How to Photograph Your Bike

[midnightcafe]

Pipeburn posted two interesting posts explaing the ins and outs of shooting your motorcycle:

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2010/7/29/shoot-your-bike-part-1.html

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2010/8/9/shoot-your-bike-part-2.html

I'm sure the camera illiterate could use the advise (I know I do), but do the photographers here have any other helpful tips they could share?

 

[Vince Lupo]

Low perspective, long lens to throw the background out of focus, uncluttered backgrounds (try to avoid having anything growing out of the top of the bike, such as a light pole). Side lighting is good -- try to work the shadows to your advantage.

An old shot, but gives you a basic idea:

Also depends on whether you want to incorporate the environment into the shot (and how the bike relates to it), or if you're more concerned about just the bike. If you just want a good shot of the bike itself, then the simpler the background the better. Otherwise, give some thought as to where you're putting the bike, and if it makes sense. Like if you were shooting an old Indian Chief, then maybe next to an old barn, or at an old gas pump, diner etc. Gives a nice sense of 'ambience' to the photo.

 

[Speedfiend]

Great stuff guys, thanx for posting.

 

[Vince Lupo]

No problem -- glad to be of possible help!

I find that both the lighting and the background are major factors when taking pictures of anything, not just bikes. So maybe as you're moving your bike around to find the right position, take note of the light that's being cast on it, and what the shadows are doing. If you look at that shot I posted, the light is coming from the left, raking across the bike. But, the light is fairly even from the left side of the bike to the right, and the shadows help to give a bit of shape and depth to the bike (the shadows going across the background add a bit of texture and pattern, and they're on the same angle as the bike). As well, I tilted the camera to give a bit of 'movement' to the bike, almost like it's ready to take off up that hill.

The idea about using a low perspective is that the background disappears behind the bike. In the case of the photo above, the road actually becomes the background.

I think the key is to look at what's around you and behind the bike, plus the light. Guess I'm just re-hashing what Pipeburn discusses.

 

[Vince Lupo]

An example of using the shadows to your advantage, and using a high perspective: