Photoshoot #1 - Waterloo Shots

Photoshoot #2 -

Location -
TBA

Photoshoot #2 –
In the second photoshoot I will be trying to create more staged shots than before, using a better selection of lighting and equipment. It will be easier to photograph the cars as I will be in a more controlled, relaxed environment.

Ideas –

I have a selection of 2 - 3 cars to place and use within this photoshoot thought I do not know what they look like just yet. Therefore most of the ideas and creativity will come on the shoot day.

Equipment –

Canon 550D DSLR
Canon 100mm Macro Lens
Canon 17mm – 85mm Lens
Canon 430 EXII Speedlite
External Modelling Light
External Speedlite Softbox

Lighting –

Flash
Softbox
Fluorescent Strip
Street Lamps
Xenon Headlights

Photoshoot #1 - Waterloo

Photoshoot #1

This photoshoot will take place at a cruise in Waterloo, Graffiti Tunnel. The focus of this premlinary shoot was to get a feel for the type of photography needed, getting to know some of the drivers and earning their confidence for future shoots.

Location –

Waterloo Station Graffiti Tunnel

                              
Equipment –

Canon 550D DSLR

Canon 100mm Macro Lens

Canon 17mm – 85mm Lens

Canon 430 EXII Speedlite

External Modelling Light

External Speedlite Softbox

Selection of coloured lens filters

Ideas –
Motion Blur – Of tail lights and head lights as the cars speed away
Blurred background shots
Car Close Ups – Wheel arches, bonnet grills, vents, steering wheel
Full on views of entire car
Possibly a few posed shots of the drivers and cars
Dark backgrounds with the car light up sharply using flash

Lighting –

Flash

Fluorescent Strip 

Xenon Headlights

How it went/Outcome –

The outcome of this shoot was not as good as I had hoped. As I did not know what to expect the first time around, this led to technical problems – mainly due to lighting. Trying to balance flash against fluorescent and xenon lights was difficult as I only had control over the Flash. With some of the cars I essentially got the effect I wanted but the photograph itself was poor and not up to my standard. In light of this I will be attempting to set up a photoshoot using modified cars but in a far more controlled environment.

Documentary & Photojournalism Photography

Photojournalism -Due - 24/11/2011

My Idea -

Underground Street Racing -

This project is very different to anything I have done before and has taken me out of my comfort zone by photographing cars, a subject matter I have all ways found difficult.

Underground street racing will be an interesting project to photograph due to the legally grey area that surrounds it. From what I have learnt so far street racing can be segregated into 3 main parts;

Drifting

Racing

Cruising

I will attempt to photograph each section in such a way that it shows each section very strongly.

‘Drifting is all about getting the car sideways’ a quote from one of the drivers I met. The ‘drifting’ cars can be very different to the rest due to the fact that they are designed to be slid sideways at high speed; sometimes reaching speeds of up to 80mph. Normally takes place near large roundabouts and gently curving roads.

According to my sources the racing aspect has been becoming less and less in recent years due to a massive crack down by Kent Police. These cars are built more for straight line speed and tight cornering. This aspect will be difficult to capture due to the crackdown.

Finally the most legal aspect of Underground Street Racing, Cruising. Cruising is generally where groups of modified cars (from all the above) gather in pre-arranged locations around London and Essex to simply show off their cars to other drivers. Though there still is a competition element where drivers have ‘I.C.E Challenges’ some cars having speaker systems with over 4,500 watts RMS sometimes the subwoofer is 1000watts alone. This will be the easiest aspect to photograph due to the stationary nature, it also gives me a chance to see the engine bays and inner workings of these incredible cars.