What lens For Sports car?

[InaGlo]

Ive been asked to take a few pics of a friend's new classic sports car, a big red flash jobby.

Im not into cars and have never photographed one.
I have the 50mm F1.4, the 70-200mm F2.8, and the 17-40mm F4.

What lens would you recommend for the job,
and are there any specific angles I should shoot from to get the best out of the car.

Any advice appreciated as this really isnt my thang at all!
Ta.

 

[Darryn]

Personally id go with the 17-40 and try and keep wide and low to the ground, also, try and get some high shots of the car, maybe take a step ladder or stand on a wall...

If this is going to be a 1 time only kinda job id definately recommend you take all three lenses just to be safe.

 

[Diego Garcia]

Hi Glo,

I did some 'casual' car stuff. Look here -

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=33356&highlight=triumph+tr4

My advice. Take the 50mm and the 17-40. Stop them down to at least F16 unless you are going uber creative with headlight/stearing wheel shots etc.

Take a step ladder to shoot down onto the car. Turn the wheels. Make sure that they are clean so take a small brush.

Have done some other stuff lately on a quiet industrial estate with off camera flash, with the star 8 filter. Create some cool top gear type gradients too - will look great. Maybe use a CP to bring out the colours too....asnd of course always manage the background.

Hope this helps.

 

[andrewc]

all your lenses could be used to good effect.

The 17-40 could be used as a general lens, probably closer to the 40mm end than the 17mm but experiement

the 50mm f1.4 could be used quite well inside (lower light levels) and can get some really nice effects using controlled depth of field

And you could do some movement shots using the 70-200.

 

[InaGlo]

Thanks guys, thats just the kind of info I need

Thanks for the link to the pics Pete, if I hadnt seen those nice clouds reflected in the bonnet of the car I wouldnt have given consideration to reflections.
We will probably do this on his drive, which is rather large so might be ok... but Ill make a note to check that the only reflections in the paintwork are natural ones!

 

[andrewc]

A CPL can help with reflections as well. One comment on the link posted was that panel distortion can be an issue, yes its true, but these were often hand made cars from sheet steel with rudimentary press jigs or hand rolled wings, and there is often variation. Its all part of the charm of old cars.

The stepladder is a good idea as well, and also get down low. If you have an extra drivers and a hatchback you could drive slowly around a quiet area (industrial estate at a weekend) and do some motion shots with you sitting in the boot of the hatchback or estate driving around (slowly) with the tailgate open.