Motorsport photography - what settings to use?

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Samsonite

Senior Member
Thanks for that Buddy :) I guess I got carried away with the vignette first time round and made it a blanket approach, adding it to every photo! I havent used photoshop, just Lightroom 4. I increased the clarity which gave that effect on the tyres :)

Re. the dangling feet, couldnt just tell everyone else to go away now could I?! :p
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
All of the pics in your last post are a huge improvement with your first image definitely being your strongest. I agree with Rexer 100%: Nice dynamic with the tire lifting off the pavement and so forth. My constructive criticism would be to pay more attention to your composition. Most of your shots seem very centered in the frame which detracts from the impact you could be getting. This is a "Rule of Two Thirds" sort of event, in my opinion.

I played with the image in PS and, in my opinion, if you did some cropping and a few minor enhancements to the midtones (that took me about 30 seconds), you'd have a real keeper.

Cheers!
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
Could you post that for me to have a look at? I've only just started using Lightroom, Im intimidated by photoshop, just too vast and complicated!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk!
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Samsonite said:
Could you post that for me to have a look at? I've only just started using Lightroom, Im intimidated by photoshop, just too vast and complicated!
Click to expand...
I'll need a few minutes to re-do it (I was just playing around earlier), but sure, I'll post it up when I'm done.

As for learning Photoshop... I, too, was intimidated at first. But for basic corrections it's really not difficult at all. I know I'm not even scratching the surface of what it CAN do, but even so it allows me to do amazingly helpful corrections to exposure, color balance and sharpening. There are soooo many resources on the 'net for learning photoshop you don't have to spend any money to get started. Other than the sticker shock of paying for Photoshop to begin with of course. Steve Patterson's tutorials on www.photoshopessentials.com are what helped me the most (link goes to one example).
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Samsonite said:
Mmmm cheers for that, but can't you do all those things in Lightroom anyway?
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with Lightroom. I imagine the principles are much the same, though, I just happen to use Photoshop.

Here's what I did with, really, very little knowledge and in about two minutes:

Here's your original:

racecarnofix_zpsbabe050d.jpg




With Quick and Dirty Fixes Applied:

racecarfixed_zpse5414f4f.jpg
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
Thanks for that, but doesnt that look over exposed? I darkened the photos slightly coz they all looked like that, which to me looks overexposed....
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
By the way guys, all the pics were taken without any filters on the lens, would you guys recommend using a polarising filter for this sort of photography?
 
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Rexer John

Senior Member
Horoscope Fishes adjustment does look a bit over to me but it did need brightening a bit.

Here's how I would have done it, also added some blur for effect.

racecarnofix.jpg
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
Mmmm that does look better, I like the blur effect on the background to ensure it take the attention away from the car... Did you do that in Lightroom or PS?
 
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Rexer John

Senior Member
Samsonite said:
Mmmm that does look better, I like the blur effect on the background to ensure it take the attention away from the car... Did you do that in Lightroom or PS?
Click to expand...

Focuses attention on the car you mean?

Photoshop blur tool, I don't have lightroom. Just a rough job but it only takes a minute or two to do a proper job on a full size photo.
Subtlety is key, it shouldn't look like it's been done off camera. You probably didn't notice the blur was also done on the road in front of the car.

Polarizing filter can help on this type of photo and it allows 2 stops less light into the camera.
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
Well ye I meant focuses attention on the car!

And no i didn't even realize you used the blur on the road infront of the car... interesting.... looks more natural... my pictures looks like time has frozen!
 
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Rexer John

Senior Member
The only filter I have is a Hoya circular polarising filter, about £20, it fits my kit lens and 35mm prime.
Must be circular for your autofocus to work, don't get a linear polariser.
 
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Samsonite

Senior Member
Well my Kit lens is 52mm (18 - 55), But I dont use that for Motorsport, My 70-300mm AF-S is 67mm Diameter, so will just buy a filter for that Lens...
 
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