Tricks to enhancing reflection?

[Scooby24]

For those who have perfected the automotive photography route, what are the tricks to enhancing a car's reflection?

Bright out with car under shade? Shoot in lower light? Sun behind or in front of camera? Post Processing tricks?

Would anyone mind sharing? I'm not looking to learn all the secrets, just enough to get by to show off some detailing work.

[Ryan Stewart]

Ive used a circular polarizer. It kind of works both ways, having it off kilter actually increases the glare and abberations off of glass.

[Scooby24]

Ive used a circular polarizer. It kind of works both ways, having it off kilter actually increases the glare and abberations off of glass.

I'm only equipped with an S95 these days, I wonder if they make polarizers that work with these that are worth a damn?

[WRX]

I'm only equipped with an S95 these days, I wonder if they make polarizers that work with these that are worth a damn?

Ive used polarized oakley lenses before

[Scooby24]

Ive used polarized oakley lenses before

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww93/ierickim/Cl-lAN/southpark_nice.png

[Ryan Stewart]

Those might work, its a bit tricky but that is one way to do it. Its the downside of coming down from an SLR or a bridge. You could just grab a cheap filter and hold it up.

[Scooby24]

a ha!

http://www.lensmateonline.com/store/s90v2.php?__utma=1.1665938139.1288798360.128879836 0.1288798360.1&__utmb=153549477.1.10.1288798353&__utmc=153549477&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1288798360.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(di rect)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=219968281

http://lensmateonline.com/store/media/s90receiver.jpg

http://lensmateonline.com/store/media/s90polarizer.jpg

http://www.lensmateonline.com/store/hoyaDigitalFilterKit.php?__utma=1.1665938139.12887 98360.1288798360.1288798360.1&__utmb=153549477.1.10.1288798353&__utmc=153549477&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1288798360.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(di rect)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=219968281

[BDoty]

For those who have perfected the automotive photography route, what are the tricks to enhancing a car's reflection?

Bright out with car under shade? Shoot in lower light? Sun behind or in front of camera? Post Processing tricks?

Would anyone mind sharing? I'm not looking to learn all the secrets, just enough to get by to show off some detailing work.

So what exactly are you trying to do?

I typically don't try to enhance reflections, but rather minimize them if possible (or atleast try to keep them from being distracting.) Photographing a highly reflective object outside is going to make some reflections. :thumbsup:

I'd say shooting in sunlight would be the best scenario. Certainly not with in front of the camera. And of course, you're going to need to be near something to reflect.

And finally, you might try adjust the aperture. Try shooting around f/10 (or higher) and see if you can get the objects being reflected to turn out sharper.

[Scooby24]

So what exactly are you trying to do?

Show off a car's paint reflection after a detail better than I've been able to do.

I typically don't try to enhance reflections, but rather minimize them if possible (or atleast try to keep them from being distracting.) Photographing a highly reflective object outside is going to make some reflections. :thumbsup:

I'd say shooting in sunlight would be the best scenario. Certainly not with in front of the camera. And of course, you're going to need to be near something to reflect.

And finally, you might try adjust the aperture. Try shooting around f/10 (or higher) and see if you can get the objects being reflected to turn out sharper.

That's a good thought, I didn't even consider that.

[P-UNIT]

Funny you made this thread, I was just struggling with the same thing! I did find that a polarizer helped, but like stated above if you don't use it right it makes it worse. My results were hit and miss, but I'm hoping to find a better method next time around.

Let us know if you have any breakthroughs!

[ryanb]

Fly a 12x silk over the car or some large soft source overhead. You want really large soft sources to put highlights down the body lines. Shooting as far away from noon as possible would help the lighting situation as well.