'Driving Spirit' Nice metal inside :)

DeanPhoto

DeanPhoto

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332
Name
Dean Smith
Edit My Images
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Afternoon all,

I have spent the last month or so shooting for a Sports and Classic Car Hire Club called 'Driving Spirit'. I have yet to finish off all the cars but I'm sat here in work bored out of my skull and thought I'd post a few of the images. They gave me free roam on all the photography as I understood their needs, personally I wanted to create images which were really simple and made you want to drive the car, they certainly weren't for any benefit of my own.

I hold a full time job in IT and so I struggle greatly with finding the time to shoot and finding locations is purely down to google maps or somewhere I've passed through. I usually end up getting only 3hrs sleep when I'm shooting (on location for sunrise, do not get home from work until midnight). Working the late shift at work has it's advantages, as does driving these cars around, but boy am I tired! You gotta push yourself though if you want to improve and do it full time I guess.


So, first off was the Elise 111R. They wanted this car shot first as it was a new arrival and time was of the essence. I normally choose to shoot in nice open spaces but because of a lack of time I used a road locally that would hopefully suit the Elise to a tee.

Unfortunately metcheck lied to me regarding the time of the sunrise so it was a tad bright by the time I'd finished off cleaning the car and was ready to shoot. I don't think the reflections are too bad though and in general I think I just about managed to pull it off, even if they are boring.

1.
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2.
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4. And one from the day I picked it up, never shoot at midday :(
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Next up was their gorgeous 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera. This car had only 8000 miles on the clock and is truly 'mint'. After being underwhelmed by a 997 Turbo cabriolet, I wasn't expecting much but now I know why the 911 has it cuslt following, I loved this car. Due to bad weather I again found myself short on time. For some reason I haven't uploaded a lot of these images, there are some better ones at home.

5.
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6.
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3404371500_9c559b50e1_o.jpg

7.
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8.
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9. Really poor comp.
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From one Ferrari to another, the brilliant F355 GTS. I cannot tell you in words how great this car was, it felt so much more special than the 360's and F430's that I have driven in the past!

25. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside..
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Recommended

26.
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Over here

27.
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Go on, I dare you

28.
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You guessed it

29.
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Bigger than the one above

30. I wish that sometimes pictures could see noise, the howl from this 355 with straight through pipes was immense.
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And then another, the Ferrari 328 GTS. We didn't get on terribly well together, what with me being built like an english man and not a little Italian.

31.
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Go on....

32.
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click me

33.
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Retro does not rule

34.
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Well, that killed an hour

So there we have the progress so far. I have only posted a very small percentage of the images, some more availaable on my Flickr.

If you have any questions about the photography, cars, club and my sleeping habits then please post them here and not via PM :)

Thanks for looking.
 
Too much information??? Lovely set, the Elise number 1 for me, then the Aston, number 19.
 
Liberalis said:
Loads to look through there, I see why you have been quiet in here mate.

I am so wanting that loc in 15 & 16.
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It's been a tough month! I do check the forum from work but I can only images from flickr through the proxy so most of the threads are empty when I view them, hence no comments from me.

The location ruled, it was the wrong time of day but I don't think it looks too bad. It's a bit of a trek for you though :)

david357 said:
Too much information??? Lovely set, the Elise number 1 for me, then the Aston, number 19.
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Too much info? I always get slated for not providing enough. I must find that happy medium!

jwr said:
lovely set, the aston ones being my favs.
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I think some of the Aston's are also mine too but I just love simplicity of the F355 shots.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!
 
DeanPhoto said:
Afternoon all,
I wanted to create images which were really simple and made you want to drive the car
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I WANT to drive these cars. Job done! Very nicely too. (y)
 
Those photos are absolutely amazing, I wish I knew of places like that round here!
 
I have just soiled my pants!!!! :LOL:
 
Awesome work, as always Dean.

Allthough I see you've gone to the dark side, and bought a D3. What happend to the 1DS you bought?
 
