How to photograph a bike

[jonny jeez]

1. "Flash-OFF" check..fully flashoff
2. Pick your background.Picked it
3. Pick your subject.Nailed that
4. Position your subject. got it
Another 4. Focus on the subject., Yep
5 Hold steady. Check
6. Is your photo any good. Its Awesome!
6. Enough pixels, Check

 

[gareth01244]

I find that the best light for photographing a bike comes from an overcast day as the clouds diffuse the light and help prevent specular highlights on metalwork and helps avoid high contrast shadow areas. If the sun is shining look for an area of open shade to give the same effect.

 

[MichaelW2]

You forgot to mention a couple of cardinal rules -
Always picture the right hand (chain) side of the bike, never the left

If you have a disk-brake equipped frame, it can be helpful to show the brake arrangement, esp in relation to rack-mounting eyelets.

Also, why, when manufacturers illustrate their pannier do they never show the mounting side?

 

[night cycler]

[/QUOTE]

Photograph the bike with some sort of eye candy to distract the buyer

Shaun

I can`t believe he`s wearing a green helmet. Maybe he likes things to match.

What about photos that demonstrate the bike`s capabilities....

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Chain on the smallest sprocket.

 

[pplpilot]

Rule of thirds...

 

[Gravity Aided]

You'll need to use a fill in flash if you're photographing in strong sunlight. Grey skies contribute an effect like a "softbox", a unit used to even and mute flash strobes.
Great for metalwork, and glossy subjects. Keep it a glossy subject.

 

[youngoldbloke]

# rule 26.
- and the interesting side of the bike please - showing the chainset, etc.

 

[MichaelW2]

Rule of thirds...

With a whole bike, the "rule of thirds" doesn't work. The sweet spot is often inside the main triangle.
For those who don't know, you divide a frame into thirds in height and width, using 4 lines (noughts and crosses style). The eye is naturally drawn to the areas defined by the intersections. Some LCD screens have a grid option, which can be really useful.
It is, like the Pirate Code, more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules

 

[pplpilot]

With a whole bike, the "rule of thirds" doesn't work. The sweet spot is often inside the main triangle.
For those who don't know, you divide a frame into thirds in height and width, using 4 lines (noughts and crosses style). The eye is naturally drawn to the areas defined by the intersections. Some LCD screens have a grid option, which can be really useful.
It is, like the Pirate Code, more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules

I was in fact being sarcastic.

 

[Milkfloat]

I was in fact being sarcastic.

Yup, we all knew you really meant the golden ratio.

 

[Fab Foodie]

What a load of old ballcocks .... bike in the kitchen, smartphone, upload ....

 

[jay clock]

My offering from when I sold my Focus recently.... http://izalcopro.weebly.com/photos-loads.html

 

[Tim Hall]

What a load of old ballcocks .... bike in the kitchen, smartphone, upload ....

More chance of Marmite/Soreen there too.

 

[Fab Foodie]

More chance of Marmite/Soreen there too.

Hell yeah .... Beans, London Pride et al ....