v4

Thoughts:
- Its dam hard to light black shiny cars without shed loads of light spill / reflections
- I need to get some sandbags for the light stands (it was windy, and I was forever picking them back up)
- the background is too sterile
- some reflectors are probably better for lighting the rims for a more subtle light

Finally an upload! Been busy with work etc etc. Shot over the weekend in Clifton Village, opposite the suspension bridge.

D300 | Nikkor 16-85 VR | Silver Efex Pro

More rig experiments to coincide with a wonderful sunset on Sunday. I made 3 separate attempts to edit the rig out of this shot and I'm still not happy with it. Learnt quite a bit in the process though, and as a good friend of mine often says, every day is a school day...

D300 | Tokina ATX Pro 11-16 f/2.8 @ 11mm f/18 | 6 seconds | Hoya Pro 1D ND8 | Hahnel wireless trigger | Manfrotto Magic Arm | Avenger F1000 Suction Cups | Manfrotto Superclamps | 2m boom

First shots using version 2 of my DIY car rig (v1 being simply hanging a tripod out the rear window).

I'm using the usual suspects for the rig:
2 x Manfrotto Avenger F1000 suction pads
3 x Manfrotto super clamps
1 x Manfrotto magic arm
1 x 5m boom

Thoughts thus far:
- I continue to be impressed with Manfrotto kit; thoughtful design & high quality finish, the products work really well.
- I need a stronger boom. I'm using a 5m 3 section telescopic decorators pole. There is no point extending out beyond the first section as it becomes very unstable with lots of vertical movement. Dam thing is just too bendy. As a result the camera is not far enough away from the car so a) I'm not getting the sort of background:car balance that I want and b) I have to use 11mm = a little too much distortion. My plan is to get 3 x 2m alu tubing either machined for screwing together or get some clamps.
- An ND8 on the Tokina is fine for shooting 3seconds even on a bright sunny day.
- I need to give more thought to the rig placement to make the cloning out of the rig an easier process :-)

Really enjoying experimenting with this. Lots of ideas for positioning and locations. Need to get the boom sorted first.

D300 | Tokina ATX Pro 11-16 f/2.8 @ 11mm f/18 2.5 seconds | Hoya Pro 1D ND8 | Hahnel wireless trigger

Experimenting with camera rigs using equipment I already have (ie no purpose built automotive rig with suction pads and poles etc..). First attempt was to attach the camera to the door frame using a bogen superclamp and tripod head. Effective but no surprise that there was insufficient distance between the car and the camera so the composition was pretty sterile.

In this second attempt I used a fully extended tripod led horizontally on the back seats and out through the window, held in place by bungie cords. Now I have some confidence in the setup I'll be attempting more quirky angles and seeing just how far I can get the camera away from the car....

Won't be long before I buy a proper rig I'm sure, but its fun experimenting with kit you already have...

D300 | Tokina 11-16 @11mm f/11 10seconds | wireless trigger