No 56k: Photoshoot: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector (Santa Fe, NM)

rogan2915 · July 5th, 2008, 04:46 AM

Hi all... long time looker, first time poster.

Never really noticed this section of the forum before, and fortune had me find find it today, right after I did a photoshoot... go figure!

Anyway, this is the road that goes up to the ski basin in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My car is a 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector (6-speed!) and the camera is a Nikon D100.

The full shoot, plus an earlier shoot with my friend's 2002 WRX, can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogan2915/

Here are some of my favorites. Comments/constructive criticism are highly appreciated.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2637332766_e3b47d3e25_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2637338364_acf7c9379c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2636512499_8f2b24638a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2637339618_29ab60e64a_b.jpg

Thanks,
Rogan

Speedtouch · July 5th, 2008, 09:02 AM

I love the last one! The first one looks like you went over the top with the contrast though...

Great car as well! images/smilies/welcome.gif

Solberg · July 5th, 2008, 09:52 AM

Very nice car.

However all the detail is lost in blackness.

TopGearDog · July 5th, 2008, 02:13 PM

Amazing looking car! Love black Saab's images/smilies/cool.gif

But i have to agree with the others, they are a bit too dark and too much contrast, you have lost a great deal of detail from the shadows and the highlights are burnt out in places, specially the first one.

If you tone down the contrast a bit, i bet they will look amazing as the composition looks excellent and the subject is great. images/smilies/wink.gif

Welcome to the photo nerd section. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

rogan2915 · July 5th, 2008, 05:07 PM

Yeah, you guys are right about the contrast... I like that kind of stupid trendy HDR look, I'll try to tone it down a bit next time.

Speedtouch · July 5th, 2008, 05:40 PM

^ If you like the HDR look, why not shoot in RAW, then you have the option of HDR if you so wish. Thats how I roll. images/smilies/cool.gif

rogan2915 · July 5th, 2008, 06:11 PM

I still haven't really figured out how to do it (the whole HDR deal)... so I kinda just fake it using the shadows/highlights menu, creating an overlay layer, and then merging down.

Any good HDR tutorials you know of?

jayhawk · July 5th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Actually, yes there is!
http://forums.finalgear.com/photogra...-1-85-a-28295/

I'll send you the program via PM.

Speedtouch · July 5th, 2008, 07:10 PM

My HDR tut: http://forum.tdu-central.com/showthread.php?t=4610

Everyone has different methods, and this is mine. I'm just about to try the above method, to see whether its any better for me.

amadeus · July 5th, 2008, 11:32 PM

Agree with everyone else - a tad too dark. Black cars are a pain to do anyway - hello reflections! images/smilies/dry.gif

LeVeL · July 5th, 2008, 11:41 PM

I love ridiculous contrast levels but not every picture will look good, so +1 on the comments above - a bit too much contrast. I'd love to see these re-edited though.

rogan2915 · July 6th, 2008, 04:59 AM

Yeah, I think I will try a re-edit on these, maybe sometime during the week next week. I was looking at these on another monitor today for the first time, and I'll admit they looked horrible. The black levels on the monitor I'm editing with are pretty darn good, so I'm probably seing more detail than some people... In the mean time, I'll check out all the HDR stuff you guys linked/sent me... thanks all!

maduhbee · July 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM

I don't think that's the "trendy HDR" look. HDR is INCREASING dynamic range, rather than removing it with high contrast. if anything, you mean the trendy "contrasty-look".

BerserkerCatSplat · July 10th, 2008, 07:26 PM

Yeah, cranking the Contrast knob up to 11 does the opposite of HDR, it compresses your dynamic range.

rogan2915 · July 13th, 2008, 06:54 AM

Yeah... you guys are right... I have to emphasize that I'm a total noob at photography... I happen to have a D100 available for me to use and I know quite a bit about photoshop, so that's about all that's going for me at this point.

I know I said I was going to re-edit, but I think what I'll actually do is just start over again with another shoot. I made the mistake of not shooting in RAW last time, so I'll be doing that this time.

I'll keep you guys updated.

-Rogan

LeVeL · July 13th, 2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogan2915

Yeah... you guys are right... I have to emphasize that I'm a total noob at photography... I happen to have a D100 available for me to use and I know quite a bit about photoshop, so that's about all that's going for me at this point.

I know I said I was going to re-edit, but I think what I'll actually do is just start over again with another shoot. I made the mistake of not shooting in RAW last time, so I'll be doing that this time.

I'll keep you guys updated.

-Rogan

You dont really need RAW. The fact that you shot those in normal jpeg doesnt mean that the pics are doomed. And they really are interesting pics, imo. I still vote re-edit!

