My blatant attempt to sell our car

[Code]

About a month before our boys were born, we bought a minivan, and didn't think we'd have very much trouble selling my wife's Scion xA. Here we are almost 5 months later still holding the keys. None of my ads online have been getting very much interest (and then Cash for Clunkers dropped interest from low to ZERO), so I got the idea to make the ad picture a bit more noticeable. I decided to blatantly copy this shot by Darien Chin from the Strobist group on Flickr.

I only had about 20 minutes to spare last night so it's nothing special just shot in my driveway, (and I didn't get a chance to wash the car beforehand) but it's a decent (and fun!) first attempt.

This is a 30 second exposure at f/16, I used my Sigma 10-20 because I thought the 6 point star (6 aperture blades) would look good (vs 7 blades = 14 points on my Tamron 17-50). I started by handholding my Sigma EF-500 at full power from the right and left, then I dropped that on the grass and ran to the lightstand with 3 Vivitar 283s velcro'ed to it, each at 1/32 power. With the stand in one hand and my radio trigger transmitter in the other, I walked behind the car pointing the flashes at the camera and clicking the transmitter with each step.

Next time (tonight?):

• I need to go somewhere I can have an empty background
• Turn the car a bit more and light it better with the initial flashes
• Walk in more of a curve than a straight line with the flashes
• Walk all the way around the car so the flash reflections are EVERYWHERE
• I will be sure to remember to turn the car's headlights on (duh!!)
• I'll put the bottom flash lower to the ground, also I have one more flash I can add
• Try my Tamron 17-50 for a 14-point star
• WASH THE CAR!!!

 

[RBennett]

That's a REALLY neat shot! But I do have one technical question; I thought that if a lens has an even number of blades then the points you get are double (3 blades = 6 points) but if you have an odd number of blades, that is how many points you get? (5 blades = 5 points) Is that not correct? But that doesn't really matter; the shot is REALLY neat and if I was in the market for a new vehicle it would grab my eye!

 

[Code]

That's a REALLY neat shot! But I do have one technical question; I thought that if a lens has an even number of blades then the points you get are double (3 blades = 6 points) but if you have an odd number of blades, that is how many points you get? (5 blades = 5 points) Is that not correct? But that doesn't really matter; the shot is REALLY neat and if I was in the market for a new vehicle it would grab my eye!

Just reverse that Even blades is the same number of points, odd blades is double.

 

[WDWFigment]

I think it's pretty awesome as-is, and should attract some attention. The only other thing I might suggest is to go with a lower angle and a tad wider to elongate the car a little and make it look "sleeker" (although not so you distort it too much!) and maybe wash the car. Other than that, this looks great. Hopefully it will do the trick!

Also, you'll insert a large copy of it via html in your CL ad, right? Nothing looks worse (IMO) than those little CL pictures.

 

[RBennett]

Just reverse that Even blades is the same number of points, odd blades is double.

What can I say? I'm dyslexic sometimes! What was it that the dyslexic aetheist said? "I don't belive in dog!"

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I like the picture, but yes, I think WASHING the car would definitely be a good idea.

I was also thinking that somehow seeing the three infant car seats would send the message that - mechanically, the car is fine; you need more space and that's why you're selling.

After you wash and reshoot, see what you can do creatively with that.

 

[Todd_H]

Really cool idea! I agree with all points above and am interested to see what you come up with tonight.

I can't quite tell from the picture, but it looks like the car is black? You may already know this, but one thing I learned when I had a black car was to use black car wax on it. This will keep it black and prevent fading. If you could wax it after you wash it, you might get even better reflections and a deeper color.

 

[Code]

I think it's pretty awesome as-is, and should attract some attention. The only other thing I might suggest is to go with a lower angle and a tad wider to elongate the car a little and make it look "sleeker" (although not so you distort it too much!) and maybe wash the car. Other than that, this looks great. Hopefully it will do the trick!

Also, you'll insert a large copy of it via html in your CL ad, right? Nothing looks worse (IMO) than those little CL pictures.

I tried going wider, but it just ended up looking goofy. Not many ways to make this little jelly bean on wheels look sleek

And yeah I agree, CL pictures are tiny and massively compressed.

I was also thinking that somehow seeing the three infant car seats would send the message that - mechanically, the car is fine; you need more space and that's why you're selling.

After you wash and reshoot, see what you can do creatively with that.

Good idea

I can't quite tell from the picture, but it looks like the car is black? You may already know this, but one thing I learned when I had a black car was to use black car wax on it. This will keep it black and prevent fading. If you could wax it after you wash it, you might get even better reflections and a deeper color.

It's actually dark gray, though a wax would certainly help if I had time.

 

[saturndb]

About a month before our boys were born, we bought a minivan, and didn't think we'd have very much trouble selling my wife's Scion xA. Here we are almost 5 months later still holding the keys. None of my ads online have been getting very much interest (and then Cash for Clunkers dropped interest from low to ZERO), so I got the idea to make the ad picture a bit more noticeable. I decided to blatantly copy this shot by Darien Chin from the Strobist group on Flickr.

I only had about 20 minutes to spare last night so it's nothing special just shot in my driveway, (and I didn't get a chance to wash the car beforehand) but it's a decent (and fun!) first attempt.

This is a 30 second exposure at f/16, I used my Sigma 10-20 because I thought the 6 point star (6 aperture blades) would look good (vs 7 blades = 14 points on my Tamron 17-50). I started by handholding my Sigma EF-500 at full power from the right and left, then I dropped that on the grass and ran to the lightstand with 3 Vivitar 283s velcro'ed to it, each at 1/32 power. With the stand in one hand and my radio trigger transmitter in the other, I walked behind the car pointing the flashes at the camera and clicking the transmitter with each step.

Next time (tonight?):

• I need to go somewhere I can have an empty background
• Turn the car a bit more and light it better with the initial flashes
• Walk in more of a curve than a straight line with the flashes
• Walk all the way around the car so the flash reflections are EVERYWHERE
• I will be sure to remember to turn the car's headlights on (duh!!)
• I'll put the bottom flash lower to the ground, also I have one more flash I can add
• Try my Tamron 17-50 for a 14-point star
• WASH THE CAR!!!

I like the shot from a photography stand point, but from a selling perspective, it is not good. focus only on the car. I am in auto sales and might be able to give you some pointers if you want to PM me.

What year is the car? what options are on it? how many miles? Does it have a extended warranty?


Dave

 

[MICKEY88]

from a photography point of view, I think you did a great job,

as a potential buyer I would wonder what you're trying to hide, with all the flashy lights and taking the picture at night, and probably move on to the next ad

 

[Code]

There are other daylight photos included in my ads, this shot is just an attention grabber to get eyes on the ads.

And it has worked so far. 3 calls so far today, as opposed to 2 for the entire month prior.