Your Car As Art!
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Taking a good subject photo

Picture
What makes a good subject photo? You don't have to be an expert photographer, just take a little time to consider what you are trying to achieve. The main thing is to ask yourself if you can make out all of the detail in the photo that you want to be drawn. This is especially important if your car is an unusual model or has been modified as I will not be able to check other online photos for the missing detail!

This (<) is a very useful subject photo to draw from. It has been taken from the perfect angle to show the car off well and the colours are both natural and vivid. It has a good level of detail and has the entire car in the frame.

 

Picture
As I'm sure you can see, this photo (>) is a poor subject photo to use as most of the detail has been lost by the bright sun on the paintwork, which has also affected the tone of the colour.

It has been taken far too close to the car so I can't quite make out the shape of the rear of the car either! It has also been taken directly from the side so, unless accompanied by a separate front end shot, I wouldn't be able to draw the headlights.

Photo Taking Tips

  • Take your photo on a cloudy day so the light on the paintwork is neither too bright or creating dark shadows.
  • Use your cameras finest quality setting for maximum detail.
  • Hold your camera as steady as possible by supporting the body underneath with one hand.
  • Walk around your car first to find it's best angle and side (do you want the petrol cap showing?).
  • Try crouching down to get a better angle too, moving the camera by even a few inches can make a big difference in how your car looks!

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