GFWilliams said:
Great as usual!

Do you know when you are doing Mike R's collection?
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Thanks George. I've no idea, I followed him into Auto Italia last week when he was in his F40 but then I lost track of him! I'll send him an email soon.

Little Man said:
Awesome work, as always Dean.

Allthough I see you've gone to the dark side, and bought a D3. What happend to the 1DS you bought?
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Thanks Little Man. I have never used Canon (makes me feel ill thinking about it ;) ) I guess you might be mixing up your Dean's?

sam_51 said:
smashing any tips on your tenchnique, did you use flash on any of then. really like your style
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I used flash in the some of the Aston shots (between the trees) and one flash on the rear of the F355 of the ones taken by the sea.

As for tips on my technique, that's a little too general to answer really. Is there anything in particular you were after? I have a set of rules that I try and adhere too:

*Only shoot during sunrise, sunset, when it's very cloudy or in the shade.
*Only use flash if absolutely nessecary, or if it's the 'look' you're going for (think MAX Power etc).
*Always use a tripod.
*If doing different cars for one company, keep all the processing and compostions similar
*Try and have fun
*Be nice to the chavs and give them a few revs to shut them up
*Have at least a litre of Duvel and 20 Marlboro once back home.
 
DeanPhoto said:
Thanks Little Man. I have never used Canon (makes me feel ill thinking about it ;) ) I guess you might be mixing up your Dean's?
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Was actually getting you mixed up with another lad, sorry fella.

As said, uber work!
 
A fantastic set of photos and I can definately see the theme running through them all.

#16 caught my eye in particular and not for a good reason. There are some people stood at the end of the long straight road which my eye was immediate drawn to - don't ask mw why but it would be good to have those cloned out and make sure it's cleaner...?

DB
 
Impspeed said:
A fantastic set of photos and I can definately see the theme running through them all.

#16 caught my eye in particular and not for a good reason. There are some people stood at the end of the long straight road which my eye was immediate drawn to - don't ask mw why but it would be good to have those cloned out and make sure it's cleaner...?

DB
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Thanks for reminding me! I'd noticed that whilst processing and I keep forgetting to clone them out!

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
 
I've looked through these pictures for several minutes now and I'll just say a few things:

1. Superb set of pictures. Like all of them :)

2. #8 stands out for me. It's a very classy picture of a beautiful car (y)

3. I love the setting in 14 (the Aston) and 25 (the 355). The colours in the background work really well with the colour of the cars.

4. I really want that driveway (pic 22).

Thanks for sharing :)
 
some really great shots there, love how clear they are and so vibrant, nice work
 
Is that a rig shot of the aston in motion? If so was it hard to photoshop it out with the trees in the background? Also what rig are you using? Thanks :) Great photos.
 
Great shots. It's like car porn - think I've gone blind already from all the hand (on mouse) action :)

The 355 is the best of those cars - looks sweet.
 
rob200sx said:
Great shots Dean, are you doing EvenTT09 this year?
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Hi Rob,

I haven't been asked to cover it. Saying that, me and the TTF has a little fall-out over some minor copyright issues!

Butler said:
Is that a rig shot of the aston in motion? If so was it hard to photoshop it out with the trees in the background? Also what rig are you using? Thanks :) Great photos.
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It is a rig shot. The hardest part of removing the rig is cloning the reflections on the bonnet, the tree's can be a PITA sometimes but you get used to it.

specialman said:
The 355 is the best of those cars - looks sweet.
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Agreed :)
 
I...don't think I've ever been so jealous in my life! Stunning vehicles, stunning cars. stunning, stunning, stunning!
 
does the ferrari hire come with an obligatory huge moustache...if it doesn't it damn well should

love some of these shots.
the best ones are the Aston ones for me....really does the car justice.
 
Awesome sets!!! :D

How do you rate the cars? I have the 111R and I love it, I suspect it does not live up to the power of the others. They all look awesome.

Fancy coming to shoot mine? :D

Gary.
 
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