my question

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I have to take the pictures of our pre-owned vehicles for internet purposes....Randy says that I have too many jobs to do any way.....

I love cloudy days because i can run around the vehicle and take shots from all four corners, interior, engine and etc....WITHOUT moving the vehicle....

When it is sunny i have to move the vehicle several times for the light to strike just right in the different angles...

Taking them in the shadows don;t work....unless...you guys can think of something that is easy and makes the job goes faster and still gives me great pics for the internet and advertising media...

I use a sony cyber shot...41 megapixels...

thanks

mark the shoeshine boy

[Austin]

Mark, in dark corners and shadows, you can adjust your camera to take the flash pictures. Look at your camera's manual.

[DoubleE]

Mark:

Do you have an awning of any kind you can drive the vehicle under? You don't want deep shade but diffused sunlight should be just what the doctor ordered. A light colored awning that lets some light through would be ideal.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i am not a great photographer...so...

my camera is set on auto for the flash.....the sun this time of year will cast a long shadow that I can park a vehicle in...but I have tried this and the pictures are poor....i would love to be able to do this like i have described before, just running around the vehcile and taking pics in less than two minutes (and they look good too)

let me see if i can adjust this flash to manual....

thanks


mark tssb

[mark the shoeshine boy]

ok...

i have 4 setting of flash....1...none...2..auto, i think.....3...flash...and 4 flash with a "SL" by it.....what does that mean....

this camera was given to me to use and there is no manual...

mark tssb

[mark the shoeshine boy]

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6222

I was completely fooling around and came up with this....i thought it was kind of cool looking....i might use it for the website or keep this idea in mind for the website...

mark tssb

[DoubleE]

Mark:

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with your camera. Most cameras will have a red-eye reduction setting for the flash but SL doesn't seem to be it. It could be a slow shutter option which might help you by leting the camera select a slower shutter speed to let in more ambient light. Give it a try and see what you get.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i do have the red eye reduction on this.....but i have neve noticed any cars with red eyes....:lol:

mark tssb

[Austin]

Set your flash at 3 to force it on in dark corners.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6223

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6224

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6225

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6226

the first two are taken in the shadow of the building...the sun is setting on the passenger side...this vehicle is several feet from the building...

the last two are taken closer to the building....

all of them are using the flash without the SL feature .....so what do you guys think ???

mark tssb

[Austin]

Looks good. I'll give you $250 for that car. :biggrin:

[mark the shoeshine boy]

Looks good. I'll give you $250 for that car. :biggrin:


paypal the money....NOW !!!!!

does either set look better to you than the other ???

mark tssb

[DoubleE]

Either looks good to me.......try it with the SL feature and see if it makes a difference.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

the only problem with this picture is ...this car is more charcoal in color, thatn the blue that i am looking at...

mark tssb

[DoubleE]

Mark:

Change your white balance to shade. Check to see if there's a icon that looks like a building with shade coming down on one side.

If not, try the overcast icon and see how it looks.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

you guys are making my head hurt !!!!! :mad2:

ok...i will try it again, tomorrow....

mark tssb

[rtaylor61]

Mark,

At our dealership, we easily solved the photo problem. We farmed it out to a 3rd party. The boss didn't want to pay us to take the photographs, so we quit doing it.

Randy

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i wished they pay to do mine....

mark tssb

[perry]

Yea, cloudy days are best for making the pictures look good, methinks.

I like the second set, car looks a little brighter there. Crouch down a bit more when you take the photos, so that the camera is about level with the headlights. Then you're taking pictures holding the camera straight instead of pointing down. I bet that alone would help the pictures look better.

You didn't ask, but... Have your detail guy apply the tire dressing, move the car about a foor or two, then apply the tire dressing to the part of the tire that was at the bottom. Then dress the wheel wells too. Sorry, that's the detailing nut in me talking :wink:

[mark the shoeshine boy]

i saw that too with the tires....it is actually mud/dirt or something....but it was 10 degrees and it was the closest car to grab....i'll have the guys re dress that one....

i think i will try squatting down some and taking the pictures at fender level....that would make them look different....

thanks...

mark tssb

[rtaylor61]

Mark,

Since you are having to take all the pics...be demanding. Visit www.donedirect.com and check out the 35 pics of each car there. And pay special attention to the "room" in which the pics are taken! Talk about a lightbox! BTW, offtopic but work related...check out their descriptions of their cars!

Randy

[mark the shoeshine boy]

wow......

thanks randy...you guys ought to look at this....

mark

[DoubleE]

That's pretty slick! White tile floor and white walls.......perfect high key setup.

[rtaylor61]

That's pretty slick! White tile floor and white walls.......perfect high key setup.

Jerry,

I work for an auto group that has around 40 stores. Privately owned. This website is being held up as an example of what being "refreshingly honest" can do for business. The sellers don't do repairs. They have the cars checked out. Some things they fix, others they don't. Their pics show scratches, dents, etc. With them, ,WYSIWYG! I like that!

Randy