I'm completely un-original

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LilMcGinley
Like the title says, I don't have a creative bone in my body (half my cars are black) and it seems like I take the same 4 pictures with every car so I'm here for some help.

Ideas I'm looking for:
Better tracks for pictures, what do you use?
Better car color combination: Car color/Wheel Color?
Single car or race pictures: Single car race or A-Spec races?
Picture angles/effects: Any suggestions will be helpful!

I see some of the pictures here and I just think to myself "no way I could do that." And it is always better to ask for help then to wonder around not knowing what you're doing.

And yes, I have read the stickied guide on how to use the camera.
 
Well, you really want to just expierment, look at other galleries, mimic shots, use different zoom lengths and apeture values, Move the camera, tilt it, lower and rise it. Find a part of the car you like and try different angles with it. Also try to use lighting to highlight the cars shape and curves, Kyoto and camera location 5 can provide great reflections.
If you're looking for action, go to arcade, you can get 16 cars and often better results.
 
Well, you really want to just expierment, look at other galleries, mimic shots, use different zoom lengths and apeture values, Move the camera, tilt it, lower and rise it. Find a part of the car you like and try different angles with it. Also try to use lighting to highlight the cars shape and curves, Kyoto and camera location 5 can provide great reflections.
If you're looking for action, go to arcade, you can get 16 cars and often better results.

I will have to look into setting up reflections... never even thought of that!
 
Try entering the photomode competitions. I have just about no inspiration for taking photos, but I've found that if you have a general theme to take pictures of then you can start thinking about how to take pictures that fit that. From then, like anything else, practice makes perfect.
 
Try entering the photomode competitions. I have just about no inspiration for taking photos, but I've found that if you have a general theme to take pictures of then you can start thinking about how to take pictures that fit that. From then, like anything else, practice makes perfect.

Never thought of that!

Thanks for the responses!
 
Better car color combination: Car color/Wheel Color?

Is it physically impossible to simply pick another colour? If not, then I'm curious as to why you're pointing this out as the solution is simply a matter of will-power (for a lack of a lesser term).
 
Is it physically impossible to simply pick another colour? If not, then I'm curious as to why you're pointing this out as the solution is simply a matter of will-power (for a lack of a lesser term).

I understand where your coming from, I just figured people would share good combos they have found...

Thanks for the helpful post /sarcasm
 
The most basic combination is white on black. Most cars have fair bit of black on them that cannot be adjusted around the windows and such. So what makes a strong contrast? White. This look is very easy to develop as things like carbon bonnets and rear spoilers are black as well adding to the look. The final touch is black wheels.
Now you can swap out the white body colour for another but brighter colours will work best. You are trying to get a cohesive two tone look.



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Putting black wheels on this factory Sebring silver NSX was a no brainer. It has tinted windows and the entire top half of the car is black so it makes a nice combination. You want to avoid ending up with a car with 3 colours as it will look a mess.

Now you don't want all your cars to have black wheels so where ever possible you try for a different look.

Black cars + gold or silver wheels can't go wrong there.

Keep your eyes peeled for cars with silver trim on them. Silver/chrome wheels work best with them.

Cars that are nicely sculptured you will want bright colours also to show off the shape.



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If you're into realism or artistic.
The sky, tone/filter and shadow play very important role.

I can recommend you that Toscana Tarmac(Time between 1800-1930) track is the best to take a shoot.

I used cross-processing alot on that track. It'll give the most beautiful shoots yet.
As for the angle of the shoots. This is hard to explain. Usually oneself need to discover it.

Combine those above you'll get these:

ToscanaTarmac_2.jpg


ToscanaTarmac_6.jpg


ToscanaTarmac_23.jpg

Note the sky and the filter effect.
Also, this is unedited. Purely from GT5. Even an amature can do this.
 
In addition to all great tips above; think of a subject before you take a picture.
Ask yourself: when you take a picture, what do you want the viewers to see?
I found this on the internet to get you started:

When you watch a movie there is one element that never changes, a leading character. The whole movie centers around this leading player and the story is created around this subject. It is no different with a still image like a photograph. Each photo should have its lead character, called the subject, around which the image is created.

