Parking Garage Photo Series - A Captive Subject

"BeMark" (BeMark) 01/28/2015 at 17:59 • Filed to: None

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While traversing the levels of my parking garage I started to think about my neighbors cars and they have some interesting rides. It's no super car collection but the parking garage provides a great spectrum of automotive and motorcycle tastes. Since I like to dabble in photography I've decided to work on my shooting skills with these captive subjects, hopefully without being creepy about it. So here is part one. Feedback or thoughts are welcomed!

EDIT - Camera is a Canon T2i and these shots were with the 18-55 kit lens.

Jonathan Harper > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:06

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What ya shooting with?

stuttgartobsessed > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:10

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Nice composition but a bit over-edited it my opinion. I'd tone down the HDR just a tad.

BeMark > Jonathan Harper 01/28/2015 at 18:11

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Good question and not sure how I left that out. I'm shooting on a Canon T2i and these photos were with the kit lens.

BeMark > stuttgartobsessed 01/28/2015 at 18:13

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These shots were my first dabbling with HDR so I'm still feeling it out. Personally I have mixed feelings with HDR but wanted to give it a go, thanks!

stuttgartobsessed > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:15

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Thats how you gotta do it. Play around with the setting and see what they all do and you'll get better at setting them so the shot comes out perfect! Keep up the good work!

BeMark > stuttgartobsessed 01/28/2015 at 18:21

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I'm really using this as a learning exercise, plus it provides a good excuse to make some oppo posts!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:27

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This one's nice. Pick up the 50mm 1.8 - it's a good lens for the price and fun to play around with (wide aperture = fast, for light light situations, and shallow depth of field).

BeMark > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/28/2015 at 18:31

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Thanks! I do have the 50mm 1.8, great bang for the buck. It will make its way into future posts.

stuttgartobsessed > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:42

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Awesome! Any excuse to make more oppo posts is a good excuse. I can't wait to have a DSLR again and take more pictures of cars.

Jonathan Harper > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 18:45

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What ya editing with?

BeMark > Jonathan Harper 01/28/2015 at 19:00

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These photo's were edited with photomatix and GIMP. Honestly editing is what I struggle with most. Tried trial versions of Lightroom and PhotoShop and just found the learning curve to be too steep, and I just couldn't reconcile the cost with the experience. People do some amazing stuff with that software. I would really like to improve my post processing, any suggestions on getting over the hump other than more seat time?

Jonathan Harper > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 19:06

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I only just started editing my own stuff somewhat recently, but my goal is to usually just bring out the car as much as possible while also keeping the image "real" looking, i.e. not too distorted with HDR-ish look or over-clarified. Post one of the originals and I'll see what I can do in lightroom.

BeMark > Jonathan Harper 01/28/2015 at 19:14

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Jonathan Harper > BeMark 01/28/2015 at 19:43

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here's a quick edit:

BeMark > Jonathan Harper 01/28/2015 at 19:48

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Nice! I'll have to spend more time messing around in post, thanks.

Stephen the Canuck > Jonathan Harper 01/30/2015 at 08:39

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Why so much sharpening?

Jonathan Harper > Stephen the Canuck 01/30/2015 at 09:36

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Why not? If you can get away with it without creating too much noise I think it looks cool.

Stephen the Canuck > Jonathan Harper 01/30/2015 at 10:26

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I guess. I haven't really moved the sharpening slider in Lightroom past 2. I'll have to try it.