DSLRUsers.com

By now you've seen me do plenty of this...



On Saturday night I thought I'd try something a little different and incorporate the brake lights of the cars and a plain wall to see what would happen. I quite like the colour and pattern thrown by the lights, and it's interesting to see how the distance to the wall and the type of tail light made a difference to the pattern...







The reflection across the bonnet is a bit of a distraction, which I guess I could remove in PS. Maybe a CPL would've helped too.

Those brake light patters certainly are interesting. As always the light painting is well executed.

Creative work Adam - before I read your text I initially thought that was grafitti or something on the wall...

Very good execution. Never really considered the different light projection from the brake lights.

These are fantastic - I hope your really pleased with the results.

yeah this sh$t is damn good, I had a look at you other ones and you have the technique covered and also some great locations to compliment the scene. 2 thumbs up.

Very successful effect. I think the last doesn't work as well because the red of the car overpowers the taillight bounce. I think it calls for complementary colours in the car - maybe a yellow car and then perhaps if you could find somewhere with a blue floor ....

Pity about the cars but great concept and execution!

Did you put a brick on the brake pedals? What was the primary light source for the cars?

Cheers
Steffen.

Thanks everyone! I am pleased with the results.

We jammed a spray bottle of quick detailer on the pedal. A brick would've been much easier.
I have a portable light in a 60x60cm softbox.

Adam, these are f%^&**( awesome! Great creativity in using the brake lights...

Thanks mate.
To improve further I need to work on the reflections. Maybe a different light is needed. Maybe more power is needed so I can get further away from the panels. I'll have to experiment with it.

No probs.

The only improvements I can note are pedantic ones.
1. removing license labels
2. recmoving little light reflections on the bumpers
3. Having the head lights on - I reckon would give it more life

You could also just lightpaint the background and gain full control over color, texture etc... but will take much more effort. In this case, you've utilised 'available' light in a very novel manner. Kudos.

Wink wrote:I need to work on the reflections. Maybe a different light is needed. Maybe more power is needed so I can get further away from the panels. I'll have to experiment with it.

One thing you can try is covering your light source with polarising film. Then use a polariser on the camera. If you "cross" them, direct reflections will be eliminated, or at least reduced while diffuse reflections will get though OK. This happens because the direct reflections will still be polarised but the diffuse ones will be scattered & will have lost their polarisation. You will need to increase the light to compensate for the polarisers though.

Thanks mate. Extra power isn't a problem so this might be a good solution.

As others have said awesome. Love the brake lights.

Jeff