By creating this center of interest you form a visual focal point that anchors the eye of the viewer and holds it there. Everything else is discovered by the eye in relation to this one focal point. How the eye moves into the rest of the image is determined by this point. So in order for you to create a successful image you need to emphasize the subject.


If you're still interested, you can read the rest of the article right here:
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/tips-to-emphasize-your-subject-in-photography/

Good luck!
 
For car colors, use a Pearl or Metallic paint, for smooth lines and reflections, and soild paints for a thick, meaty tough look to the car. With Rims, try a metallic light or dark gray, save the odd colors for rims with paintable inserts (BBS RS, SSR)
 
Another vote for just playing around with settings and camera angles.

Here are 2 shots I took of a single moment in time:

Eiger%20Nordwand%20Short%20Track_10.jpg

Eiger%20Nordwand%20Short%20Track_11.jpg
 
Dang fellas, I appreciate the help. I'll have to use that tarmac track, I never touch them but those shots look really nice.

Never used cross processing either but will now!

I spent yesterday driving around and taking shots. I'll upload some later, looking for hints/tips.
 
Glad my lack of creativity helped someone else out. I hoped this thread would turn into that!

I am going to try this as well.

Next question: other then the usual light/dark colors, what color combos of 2 dark and 2 light colors for cars/wheels look good? Example: blue car and green wheels?
 
Here's a good kind of basis for Car+Rims.
White & Black: Red, Light Blue, Grayscale, Lime Green, sometimes Dark Purple
Any other colors: It's better to stick to grayscale, but sometimes Blue and red, orange and bronze can work.
 
So I got home from work, played around with cars/effects/tracks and here is what I've got. All HELPFUL criticism welcome.

TrialMountainCircuit_4.jpg


Tried out a custom Toscana Track with time at 20:00
ToscanaTarmac_6.jpg

ToscanaTarmac_5.jpg

ToscanaTarmac_3.jpg

ToscanaTarmac_1.jpg

ToscanaTarmac.jpg


Love/hate/rate

Shoutout to benda18 for the color wheel! Thanks a bunch!
 
Another tip is a lot of standard cars look terrible in matt colours and can have their appearance greatly improved by using a metallic.
 
the miniature filter is for making the subject look like a miniature, so it must be taken from far and from a certain height, so no close-ups
the others pics are great, really like then
 
I really like your Toscana pics there and I agree with dandroid13 that the miniature filter is really for far away shots to make the subject look like miniatures (I think tilt-shift is the technical term?), though there are the occasional few shots that do turn out ok.

As an example, here's a couple of far away shots I took with the Miniature filter that I think turned out ok..

NrburgringGP_F_1.jpg


NrburgringGP_D_1.jpg


.. it's a funny filter to use I think because most of the pics we take are to show off a certain car and that's not really how that filter is supposed to work :)
 
So I got home from work, played around with cars/effects/tracks and here is what I've got. All HELPFUL criticism welcome.

LOADED IMAGE

Love/hate/rate

Shoutout to benda18 for the color wheel! Thanks a bunch!

The Toscana shoots looks great. But i think it'll be more better if you're using panning mode 3. :)
 
ZEROX
The Toscana shoots looks great. But i think it'll be more better if you're using panning mode 3. :)

Yes! I usually do but I hate the gt5 camera and how it resets for every shot :(

Thanks for the advice on the miniature filter. Like I've said, I've never used have of these before, so I will def keep that in mind!
 
Sunset + Cross Processing filter = magnificent sunset photo

BTW, if you're thinking of still photos, try setting up the magnification to x2. Though this only works in Photo Travel, and takes a while to process, you'll get a super-detailed shot.
 
Yes! I usually do but I hate the gt5 camera and how it resets for every shot :(

Thanks for the advice on the miniature filter. Like I've said, I've never used have of these before, so I will def keep that in mind!

No problem. ;)
 
Normalaatsra
Sunset + Cross Processing filter = magnificent sunset photo

BTW, if you're thinking of still photos, try setting up the magnification to x2. Though this only works in Photo Travel, and takes a while to process, you'll get a super-detailed shot.

Doesnt that 2x the number of pixels or something?
 
Doesnt that 2x the number of pixels or something?

I don't think it is.
Like he said. It'll give you more detail.
You can also can do it in race or time trial but on only certain part of angle or some part of the circuit.
 
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