Inspired Light and Automotive Photography

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Want to learn how to photograph a car like a pro? Join Tim Wallace, a commercial photographer based in the UK, as he steps through the process of positioning, lighting and shooting a Ford Mustang convertible on location while providing real world tips along the way. It’s all about the angles, as you build up your lighting from the available light to however many strobes you need to achieve your desired result. Learn everything you need to know to ground the car in its environment and light it without it looking too lit.

Introduction (05:49) Join Tim as he provides an overview of the course and discusses some of the challenges involved with photographing cars. The location in which a car is placed is vitally important to the message you are communicating in the final photo.
Planning Ahead (06:23) Tim talks about the gear he uses every day on the job while planning out how to light the car by looking at the curves, shadows, and reflective surfaces, which will determine where to place the lights.
Choosing Your Shooting Position (09:36) Committing to a position is an important first step, which will give you a starting point for deciding where to place the lights needed to achieve the desired final image. Once Tim chooses his shooting position and angle he can place the first key light.
Placing the Second Key Light (03:59) Placing the second light is all about lighting the front of the car while balancing it with the ambient and first key light.
Placing a Third Light (06:27) With the two key lights in place we can see how they work togethe, and then look for what new problems need to be solved. The first problem is adding focused light to the front wheel.
Adding a Background Light (05:09) The job of the background light is to help separate the car from the darkness in the background, but also to add environmental texture and tie the car to the location. Shooting the car at a low angle allows you to hide a light out of sight behind the car.
Putting it All Together (04:02) By committing to our original shooting position and angle we've been able to build up the lights one at a time to reach the final shot. Now it's time to take the shot and call it a day.

Course Time: 00 Hours 41 Minutes

T. Wallace

Mar 20 2012

Thanks guys for taking the time to feedback on this class, its great to hear that so many people have been able to take something from the class and most importantly get out there and be inspired to try things of their own, photography is always very much about enjoying the journey and not just a fast track to the destination, this way people hopefully will really build up there own unique knowledge of light and how it impacts on a subject either that being a car or indeed anything else, this way I firmly believe that we give ourselves the opportunity too build up that all important 'rolodex' of experience in our minds that builds not only professional ability but also allows us to create and develop our own unique styles which is essential in my view... Enjoy the other classes that will be launching soon and most of all enjoy your photography no matter what level you are at!
R. Hearn

Mar 7 2012

This is the course that finally had me press the trigger to subscribe to the training. Please don't worry about your German accent, the English is clear and the lessons well planned and layed out. I will no doubt be watching this course a few more times as I have always loved to photograph cars and need all the tips I can get. I also want to make sure I didn't miss any tips for shooting outdoors as I hope to start shooting outdoors soon and would love to hear any tips on getting the detail in the cars while outside with no model.
S. Connolly

Feb 29 2012

super course, well explained, made a hard job look easy, sign of a good instructor
S. Sergi

Feb 28 2012

Very interesting!! Good job, Tim!! But your speech isn't very easy to understand for me, uff!!! Stefano Sergi
G. Fraser

Feb 28 2012

...can't wait to see more of Tim's work!
H. Tveter

Feb 25 2012

Great course! Simple, to the point, no BS - very instructive and inspiring!!
J. Santiago

Feb 19 2012

I have seen several courses here but none has had me glued to the seat as this one. I am "inspired" by the clarity and ease Wallace explains how the final image will become. I can't wait to see more courses from him.
J. Denham

Feb 17 2012

Loved this one! Have been anticipating Tim being on KT for a long time--keep it coming please!
T. Hindes

Feb 16 2012

Great class. Really like the way be builds the light and has a very practical approach. Tim makes me feel like I could work on this in my garage to get started.
R. Warren

Feb 15 2012

Cool course Tim. Great information cleverly imparted. Loved it. More please!
J. Traver

Feb 14 2012

Excellent. Great communication skills and approach to lighting was easy to grasp as well as inspiring..
T. Quinn

Feb 14 2012

I LOVE SHOOTING CARS. Its a new passion for me and I have to say Tim is another excellent instructor that Kelby Media snatched up. WAY TO GO!!!! I have learned so much from this course and cant wait for the other courses from him!!!!

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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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