Environmental Light and Automotive Photography

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Meet up with Tim Wallace and a Dodge Challenger to learn what is possible for shooting cars with just one camera, one lens, and available light. Shooting a black car can present real challenges for proper exposure, but Tim’s careful, yet efficient process will take you through each step, and have you out shooting like a pro in no time! You’ll learn about the gear he uses, how to look at a scene from all the angles, and why it is important to leave yourself room to be creative.

Introduction (04:48) Join Tim as he introduces the concepts, location, and the car for this class.
Gear Chat (03:55) Tim goes over the gear he'll be using for this shoot and then suggests getting started by putting your camera down and taking a walk around the car to look for important details you might want to shoot later.
First Position (07:16) Time to get shooting. The first position is a simple shot comprised of multiple exposures that will be blended together later for the final result. A graduated neutral density filter is a great tool for taming exposure on brighter areas.
Detail Shot (04:54) Little details can help tell the story of a car. Tim decides to hand hold a close-up shot of the logo on the car's hood.
Trying a New Location (09:00) It is fine to start by getting the obvious shot in the obvious location, but take time to look around and see what else a location has to offer. Tim walks through his process in a challenging situation to create a fantastic shot that really ties the car into the location.
Getting Creative (06:43) If you work efficiently and get the shots required by the client, you can end up with enough extra time to get creative and try different things that take things to the next level.
Taking it Outside (05:59) Using available light gives you the flexibility to go where the light is, and Tim wraps up the class with two shots using the exterior of the building as a backdrop for the car.

Course Time: 00 Hours 42 Minutes

J. Patterson

Mar 12 2013

This was the first video I watched after joining, and I am so glad I watched it when I did. My passion is shooting cars, so to see that I don't, in fact, have to drop a ton of money on lights, strobes, modifiers and controllers absolutely revived my spirit. These shots are amazing! I want to get out now and find some locations with similar light so I can try to get some similar shots of my own. Thanks so much for taking the time to share!
M. Flemington

Jun 30 2012

Nice, simple and logical info on how to get great results without all the gear, just using your eye and the environment.
S. Crocker

May 3 2012

Just what I needed! Ha, I can't believe you had this video on Kelby. Valuable advice and examples.
J. Thompson

Apr 19 2012

Another excellent course by Tim, really got to thinking of how I can put some of this in practice, have a friend with a sports car, seems like a great reason to create some inspiring images. It's great to see the craft of photography being taught. Many thanks to all involved & I hope you will get Tim back for further classes. Very inspirational :)
D. Van Horn

Apr 18 2012

This was excellent -- even for those who think they'd never shoot something like this. The comments about being open for different views, practice, looking all around before starting, and thinking the photo through before you start are applicable to every shooter in virtually every situation. And, of course, the information about shooting automotive photos was extremely useful.
T. Wallace

Apr 18 2012

Thanks buddy very glad that you found the class useful and hopefully inspiring. Photography in my view very much begins in the heart and eye and not on the sensor, indeed the most memorable images in history were shot on very basic equipment and their power comes from their thought and the capturing of a moment in time, never under estimate the power of composition and light and just what you can achieve with these two elements working together.... Enjoy your photography and shoot shoot shoot
J. Santiago

Apr 18 2012

Wallace did it again!!!! His simple approach yet powerful results just amazes me. What I liked best was the simple setup and equipment to obtain quality results. Really like it....
T. Wallace

Apr 17 2012

Gentlemen thank you for your very positive and kind feedback it is very much appreciated and reading responses like these make all the effort very worth while. It is truly my pleasure to have helped some of you maybe view this type of photography slightly differently and I hope that you all took away a few things to think about and indeed try yourself. Remember photography is not a destination it's a journey and as long as we remember to enjoy the ride then that's all that counts. Go out and shoot and most of all enjoy your photography and thank you again for taking the time to comment on this class, I hope that I will be asked to return to the US so that maybe we can do some further classes in the future.
W. Jones

Apr 17 2012

To the folks at Kelby Training and Tim Wallace, thanks so much! I have enjoyed and learned so much from Tim's series so far. I am a car enthusiast and have always wanted to learn how to improve my photographs of cars. This course has helped significantly. Tim thanks so much for taking the time, I really enjoy your approach to photography and find your creativity very inspirational! Keep it up.
J. Mold

Apr 17 2012

I just wanted to say that I have been following Tim's awesome work for sometime. I'm trying to break into commercial photography and couldn't believe my luck when I saw that Tim was featuring as one of your pro instructors. The timing couldn't have been better as I have a commercial shoot for a luxury car dealership in a few weeks. I am fairly comfortable with off camera lighting, but Tim's attention to detail, the way he teaches and makes you feel like you're having a 1-2-1 session on location with him s fantastic. I've learnt so much from this series that I know I'll be taking my vehicle photography to the next level. I have learnt so much from the first 3 courses he has done that I really look forward to seeing more of him on Kelby Training. I would love to see some moving vehicle shots. Rigs of hanging out of another vehicle? No idea how he gets those incredible shots. PLEASE SHARE !!! Thanks again Team Kelby :)
M. Azzahrani

Apr 16 2012

Dear Lord! This guy is TOO good. I took photos with my dusty old "Suzuki Swift" following these instructors with only one soft box and it turned out amazing, mean and moister looking ride!
T. Quinn

Apr 16 2012

My word....another winner Mr. Wallace. Minimal equipment with maximum output. For the car nut like me this is so great to learn and think about seeing in the camera rather than in Photoshop. With that being said, cannot wait for the 4th class on photoshop to see what you can do,

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Your Instructor

Tim Wallace

International Advertising & Automotive Photographer

Photographer Tim Wallace is the driving force and creative thinking behind Ambient Life. An award winning photographer his work is often described as both conceptual and dramatic. Tim works...VIEW FULL BIO»

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