photography lighting question?

[Luster 888]

I've been asked to do a favor (a freebie for friends) for a classic car club. They want me to do a photo shoot of their cars with models, I might even do it as a hobbie. I have a descent eye for lighting from directing motion pictures (never Cam Operator) but I hire crew to deal with all that. I have a cannon rebel xl. Just need some lighting pointers for vehicle+model lighting set-up (easy set-up nothing fancy) if anybody can offer since I'm doing everything/set-up for this shoot (with limited equipment). Indoor and outdoor tips would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Michael U]

It's a hard call to give you specific lighting advice, especially as a car and a model are involved. I think the best way is to take a look at this free photo tutorials site for lighting and exposure tips - and at a link I'll give you in a second to a recent YA answer regarding how lights work and how you control softness and tonality on your image:
http://www.image-nut.com/spip.php?rubrique86 - exposure
http://www.image-nut.com/spip.php?rubrique89 - flash
http://www.image-nut.com/spip.php?rubrique91 - advanced techniques

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArC3j2m.Lky9l0Ner7enY4rty6IX;_ylv=3?qid =20080314002401AAU782b&show=7#profile-info-336c51041ca734e2e79931105c9931a7aa
- YA explanation

I think you're very smart to keep it simple - you are far more likely to get a good result. And I would also agree that bouncing flash and diffusers will help. To this I would suggest you add reflectors to your list as they are easy to use. The other issue will be flash fall off - implying a distance between your flash and the subject required to get even lighting (the further the more even your light will be) - BUT this also implies a requirement for power! (If you are closer to your subject you will have a greater difference between the relative distance of the front of the car versus the back of the car - the further away you are the less this proportional difference in lighting.)

I'd shoot on RAW in this instance as it will give you more latitude in post processing your images.

Good luck!!

[victor98_2001]

Bounce flash with lightsphere and white cover,if the lighting from a room using tungsten lighting,you could use amberdome,amberdome diffuser to correction the tungsten light.I have one which given best result for photo shooting of cars and models,let try it ,good luck to you.