[rit]

I just posted some pics of my car this morning with my Sony DSC-W100:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34856

The time was about 2 hours before sundown - a time I'd normally consider "great" for light. But the pics came out kind of cool in color. The color of the car doesn't look much different from the color of the pavement, or even the grass, for that matter.

Should I have used the flash? I was in full automatic mode, is there a different mode I should have used? Different ISO? Or do I just have to try everything and sort through them later?

I'd appreciate any suggestions.. Thanks.

[Taittinger]

Diiferent camera? Not an expert, maybe Nikki and some others can help you but I think flash would have made it looked artificial and you would lose the natural light that I think you wanted. I am also doubtful a high or low ISO setting would account for the predominance of the green. Maybe lock the lighting from a darker section and then shift the focus? Or is it the other way?

[andrew 330i]

here you go:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Photograph...e=UTF8&s=books

i have this book... good source of info.

[Nikki]

That can happen when you don't have a DSLR because you can't control a lot of the individual settings on a point and shoot. It can also happen on a DSLR if you don't know which settings you should be adjusting. I just run them into Photoshop and do auto levels, auto color, auto contrast and see if that helps and then also do some more editing if necessary.

Here is a quick fix.

[Ninjaneer]

DSLR: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dslr

[Joop!]

Originally Posted by Nikki

That can happen when you don't have a DSLR because you can't control a lot of the individual settings on a point and shoot. It can also happen on a DSLR if you don't know which settings you should be adjusting. I just run them into Photoshop and do auto levels, auto color, auto contrast and see if that helps and then also do some more editing if necessary.

Here is a quick fix.

This is also what I do, even with my Canon EOS300D (DSLR) pictures won't be that great all the time. But I think it has another reason. Most of the time I don't take time to make a picture. The best way is to understand your camera by reading your manual how to adjust your camera and by a lot of practise. Great pictures will follow. Even on a non-DSLR, my Canon IXUS 50 does make perfect pictures, but holding this lightweight still is a little bit difficult. The last bit of making a great picture is by editing it in Photoshop (color, contrast, brightness, make a different cut-out, etc.). Most of the time Auto-Level, Auto-Color or Auto-Contrast will do the job for a natural picture.

[Joop!]

Here is another example of what you can do in Photoshop with your picture, it took me about 5 seconds,so it don't have to take a lot of time:



BTW: Nikki, did you adjust the color balance of the picture?? It's a little bit red on my screen.

[Nikki]

I dunno you're right, I just woke up when I did it lol looks like I was high. Thanks for the better fix haha.

[diesel007]

You need to work on composition. The photos aren’t really interesting because they don’t have much going on. Shooting still objects like cars is tough because a car cant show you any emotion. You have to create a feeling using more creative background or foreground.
Examples:



There is only so much you can do with a P&S. The reason everyone likes Nikki’s photos is because she post processes them a lot to make up for the settings the camera lacks. Photoshop can only do so much though and often creates unwanted noise and unnatural feeling in the photo. It’s better to learn how to shoot with a DSLR because you have more on camera flexibility. Your photos will already be great because you used the correct lens, strobes, and settings in turn your post work is less involved or more involved and more spectacular.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by diesel007

The reason everyone likes Nikki’s photos is because she post processes them a lot to make up for the settings the camera lacks. Photoshop can only do so much though and often creates unwanted noise and unnatural feeling in the photo. It’s better to learn how to shoot with a DSLR because you have more on camera flexibility. Your photos will already be great because you used the correct lens, strobes, and settings in turn your post work is less involved or more involved and more spectacular.

He doesn't have a DSLR, and probably doesn't need one. It is difficult to understand what someone is doing wrong with a point and shoot because there are so few things that they can actually adjust but I have posted many times several suggestions on how to take better photos and chose not to do so this time because it was early in the morning and I have lots of work to do. Rit, if you want to know some simple things that could help, PM me and I will try and help you and also some site like dpreview.com and dcresource.com are very informative about your specific camera.