July 5th, 2008, 04:46 AM	#1
rogan2915 Joined: Oct 26th, 2006 Last Online: August 14th, 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM, USA Posts: 5 Car: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector Rep Power: 0	Photoshoot: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector (Santa Fe, NM) Hi all... long time looker, first time poster. Never really noticed this section of the forum before, and fortune had me find find it today, right after I did a photoshoot... go figure! Anyway, this is the road that goes up to the ski basin in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My car is a 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector (6-speed!) and the camera is a Nikon D100. The full shoot, plus an earlier shoot with my friend's 2002 WRX, can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogan2915/ Here are some of my favorites. Comments/constructive criticism are highly appreciated. Thanks, Rogan

July 5th, 2008, 09:02 AM	#2
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kent, England Age: 16 Posts: 2,614 Rep Power: 29	I love the last one! The first one looks like you went over the top with the contrast though... Great car as well! __________________

July 5th, 2008, 09:52 AM	#3
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 08:29 AM Posts: 853 Rep Power: 14	Very nice car. However all the detail is lost in blackness. __________________

July 5th, 2008, 02:13 PM	#4
TopGearDog Joined: Feb 20th, 2007 Last Online: October 5th, 2008 Location: Iceland Posts: 342 Car: '98 Ford Escort 1.6 Rep Power: 12	Amazing looking car! Love black Saab's But i have to agree with the others, they are a bit too dark and too much contrast, you have lost a great deal of detail from the shadows and the highlights are burnt out in places, specially the first one. If you tone down the contrast a bit, i bet they will look amazing as the composition looks excellent and the subject is great. Welcome to the photo nerd section. __________________

July 5th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#6
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kent, England Age: 16 Posts: 2,614 Rep Power: 29	^ If you like the HDR look, why not shoot in RAW, then you have the option of HDR if you so wish. Thats how I roll. __________________

July 5th, 2008, 05:07 PM	#5
rogan2915 Joined: Oct 26th, 2006 Last Online: August 14th, 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM, USA Posts: 5 Car: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector Rep Power: 0	Yeah, you guys are right about the contrast... I like that kind of stupid trendy HDR look, I'll try to tone it down a bit next time.

July 5th, 2008, 06:11 PM	#7
rogan2915 Joined: Oct 26th, 2006 Last Online: August 14th, 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM, USA Posts: 5 Car: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector Rep Power: 0	I still haven't really figured out how to do it (the whole HDR deal)... so I kinda just fake it using the shadows/highlights menu, creating an overlay layer, and then merging down. Any good HDR tutorials you know of?

July 5th, 2008, 06:30 PM	#8
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 01:22 AM Location: Listening to stories from the Brân Lwyd. Age: 32 Posts: 4,837 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 80	Actually, yes there is! http://forums.finalgear.com/photogra...-1-85-a-28295/ I'll send you the program via PM. __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. In the wee hours I'll meet you, down by Dun Ringill. Wife is re-employed....maybe I will show up unexpectantly at the next Nürburgring meet...

July 5th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#9
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kent, England Age: 16 Posts: 2,614 Rep Power: 29	My HDR tut: http://forum.tdu-central.com/showthread.php?t=4610 Everyone has different methods, and this is mine. I'm just about to try the above method, to see whether its any better for me. __________________

July 5th, 2008, 11:32 PM	#10
amadeus Joined: Aug 6th, 2007 Last Online: 05:03 AM Location: IOM Posts: 185 Car: Mercedes 300TE (W124) Rep Power: 12	Agree with everyone else - a tad too dark. Black cars are a pain to do anyway - hello reflections!

July 5th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#11
LeVeL Joined: Jun 16th, 2007 Last Online: 05:22 AM Location: MA Age: 20 Posts: 783 Car: VQ30 Rep Power: 16	I love ridiculous contrast levels but not every picture will look good, so +1 on the comments above - a bit too much contrast. I'd love to see these re-edited though. __________________ Cardinal of Karting . . . flickr . . . . . . . . . . . GetLeVeLed.org + UMass Motorsport . . .

July 6th, 2008, 04:59 AM	#12
rogan2915 Joined: Oct 26th, 2006 Last Online: August 14th, 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM, USA Posts: 5 Car: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I think I will try a re-edit on these, maybe sometime during the week next week. I was looking at these on another monitor today for the first time, and I'll admit they looked horrible. The black levels on the monitor I'm editing with are pretty darn good, so I'm probably seing more detail than some people... In the mean time, I'll check out all the HDR stuff you guys linked/sent me... thanks all!

July 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM	#13
maduhbee Joined: May 5th, 2007 Last Online: September 23rd, 2008 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	I don't think that's the "trendy HDR" look. HDR is INCREASING dynamic range, rather than removing it with high contrast. if anything, you mean the trendy "contrasty-look".

July 10th, 2008, 07:26 PM	#14
BerserkerCatSplat Hormone Induced Joined: Jun 21st, 2005 Last Online: 04:54 AM Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,572 Car: Pimpmobile Rep Power: 64	Yeah, cranking the Contrast knob up to 11 does the opposite of HDR, it compresses your dynamic range. __________________ OSPhoto

July 13th, 2008, 06:54 AM	#15
rogan2915 Joined: Oct 26th, 2006 Last Online: August 14th, 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM, USA Posts: 5 Car: 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector Rep Power: 0	Yeah... you guys are right... I have to emphasize that I'm a total noob at photography... I happen to have a D100 available for me to use and I know quite a bit about photoshop, so that's about all that's going for me at this point. I know I said I was going to re-edit, but I think what I'll actually do is just start over again with another shoot. I made the mistake of not shooting in RAW last time, so I'll be doing that this time. I'll keep you guys updated. -Rogan

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