New pics + finally custom shot *UPDATE VIDEO*

[topgeartom]

well, i got my new cam for christmas and have finally got my act togeather and taken some more pictures of the car, this time with a custom pic!!

I must appologise thoguh, that my pictures are absolute shite quality as i am completely new to photography - any suggestions to help me with my technique would be appreciated!

So without further ado here is the custom shot:


And now the crap quality photos begin








**UPDATE**
Made a little video today. Quality isnt too good, i used my digi-cam. The road leads to my grandmas in the Yorkshire dales, and this is one road my dad KNOWS has no speed cameras

The video is about 20-95mph, using the manual section of the J-Gate gearbox, going from 2nd to 3rd to 4th, dam near redlining it in 2nd and 3rd.

After this video was taken, further along the road (there are about 3 roundabouts separating long dual-carriageway sections) and into the small Yorkshire dales roads, there was a twat in a Skoda Fabia vRS (diesel) who tried to race us. We passed him at about 90, so he pulled out and overtook us, it was quite amusing when he was tear-arsing around screwing the cock of his car to get away, while we were doin 2000rpm sitting right behind him all the way

Anyway, here is the video.

http://fire.prohosting.com/topgeart/20-95mph.avi

[cooperluke]

Nice car, TGT!! Seen it already before, but now it seems even better. Just don't like the coclour very much, it's not very British... and the car IS a LOT!

Another thing, I was seeing your signature... have you noticed that you are on the "wrong side" of the car? What is there so interesting on the glove compartment for you to seem so happy?

[possessed_beaver]

trial and error, thats the best way to learn, lol before you could preview the pictures on you're digitial camera i use to take SHOCKING pic's, but it all comes with practice, always try different angles, what else.. umm i would just recomend reading a book on it,

btw nice car!
i must comment you're handwriting looks a million times better then mine, lol!

[topgeartom]

thanks, personally i though my handwriting was shocking on the picture - i rushed it out and thought it looked like a 5 year old had written it! thanks anywayz!

@cooperluke - i am sat on the correct side - i am British! all you foreigners drive on the wrong side! j/k

[TransAm]

That 's a reet nice motor you have there! 50k on a '98 is some seriously low miles.

As for photo tips, I am new to photography too but one thing I have picked up from the photgraphy book I am reading is try using the flash (yes during the day) I have attached two examples of the same pic with and without flash. I'm sure you can tell which is which!





Also, you'll get better interior shots using a faster shutter speed too. I dunno what camera you have but a 'sports mode' will have a fast shutter speed. You could try using the flash on the interior stand way back and zoom in or it tends to show lots of specks of dust and makes the interior look dirty.

[TT]

Thanks for the pics, but if I can disagree with transam, NEVER use the flash use a tripod instead, and longer shutter settings if you need more light to come into the camera (and that way you are sure the pic won't be a bit blurry)

If you don't have a tripod and nowhere to place your camera, just wait for a sunny day when your shutter will be faster anyway

[topgeartom]

thanks for the tips - i can change the exposure so i will try that, it should maybe solve the blurring problem. I think a better location would have helped for my pictures though - if the car was out in the open i think the light would have been much better

[TransAm]

Originally Posted by TT Thanks for the pics, but if I can disagree with transam, NEVER use the flash

No problem! Like I said I am pretty new to all this photo malarkey!
ops:

[TT]

Sadly the flash has only one positive point.. all the others are negatives..

pro: you can be sure the shutter speed will be set decently fast (probably 1/60), so you just need an average steady hand to get a sharp pic
cons: it generates weird and bad reflexes in everything like side indicators, rear or front lights and so on..; if you have a deep field of view, wich is not the case in your pics transam, the subject will be in the light while all the rest will be VERY dark; it also gives an unnatural light/color to the image in the end..; it uses batteries lot quicker

flash IMO is to be used only for emergency cases like unexpected sightings in dark places and so on, but well, a better idea is to have a pocket tripod you always carry when you have your digicamera with you

[topgeartom]

i did get a mini tripod with my cam, but i cant always get down on my knees and set up my camera when i just want to take some pictures of the car I'll take your advice though dude - your pictures show how it should be done!

[TT]

Thanks dude sadly not all my pics turn out perfect but well .. and remember, to obtain a perfect pic you can't forget Photoshop... as they turn out directly from the camera, beside beeing too big, they can ALWAYS be improved (in a good way, not by cheating).

Oh yes, another easy advice for emergency cases when you can't use a tripod but light isn't enough for a shutter speed faster than 1/60 - 1/80: don't use the LCD screen but use the camera like an "old" one, looking thourgh the "regular" visor. In my case also in it you see the same things you see in the LCD with all the options and such.. in some cases I think you just have a simple visor to "aim" at the subject.. anyway, this is an easy trick to have steadier hands (closer to the body)

[topgeartom]

Originally Posted by TT Thanks dude sadly not all my pics turn out perfect but well .. and remember, to obtain a perfect pic you can't forget Photoshop... as they turn out directly from the camera, beside beeing too big, they can ALWAYS be improved (in a good way, not by cheating). Oh yes, another easy advice for emergency cases when you can't use a tripod but light isn't enough for a shutter speed faster than 1/60 - 1/80: don't use the LCD screen but use the camera like an "old" one, looking thourgh the "regular" visor. In my case also in it you see the same things you see in the LCD with all the options and such.. in some cases I think you just have a simple visor to "aim" at the subject.. anyway, this is an easy trick to have steadier hands (closer to the body)

cunning thinking my man, thanks for the tip!

[RC45]

^^^ another trick I use, is to hug a lamp post or street sign when taking pictures..

Prop the camera against the fixed object as a brace.

Sure - you look like a drunk leaning up against things - but your images come out nicely. hehe

[topgeartom]

Originally Posted by RC45 ^^^ another trick I use, is to hug a lamp post or street sign when taking pictures.. Prop the camera against the fixed object as a brace. Sure - you look like a drunk leaning up against things - but your images come out nicely. hehe

another trick of the trade, thanks for the advice

[sameerrao]

Another trick I would employ for taking good pics is to drive your car East and head to the outskirts of Geneva. Leave your car on the street. Get out, walk about, saunter around the lake. Come back in two housrs and head home.

I am pretty sure a good pic of your car would have been taken by some roving papparazzo