Sorry pictures with trees don't impress me.

I

imported_Yosemite Dan

New member
So my silver car, freshly done with clay, AIO + SGx2 is parked in a lot under some trees and the reflection left me breathless. I'm thinking all those hours of pampering it since new (it's now a year old) and minimal swirls has finally paid off and I get to enjoy the fruit of my labours. :cool:



Shortly after my buddy pulls up beside me (silver car also) under the same trees with the same reflection that also left me breathless. Only problem is his car is a 1995 Bonneville that I think may have been washed once at birth and oxidation is it's middle name. The only time it sees water is when it rains.



Obviously my car looks better in any other conditions because it's maintained and newer but I remember going :shocked everytime someone posted pictures of their cars underneath trees on this board or any other highly reflective background. I'm no longer impressed. Discuss amongst yourselves. :wavey
 
I've been saying that same thing for years. Get those black cars out of the shade and put them in the sun. Stop showing off how well the shady side of the car reflects brightly lit backgrounds. Its not that impressive. I would rather see the truely unforgiving angles that show what the car really looks like. Most of the imperfections on the paint aren't visible in photographs anyway. I've taken lots of pictures where the shot doesn't show nearly as much damage as what the car really had. The same goes for when I take after shots. The car never looks as good in pictures as it does in person. The pictures never show all the minor imperfections that I can see in person either.



Wet cement will reflect the trees and asphault will shine after it rains. A car in the shade reflecting something is just not as impressive as some might think. I've said it before... show me a black car that doesn't reflect in the shade. Unless it is painted flat black then you can't stop it. If the car has a clear coat then it will reflect. Tricky photography and certian angles don't prove anything. If you have spent the work on the car to make it look good, then at least do yourself a favor and show us what you did. Don't hide your work in the shade.
 
I agree with you guys completely - take a look at this example...



1st shot shows a fairly nice reflection off the hood.
 

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Jngrbrdman said:
I've been saying that same thing for years. Get those black cars out of the shade and put them in the sun. Stop showing off how well the shady side of the car reflects brightly lit backgrounds. Its not that impressive. I would rather see the truely unforgiving angles that show what the car really looks like. Most of the imperfections on the paint aren't visible in photographs anyway. I've taken lots of pictures where the shot doesn't show nearly as much damage as what the car really had. The same goes for when I take after shots. The car never looks as good in pictures as it does in person. The pictures never show all the minor imperfections that I can see in person either.



Wet cement will reflect the trees and asphault will shine after it rains. A car in the shade reflecting something is just not as impressive as some might think. I've said it before... show me a black car that doesn't reflect in the shade. Unless it is painted flat black then you can't stop it. If the car has a clear coat then it will reflect. Tricky photography and certian angles don't prove anything. If you have spent the work on the car to make it look good, then at least do yourself a favor and show us what you did. Don't hide your work in the shade.
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Good to see you Anthony!



Well said, as always!!!



:bow :bow :bow



Bill. :up
 
Yeah, I have noticed this with my black car, particularly when it is dirty. Get the camera on the right angle and it looks immaculate, even in full sun shots! So essentially, I am not sure how you can verify if there is a lot of hardwork involved or not, but being such a great board as Autopia is, I tend to lend the benefit of doubt to all as we are all here to improve the asethics of our cars paint in some form or another....

But I know I would never post a pic of my car if it is looking crap, plus I do a lot of friends cars and Im sure they will let me know if they are happy with it or not. Havent had a complaint yet *touch wood*
 
When You look up close to paint, you'll always know if its cared for or not. It is a simple fact that almost every car will look good from a large distance. Take for example our blazer, it is EXTREMELY dusty from a gravel road, but from our house, it looks like its just been washed.



I rest my case, ( if I have one) lmao.
 
Yep! http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27223



372mvc798.jpg




FI2, #9, AIO, Z2, Souveran... not! :D
 
I've always just taken the photos I've seen here as pretty photos I enjoy seeing. I can be impressed by them while still realizing that photography seldom gives an accurate representation. I've never understood why people get so worked up about them being "unnatural".
 
