I need to minimize reflections in car photos...

[Ron Dustman]

I've been doing showcards for hotrods for a couple of years and still haven't found a way to reduce the reflections that invade shots of the more high end autos out there. Any help would be great! Thanks, Dust

[James Penner]

This might be a silly question, but have you tried using a polarizing filter?

[NCP Doug]

Ron,

Can we see some examples. There are a number of different ways to accomplish this.

would like to see some of your work too. Can you provide a link?

[Ron Dustman]

I can send you to my website: www.dustmanart.com. You can see some of the problems I run into there. Check out the samples portion. Pardon me for not showing any more recent samples. At the time I did the site, I had just completed around 27 cards...I am now at 107 and counting. If you want to see anything more current, let me know. Thanks for the help!

Dust

[JMB]

Ron, what I usually do to reduce the reflections is to rebuild the part of the car by any ways necessary. I usually pick two color samples from the part that I want rebuild and make a gradient. Clone tool and curves also helps a lot.

I can't really show you how to do that, it's easier if try for yourself.... make a selection with pen tool and start to fill, than use some curves to ajust lights and shadows.

Hope that helps =D

[Sweetlight]

I went on a rant a while back about reflections in watches and jewelry so I'll try and tone this down a bit, not only attitude but number of words as well. I understand that most of the shots you take are usually in parking lots and such 'cause that is where these folks tend to meet. Several companies, (Photoflex) for one produce large translucent scrims that stretch out over pvc frames basically creating huge soft boxes. They also have opaque ones as well to scrim the light. They are fairly inexpensive and what stands at about 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide breaks down to a small bag like you would carry baseball bats in. I'd give that a look if I were you and I hope this helps.

c

[Ron Dustman]

Thanks to everyone. I'll give them a try and eventually let you know what happens...

Later........Dust...

[Steve Conway]

Another way to shoot cars, is to bounce or reflect your light source from large sheets of white material. We used foamcore when I worked in TV and aimed the light(s) at this. The large panel(s) threw a nice even light onto the subject. This technique is good for most any shiny object, or where you desire very even lighting.

Steve C.