Ferrari

[swmdrayfan]

This is the badge on the back of a '67 Ferrari once owned by Nicholas Cage. I took this shot last weekend at the local art institute, where it was on display. The somewhat wavy dark area is the reflection from the ceiling. I imagine it would look better cloned out, but right now I just want to get an opinion (or 3) on whether or not there's a different way to shoot this. Thanks.
John

[GB1]

OK, though I think it would be stronger w/o the lock in the pic. The reflection is a minor distraction. I like the shaded area, gives it variation. Definitely worthy of a shot.
GB

[Didache]

Personally I prefer the lock there, at least the way you've framed it - it fills that space nicely. I agree though about the reflection and would be inclined to clone it out.

Cheers
Mike

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks for the input guys. I think what I might do is practice on my own car to get a better sense of how to shoot these things.
John

[gahspidy]

I think I see what you were trying to do here, john. There is surely a comfortable balance here in your comp, but i don't think that it comes off strong enough in the end. The latch is just not adding anything good to the shot. I think just shooting the Ferrari emblem with the horizontal line near the bottom would be a stronger approach. Any more from this?

[Old Timer]

This is a nice shot John, but I think that if you had composed it differently it would have been stronger. I don't feel the lock adds at all to the photo I would have excluded it. in my opinion the photo would work better as a horizontal with the edge of the trunk at the bottom and parallel with the bottom of the image. I would have also liked to see the emblem off set slightly to the right giving the horse facing to the left somewhere to go.

[drg]

Try a fill flash if possible or a reflector. If you can't use a flash, as in some museum setttings, have a white coat like a windbreaker or jacket and have someone hold it up as a reflector to aid in eliminating the reflections. Or just watch what is in the view finder so you can minimize extra distractions in the final photo.

An very tight closeup of the badge, even to the point of cutting off part of either the horse or the lettering might be an approach. It requires just the right touch to not get to much and it should be somewhat rotated and uneven or it will just look blocky.

To be able to include the lock hardware would only be good in my opinion if you can resolve the lighting and how it produces the harsh transition.

It is a Ferrari!! Do you have any other photos? If that is the car I believe, the hood lines on that are another phenomenal opportunity.

[swmdrayfan]

This is a nice shot John, but I think that if you had composed it differently it would have been stronger. I don't feel the lock adds at all to the photo I would have excluded it. in my opinion the photo would work better as a horizontal with the edge of the trunk at the bottom and parallel with the bottom of the image. I would have also liked to see the emblem off set slightly to the right giving the horse facing to the left somewhere to go.

How's this one? I gotta admit, it does look better. I do have another shot of the car, but it's from the left rear, looking into the interior. I didn't get the whole thing in the shot. When I go to the museum this summer, I'll be sure to remember everything you guys have suggested. Thanks bunches. As this was my first attempt, I learned a lot about shooting antique cars.