Jngrbrdman-these are just for you! Black in the sun!



10992000_F150_side_sun.jpg




10992004_Accord.jpg






I agree that angles, lighting, availability of object to reflect off the paint make a huge difference. Take this S500 for example. Just looks black from the front with minimal object to reflect off the paint:



10992004_S500_front.jpg




But from the back, the brick fence and plants/trees make the same car look like a black mirror.



10992004_S500_rear.jpg






When I take pics of cars, I try to get them in the sun if possible but since they aren't mine and I don't always have too much leeway where I can move them to take pictures, or perhaps it is cloudy or the sun is behind a building, the cars end up in the shade. I do try to make sure the pictures I take accurately represent how the car looked at that moment.



I would also agree that a lot of times, the before and after differences don't show up well on film unless the vehicle was in truly horrible shape. The passage of time and different lighting can also make it tough.



I do like seeing the pictures though. :)
 
What about people that try to compare products with pictures. This is a picture with this product and this is a picture with this product.



I don't see it too much here but on some other boards I do. Kind of annoying.
 
Man , I thought I was the only one thinking in the same lines... I just bought a sears worklight to see my progress when I'm detailing in the garage. Its funny how much more shows up with the worklight. Now I can back my car up in the sunlight and feel confident. Anyways, there are millions of picture tricks you can do... but its what you know inside that will eat you up.
 
Intel486 said:
What about people that try to compare products with pictures. This is a picture with this product and this is a picture with this product.
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Same with before and after pics. Sometimes it is really hard to see the difference on film.
 
I think the more pictures the better. (all different angles, distances, in the shade, in the sun, under the clouds, under worklamps, at night)

The more angles and lighting conditions presented, the more I would be able to see how a car really looks.

Of course, more often than not after spending a day on the car many may not have the energy or time to do a photo shoot with our cars. So we just snap a few pics, leaving the car where it was when we detailed it, in the shade.



I like seeing pictures posted, even if they are in the shade with a bright backround with camera angled near parallel to the surface :D .

Just look at the pictures elements and take it for what it is.



BTW, that accord and benz :xyxthumbs
 
GoodnClean said:
....I can be impressed by them while still realizing that photography seldom gives an accurate representation. I've never understood why people get so worked up about them being "unnatural".
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Well said, GoodnClean.:usa



Sometimes a vehicle looks BETTER in person then the way the pictures turn out...especially light colors. I would also like to think Autopians are trying to share not deceive with their pictures.



I for one enjoy all pictures but I am really bummed about that orange hood...now if only you could really get it looking that good and post it....but I'll never know now... is it real or is it memorex?:(
 
GoodnClean said:
I've always just taken the photos I've seen here as pretty photos I enjoy seeing. I can be impressed by them while still realizing that photography seldom gives an accurate representation. I've never understood why people get so worked up about them being "unnatural".
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Right on ! :xyxthumbs



Bob
 
Scottwax said:
I do like seeing the pictures though. :)
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Exactly. I like it when Autopians post pics because:



1) Looking at a freshly detailed car is always fun. Tons of cool cars on this forum... what better time to look at them then after they've been well detailed by an autopian



2) We all have different skill levels but we all take pride in the work. For some reason, these cars look better to me than stock shots partly because I recognize all the work that went into getting the car to look the way it does.



Besides, I never really rely on the pics too much when gauging whether I want to try the products used. I rely on the Autopians words to tell me that.
 
Well i'll tell you why I don't post pics of my car in direct sun light. Take the pic below for example. The camera I have can't deal with the light and my car color ( Yes the car is red not orange ). The pics i take in sunlight are almost unusable.



wMzg0MjQ4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg




Now look at this pic. This is what the car looks like, notice it's RED!



10954m3-re-right.jpg




10954m3-3_copy.jpg




If I had a decent camera I would take pics in direct sun, why wouldn't I? The car looks great in both lighting!
 
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