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by **Manta** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:29 pm

Haven't done a lot of car shots but my garage gained a new tenant today and it was just screaming out to be photographed. Your opinions appreciated. ('Course, if I've stuffed it up I'll just have to keep driving around and photographing it until I get it right!!) I know the bumper reflections are a problem.

by **gstark** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:37 pm

Simon,

I really don't like where you've taken these shots. I guess I'll need to come and grab the car and scout out some suitable shooting locations. Shouldn't take more than ... oh ... a year or three.

Nice car. I'd probably throw a wide angle onto the D200 and get in close and low.

by **Manta** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:32 pm

Thanks Gary. All jokes aside, the location was the best I could grab as the light was fading. Bit higher tide may have helped but I'm gonna go looking for better spots regardless.

I'll pinch my brother's Sigma 10-20 and whack it on the D70. (No D200 for me - I'll skip it and hopefully get a D300 instead).

by **SteveGriffin** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:39 pm

Looks like the GT Liberty wasn't too expensive after all :shock:

by **Manta** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:44 pm

SteveGriffin wrote:Looks like the GT Liberty wasn't too expensive after all

No, Steve, I guess not! Moment of madness on Saturday arvo... what can I say? Once a Benz man, always a Benz man!

by **blacknstormy** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:44 pm

Hi Simon - congratulations on the new addition to the family. You are lucky that the handbrake held and the car didn't go down the boat ramp and into the bay ... I've heard these particular vehicles are not very reliable even though they are pretty I suppose

LOL

by **Manta** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:46 pm

The FOOTbrake held just fine thanks Rel. :roll:

Though I had a few interesting looks from people as I was backing it into place...

But how's the shot????

by **blacknstormy** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:49 pm

But how's the shot????

Really nice actually - I kind of like the reflection in the bumper - adds a bit of depth to a dark car, and I think it works really well. I would like to dodge the reflection along the side of the car in the first shot just a little - just to bring it out a tad, but other than that :up:

I love the second shot - more abstract and arty and a gorgeous reflection - what is the thing on the side mirror ????? Indicator ?????

by **Manta** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:53 pm

Thanks Rel. I'll give the dodge a try. Hadn't noticed how dull it was until you pointed it out.

The horizontal segment at the bottom is the indicator (they've been on Benz mirrors since the E-Class many moons ago - before others started copying them). The top silver triangular section is for frying eggs on hot sunny days - the heat generated by black metallic paint is put to excellent use.... :shock:

(Okay, okay - it's just cosmetic!!!)

by **Glen** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:54 pm

Very nice Simon, does it really handle like a school of fishes? :lol:

by **rflower** on Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:02 pm

I like the colours and the reflections in the 2nd one. I think you are right in the first one though. It would have been better on a higher tide or something. It looks to be a nice spot though, with a nice sunset.

Enjoy your new toy ... I mean baby ... I mean car :lol:

by **Steffen** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:23 am

I like both! Especially how the sunset colours play with the paint. I also don't mind the mini landscape on the bumper bar...

Cheers
Steffen.

by **Oz_Beachside** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:56 am

personally, I hate black german cars... :wink:

wow, brilliant. love the side panel close up, shows the boys in Elizabeth, SA, how a car should be painted. although, would liked to have seen a bit more reflection in the paint of the side mirror. in this shot, it almost looks matte (maybe you were blocking all the light)?

Vibrant colors.

First thoughts, if you are going to edit the license plate, take it all, the "QLD" and the dealer text have to go too.

for a little more purity, possibly consider cloning out the lightpoles on the pier, and the expansion joints in the concrete boat ramp.

by **Manta** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:27 am

Hey Glen - I've never driven a school of fish so I can't really comment! That being said it's a huge improvement on my previous W203 model. The now standard Agility Control (active suspension) is amazing.

Thanks Russell and Steffen.

Oz - good points. I especially wanted to try to clean up (ie "clone up") the boat ramp concrete. It is a bit of a mess. As for the matte look of the mirror, not sure how that occurred. I was down too low to block light. Maybe I just should've left the rego plate as it was - just about everyone knows me here and could possibly guess roughly how old I am so "SJF 64" isn't really giving away any secrets!!

Thanks all for your comments. I'd like to a lot more auto photography but it's a minefield of technicalities with locations, angles, lighting and reflections. At least, once you "pose" the subject, it's not going to move. (Unless you forget the park brake)

by **blacknstormy** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:09 am

SJF 64

WOW - I honestly didn't know you were 64 !!!!!!

by **Glen** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:34 am

blacknstormy wrote:
SJF 64

WOW - I honestly didn't know you were 64 !!!!!!

Simon looks very nice in the dark colour. Active suspension would be perfect for a car like that. The ad with the fishes seems to make a big deal of the new handling and just before seeing your post yesterday I was reading about the new C63 where they commented on the better handling. Definitely get a few more shots now while it is pristine.

by **the foto fanatic** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:51 am

Hi Simon
I've driven, but can't afford, the new C class, and I think it is a dream. I hope you enjoy it!

PM coming.

by **Manta** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:17 pm

Rel - I hide it so well, don't I? :lol:

Glen - Brisbane Merc already have 4 orders for the C63. Price yet to be decided but it will be around $160,000. Very nice bit of kit, both aesthetically and technically. No point in saving my pennies - I won't live that long. (I was drooling over the $401,000 CL600 they have in the showroom..... dream on!)

Trev - go on, you only live once!

by **Bindii** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:36 pm

Lol... so did you wash it and polish it when you got home after the shoot... gotta watch that sea salt ya know... *grins*

First one for me Simon... although I would have been tempted to get down a little lower with a wider lens...yada yada yada...

I look forward to more photo's of your baby as it grows up.... *wink*

by **moggy** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:26 pm

Love the car Simon and having recently splashed out on a new Subaru Liberty GT spec B (and also being a 64yr old) I'm also subscribing to the mantra of "don't let you're money outlive you!" :lol:

by **Manta** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:48 pm

Sea salt

Luckily the wind was blowing in a favourable direction.

Bob - that BSpec is pretty swish. I had to pander to someone else though - someone who favours luxury over brute performance. (I couldn't talk her into a VW Jetta Turbo FSI) Oh and the "64" relates to 1964 - I was being a little deceptive there!! However - I certainly subscribe to the same belief about outliving your money. (That being said, there are a swag of locally built cars that far exceed the purchase cost of this particular Benz - it's actually quite cheap in comparison but the features, engineering and longevity speak for themselves.)

by **the foto fanatic** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:51 pm

Manta wrote:
...there are a swag of locally built cars that far exceed the purchase cost of this particular Benz - it's actually quite cheap in comparison but the features, engineering and longevity speak for themselves...

Keep talking - you might convince me that I would be getting a bargain! :wink:

by **big pix** on Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:53 pm

nice Simon.........

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