Shoot Cars Like A Pro

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS to show your car some love: (1) customize and detail it, (2) make sure it’s always in tip-top condition under the hood, and (3) “flexing” it online through an Insta-worthy photo for all your buddies to see.

- Ayie Licsi

These “flex” posts are basically humble brags, and there’s nothing wrong with showing off what you’ve got, especially if it’s a hotrod. However, creating a standout photo of your car takes more than just the good old point-and-shoot method. Fujifilm ambassador and Cebu-based photographer Jan Gonzales shares his go-to trick when shooting automotives: the light painting technique.

GET YOUR GEAR READY

According to Jan, light painting is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to shoot cars. All you’ll need is a good camera with, preferably, a large sensor (he recommends a Fujifilm GFX-100 mirrorless camera), a tripod, and a continuous light (even a small LED panel will do). The catch is, light painting requires a totally dark area or room. To paint with light, you need to learn the basics of long exposure a.k.a. slow-shutter photography. For this principle, the shutter speed should be set to around 20 to 30 seconds; longer shutter speed allows the camera to capture more light. Having a tripod is also a must. Without it, your photo will come out blurred.

Go for a higher aperture or f-stop to create a deeper depth of field. To keep your subject sharp, set the aperture to f/8 - f/11.

PREPPING YOUR SET