Brake Lights

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Brake Lights

Postby Wink on Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:46 pm

By now you've seen me do plenty of this...

Image

On Saturday night I thought I'd try something a little different and incorporate the brake lights of the cars and a plain wall to see what would happen. I quite like the colour and pattern thrown by the lights, and it's interesting to see how the distance to the wall and the type of tail light made a difference to the pattern...

Image

Image

Image

The reflection across the bonnet is a bit of a distraction, which I guess I could remove in PS. Maybe a CPL would've helped too.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby aim54x on Tue Nov 08, 2011 10:52 pm

Those brake light patters certainly are interesting. As always the light painting is well executed.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Remorhaz on Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:58 am

Creative work Adam - before I read your text I initially thought that was grafitti or something on the wall...
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Reschsmooth on Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:50 am

Very good execution. Never really considered the different light projection from the brake lights.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Alpha_7 on Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:18 am

These are fantastic - I hope your really pleased with the results.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby biggerry on Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:10 pm

yeah this sh$t is damn good, I had a look at you other ones and you have the technique covered and also some great locations to compliment the scene. 2 thumbs up.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Murray Foote on Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:12 pm

Very successful effect. I think the last doesn't work as well because the red of the car overpowers the taillight bounce. I think it calls for complementary colours in the car - maybe a yellow car and then perhaps if you could find somewhere with a blue floor ....
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Steffen on Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:29 pm

Pity about the cars :wink: but great concept and execution!

Did you put a brick on the brake pedals? What was the primary light source for the cars?

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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Wink on Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:31 pm

Thanks everyone! I am pleased with the results.

We jammed a spray bottle of quick detailer on the pedal. A brick would've been much easier.
I have a portable light in a 60x60cm softbox.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby surenj on Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:01 pm

Adam, these are f%^&**( awesome! Great creativity in using the brake lights...
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Wink on Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:08 pm

Thanks mate.
To improve further I need to work on the reflections. Maybe a different light is needed. Maybe more power is needed so I can get further away from the panels. I'll have to experiment with it.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby surenj on Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:00 pm

No probs.

The only improvements I can note are pedantic ones.
1. removing license labels
2. recmoving little light reflections on the bumpers
3. Having the head lights on - I reckon would give it more life

You could also just lightpaint the background and gain full control over color, texture etc... but will take much more effort. In this case, you've utilised 'available' light in a very novel manner. Kudos.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Mr Darcy on Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:36 am

Wink wrote:I need to work on the reflections. Maybe a different light is needed. Maybe more power is needed so I can get further away from the panels. I'll have to experiment with it.

One thing you can try is covering your light source with polarising film. Then use a polariser on the camera. If you "cross" them, direct reflections will be eliminated, or at least reduced while diffuse reflections will get though OK. This happens because the direct reflections will still be polarised but the diffuse ones will be scattered & will have lost their polarisation. You will need to increase the light to compensate for the polarisers though.
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Brake Lights

Postby Wink on Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:47 am

Thanks mate. Extra power isn't a problem so this might be a good solution.
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Re: Brake Lights

Postby Jeff on Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:51 pm

As others have said awesome. Love the brake lights.

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