Shooting engine bay

Mmarques

Mmarques

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Name
Marco
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Hi everyone,

I was wondering what's the best way to shoot engine bay pictures or any tips, I've taken a few of my cars engine bay and I just don't seem satisfied with it. So any tips welcome.
Thanks
Marco
 
Here's a few pics I took, just didn't have a clue what angle or how to shoot my engine bay to look good.

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one that seems to be cropping up more and more is to prop your bonet open with a beer can and snap through that kind of a mystery type shot.

those are good shots but you want your engine bay to be spotless to show it off to its best potential
 
They look pretty good to me too.

One tip, get the owner to clean the engine bay properly - or have it professionally detailed - (polish the bright work, dress the plastic) prior to the shoot. Makes a massive difference!
 
Thanks for the tips, I will have to try the beer can one.
Yeh this is my own car, just never have time to clean my bay, I will come round to doing it at one point though.
 
For the shots from the side make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/100th and that the aperture is at F9 or higher if you want everything in focus (well most stuff).

I think as others have said, the sbject needs work (cleaning and such).

Remember to pay attention to your focus point too. (i.e what you are focusing on).
 
I love your last shot but yep as said it needs to be cleaner, any close up shots will pickup the dirt :(

But close in shots with brand names, funky bits of piping etc all work well. If you get your hands and face dirty then you know you are close enough !!
This is in addition to the further out shots but if you are going to take a pic including the background choose something a bit more interesting than a brick wall.

Another cool shot is a shot of the car from the front with the bonnet shut (on a tripod) then go and open the bonnet and take the same pic. Open the two images in photoshop and then using the shot with the bonnet open as the base layer and create another layer where you paste the pic of the bonnet shut so it blocks out the engine bay. Then get the rubber tool and erase the bonnet to reveal the engine below. Do as much of the engine bay showing just the engine inc turbo and maybe the filters. Pretty basic explanation and you can get more fancy by blurring the edges that you rub away but that works well as an alternative shot too.

Just my 2p but take as many shots as you can in different places in the engine bay. You'll be surprised at what works and looks better when reviewed on a big screen.
 
Thanks gmogle!! I've always wanted to try what you mentioned there about the "see through bonnet"look, now I know how I'll defiantly give this a go :)
I know the background was a bit rubbish, car was just on my drive.
Thanks for your advise :)
 
No worries. Just make sure when you take your pics you don't move the tripod. Not too hard to fix but easier if its in exactly the same place.

Give the above a go but there are plenty of links on the net about how to do this properly :)
 
Yeh I've got a tripod and just recently bought a remote shutter release :) so should work well, do you happen to know the name of this technique just to have a read about it on the net?
 
its difficult to get a car with a bonnet open to look good and angle it to capture the detail of the engine.

I tend to photoshop it like this...

focusrs20.jpg


honda22.jpg


or the glass bonnet...

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Got a few more on my facebook page if you need ideas :)
 
sduk are you photoshopping out the boot lid altogether or does it come off?
 
The last time I done a photo like this we removed the bonnet and I was direcly above the car shooting down onto the engine. We lit it pretty well to allow us to capture a lot of the detail lurking in the shadows. I like the photoshop idea too though, that looks great when done right!
 
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