And diesel, maybe you didn't mean to be insulting but here are a few basically untouched images, besides some cropping. I can post more if you would like. Obviously they look much better when they are touched up but it is a decent alternative to spending a few thousand on a huge bulky camera I don't need right now.

Also, do you think professional photos in magazines are untouched? I know someone who does photography for auto magazines ad he does as much tweeking as cloning sections and merging several images together. Even most official photos from auto manufacturers are just photos of a car taken in a blank room and then photoshopped into a beautiful scenery.

[Nikki]

An example of how ok/good photos become great photos. Since it is close to the holiday again, this one is fitting

[Taittinger]

Yummy!

[magmd]

great pics guys! I need to get back into photo...every since I stopped using my SLR and using my digital point and shoot, I have really lost my eye for taking great pics.

Anyways..back on topic...one big help for you (in addition to all of the above suggestions) is to GET A TRIPOD!

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Nikki

An example of how ok/good photos become great photos. Since it is close to the holiday again, this one is fitting

Not enough PSing, THIS is PSing:

[rit]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I appreciate it.

This morning I took the family up to the mountains of North Georgia for a few hours. We had a BLAST on Blood Mountain! These bimmers are really amazing cars - even under the restraints of break in and kids in the car...

Here are a few pics... This time with the suggested PhotoShop edits and a little cropping. It will be a LOOONNNG time before I'm giving Nikki or Diesel a run for their money, but it's a start.

[Taittinger]

Sharp! Nice roof accessories as well!

[rit]

Thanks!

My favorites in this thread are Diesel's first one and the second one of Nikki's car (the one with the sunset). Both are awesome pictures by obviously talented individuals!

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Sharp! Nice roof accessories as well!

Lol agreed! haha

Originally Posted by rit

Thanks!

My favorites in this thread are Diesel's first one and the second one of Nikki's car (the one with the sunset). Both are awesome pictures by obviously talented individuals!

Thanks, here is an edit of that photo:

[diesel007]

Originally Posted by Nikki

And diesel, maybe you didn't mean to be insulting but here are a few basically untouched images, besides some cropping. I can post more if you would like. Obviously they look much better when they are touched up but it is a decent alternative to spending a few thousand on a huge bulky camera I don't need right now.

Also, do you think professional photos in magazines are untouched? I know someone who does photography for auto magazines ad he does as much tweeking as cloning sections and merging several images together. Even most official photos from auto manufacturers are just photos of a car taken in a blank room and then photoshopped into a beautiful scenery.

I was not intending to get into an argument or insult you Nikki. The original poster asked how to become better at taking photos and the reality is that bad photos cannot be turned into great photos using photoshop.

If you read my comment I suggested that the original poster work on composition I did not suggest to go out and spent thousands of dollars on camera equipment. I only mentioned using a DSLR for the advantage of control over lighting, lens, and camera Settings.

And for the record it's obvious but I use photoshop on all my photos. I don't use it as a crutch only as an enhancement tool. The professional photographs that you see in most car ads are not done by photographers at all they are done by graphic designers. It costs too much money for automobile companies to set up big elaborate photoshoots. It's much cheaper to do a green room studio shoot and pay a designer to create a perfectly lit desert salt flat. I don't think the OP was planning on going to Graphic Design school for taking E90 pics.

A camera is a very sound investment for anyone even more so if you have a family. With that said I have seen a horrible photo set from a very expensive 12MP DSLR. Without composition knowledge it does not matter how good the camera or photoshop job is the photos will still look like crap.

I have driven around countless times and taken photos that I have thrown away because of a bad paint reflection or distraction in the background. The more you shoot the more you will start to understand what I am talking about. Anyone can drive to a parking lot and take a pic of thier car, but the one who goes out right before sunset will come out with the better photo.

[diesel007]

Nice photo much better composition.

[magmd]

:rocks: Diesel......your photos are just plain smokin'!!!!

[ska///235i]

Wow...how the hell do you guys do that???

so what cameras are good now'a'days for around $300??