Phototaking of Model Cars

[KY1977]

Hi

Anyone has successfully taken photos of model cars without making them look like 'toys'? I guess it would also require some pp to do so.

Cheers

 

[Redsun]

use a marco lens?i guess
and go really close

 

[Prismatic]

Well... I have had a bit of success making real cars looks like toys on the contrary..:bsmilie:

I think the environment that the model car is in will affect how it looks. If you manage to
remove or blur anything in the surrounding that makes reference of the size of the model, then you can make the scale of the model ambiguous.

 

[mckenzy]

depends what you are trying to achieve...

 

[zac08]

Hi

Anyone has successfully taken photos of model cars without making them look like 'toys'? I guess it would also require some pp to do so.

Cheers

U'd need a good set of BG first...

then, subtle defocusing of certain areas will help in this optical illusion.

 

[calebk]

depends what you are trying to achieve...

No offence intended, but yeah this looks like a toy.

Surrounding is an important element. Detail level of the model car is also important. You can have the best surrounding/background, but if your car lacks the details needed to render a believable level of authenticity, then we're back to square 1.

 

[KY1977]

Thanks for your inputs. I was thinking of adding very bright light from above to simulate sunlight in order improve the 'real' feel.

 

[catchlights]

the main issue is you need to get a scale model car with very fine details to start

secondly, you need to find a proper background, you will be very surprise how much b/g you need for a little scale model car.

third, try not to use a long focal length lens to shoot, cos you will be like using a 300mm shooting a full scale car, too much compression.

forth, you need to use small aperture to shoot, to get all the DOF you need, PC lens may help.

lastly, real sunlight is the best.

 

[strobby]

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/lighting-102-unit-21-apparent-light.html

this may look interesting

 

[KY1977]

the main issue is you need to get a scale model car with very fine details to start

secondly, you need to find a proper background, you will be very surprise how much b/g you need for a little scale model car.

third, try not to use a long focal length lens to shoot, cos you will be like using a 300mm shooting a full scale car, too much compression.

forth, you need to use small aperture to shoot, to get all the DOF you need, PC lens may help.

lastly, real sunlight is the best.

Thanks for your valuable advce. I'm actually taking picture of the scale model cars I've made. Regarding the background, I was thinking if super imposing the pciture of the model with a photo (say, race track) looks more convincing?

 

[sgkinkgong]

depends what you are trying to achieve...

RX7... Drool...

 

[mckenzy]

No offence intended, but yeah this looks like a toy.

Surrounding is an important element. Detail level of the model car is also important. You can have the best surrounding/background, but if your car lacks the details needed to render a believable level of authenticity, then we're back to square 1.

none taken... my example was supposed to look like a toy anyway...

maybe should put the model kit on real tar, shoot from low profile into the sun...

 

[cheguthamrin]

"Toys are toys, and they shall remain as they are meant to be" - hehe
Hope you dont mind me sharing what I did to my Hotwheels here...

See more in my set

 

[Kit]

Hi

Anyone has successfully taken photos of model cars without making them look like 'toys'? I guess it would also require some pp to do so.

Cheers

If you have the right tools, skills and of course, the right subject, you can get very good photos of models. Key word here is models and that's very different from your average toys. With some clever angles and background, some models might pass off as close to the real deal though. If that's the effect you are looking at, I would start with at least 1/18th scale models. Forget about anything smaller than that.

 

[cheguthamrin]

If you have the right tools, skills and of course, the right subject, you can get very good photos of models. Key word here is models and that's very different from your average toys. With some clever angles and background, some models might pass off as close to the real deal though. If that's the effect you are looking at, I would start with at least 1/18th scale models. Forget about anything smaller than that.

A LOT of truth in there, and I agree.
Hotwheels arent good enough - too small for details.

 

[bovine]

I think the type of model car matters too. Burago cars r nice IMO.

 

[CalvinDarius]

I took this few days ago testing my new Pana FZ28

**background need abit of work but was lazy to setup....took this half asleep...lol