I have a Pentax K7 and am shooting with my kit lens 18-55mm.

I do a lot of car detailing and i have no problem taking pictures of dark/medium colored cars. But when i start taking pics of bright silver, or white, everything is over exposed due to the brightness that reflects off the car in the sun. Can someone give me some proper advice? I was told to use a ND filter. I just got a Tiffen 0.6, 0.9, 1.2., haven't got a chance to use them yet.

 

I'd suggest trying to use them - if you're stuck on shooting the car in the direct sunlight. Otherwise, I'd put the car in some shade, using more ambient light rather than trying to control reflections from a direct light source.

 

You dont need an ND filter just speed up the shutter

 

Get rid of the camera and buy a point and shoot then learn manual mode on that..

 

Canon Point and Shoot S5-IS on Manual Mode, What I learned on before going to DSLR.












Canon S1-IS 3MP Camera

 

Hi dear i am here i just want to say you that photography is not a easy but this is very difficult you should be purchase a high quality expensive camera first and then make the photography and make different side of photography of your car from the front and back and both left and right side this is make best your photography....



About Bradkay

 

Talk to MonsterGC he just shot my car the other weekend.

 

here's my attempt at shooting a white car during the day. notice the top of the car has almost no details and is just a white blotch, while the side show good detailing. This is what Roo meant by shoot it in the shade.


better to shoot white objects on an overcast day.

 

I wouldn't recommend this for all the time, but as a last resort, you can always underexpose and bring up everything back in photoshop.
and always use the "highlights" function in your camera if you have it

 

Polarizer, shutter speed, and angle of lighting make a huge difference.
If you have light the same way your lens is pointing, you wont have a "hotspot", where as if you have sun in the background.

Another is shooting in the shade, which reduces light, however, once again, angle of sun light makes a big difference.

Third picture, Its a good idea to shoot when its sunset, mainly because light is more spread out in a sense, instead of focused from one area.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/10011866376/http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/10011866376/]Backside[/url, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/9788271236/http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/9788271236/]IMG_410334[/url, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/10011907265/http://www.flickr.com/photos/102022351@N02/10011907265/]_MG_1719[/url, on Flickr

 

 

Try selecting the vehicle so you don't over-brighten the rest of the image.

 

Try and shoot around dusk, or dawn if possible. Avoid high noon (light is too harsh)

If you can afford it pick up a DSLR, I still shoot with my Canon T1i and get shots like this…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11363167885/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11363167885/]IMG_9681[/url, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11035163276/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11035163276/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11035169264/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11035169264/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11370457363/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11370457363/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11370383204/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59639058@N08/11370383204/, on Flickr



So its totally feasible to get high quality shots with a $250-300 camera.

 

Apologies for the smaller, double post there. Apparently its a problem with flickr and they haven't fixed it yet.

 

Mann, on a side note. Anytime you want some pics taken, Id be happy to help out. I need the experience and perhaps we could work something out for my dirty *** WRX?

Also, thanks for the tires! I love them, although in the snow they aren't as "fun" as my star specs… these actually grip