How to shoot a very chromed up engine?

[Mick]

I've tee'd up a shoot with a guy at work. No date is set yet but I'm looking at this or next weekend. The subject will be a very very hot Ford Mustang. Its in show car condition so I'm looking forward to it but I'm a tad nervous. I'm sure he'll like the shots because he's never done any propper shots himself. I've got a couple of 430EXII's off camera with stands and umbrella's and some gels so it'll be fun. I can deal with the car itself (I hope, its going to be a learning experience and he understands that) but its the engine bay that I'm wondering about. its got painted chassis, the block is painted the same colour as the body and there's a lot of chrome. Could anyone offer any tips to how to get a good shot in there? I'm thinking of dropping the flash's down there with maybe some coloured gels on em, maybe trying some HDR work and also just shooting with flash's above it. A link to some pics where someone has done good engine shots would be awesome too.

Mick.

 

[Garry Edwards]

You need to create diffused specular highlights (a specular highlight is a reflection of a light source) and the best way of doing this is to use studio lighting shot through diffusers at least 3 times the size of the subject.

For what you plan to do, and without equipment, that just won't work. Your best bet is to shoot on a dull day, so they whole of the sky becomes a large, diffused light source - then add your hotshoe flashes to CREATE hard specular highlights as necessary.

Or, on a bright sunny day, suspend a diffuser such as a sheet of plain white shower curtain between the sun and the subject. Pro car photographers use a scrim suspended above the car - a large sheet of black material with thousands of holes to let through some light whilst diffusing it - same result.

 

[Mick]

OK cheers Garry. Much appreciated. I was going to meet up about an hour before sunset but I think I'll make it a little earlier and try what you've said about using the sky and available light. Thanks again.

Mick.

 

[Chappers]

Black block, chrome parts..... could be a nightmare.

Seriously lighting will be crucial to getting the picture you want. Soft lighting is what you need to keep the dynamic range workable. Also remember Chrome acts like a mirror. so you'll need some white reflectors positioned around the camera to stop the chromed parts coming out black