This isn't really a thread about my ride, more like a thread about taking pictures of your car in general. This is in response to some awesome pictures Vince took but I didn't want to hijack his thread so I'm starting a new one.

Here'* something to try next time you're whoring your ride - use your flash even if you're taking shots in broad daylight. If you have an external flash that pivots, try holding your camera upside down and angle the flash so it reflects off the ground and eliminates the shadow underneath. It creates an interesting affect - almost like the car is floating above the pavement. Ignore the quality of the pictures below...I know the background is washed out and the composition is lacking, but you can see the difference in shots with flash and without. Somebody with a little skill could create some cool pictures with this technique, I think.
Without flash:


Flash on and angled about 30 degrees off vertical, camera upside down:


That'* a little different, eh?

Well How about this put the flash under the car and one inside the car too. Shoot it at dusk and see what happens. hmmm

What your doing is
basically just using a fill flash. I do that with portraits all the time never tried it with a car..

I love that effect. I appreciate the realism of a shadow, but sometimes I find it quite annoying too. Definiitely have to try that when i finally get another car.

Sometimes the flash washes out pictures, or "flattens" it and you lose the form of the object you are shooting that would have otherwise been preserved with natural light. Of course, if you use a flash the correct way you will have much better results.

^I'm with Pete.

Many people use flash or consider flash as the PRIMARY source of light when they use it. This is not the case for daylight outdoor shots. I tend to use fill flash outdoors on people when boosting desired detail out of the shadows or when shooting into direct sunlight. I use it to SUPPLEMENT the ambient light already there.



http://www.cobracountry.com/fototips/
^ That is an EXCELLENT link for car photography. Might be a good idea to have it as a sticky.

Yeah, it definately has to be done right. I was in a hurry and just wanted to give it a quick try. Didn't have much time to play. The second picture does look flat and actually looks like the car was Photoshopped into the scene. Good or bad, it gives a different feeling to the picture.