Taking photos of your bike isn’t brain surgery, but if you want your bike photos to have a wow factor, you need to pay attention to detail.
You can take better photos and make people jealous of your bike by following these simple tips.
Get the right gear
Just like you can’t have the best rides with random bikes, you shouldn’t expect to take stunning pix with any kind of camera. While you can certainly take rather good quality photos with today’s smart phones, we do recommend using semi-professional gear if you want to add a professional finish to your pictures.
You need to pay attention to two things. First, you should invest in a good DSLR camera. Some of the Australia’s leading vendors are offering amazing discounts on cameras and accessories; those can be found on OZCodes.com.au. The second key thing to focus on is the lens size. You don’t want anything fewer than 50mm, as this starts to create issues with the quality of detail.
Create the right backdrop
After you’ve sorted out the gear, it’s time to pay attention to where you are taking the snapshots. Even if you use (and occasionally, especially) a blurred background effect, you want to ensure a few things are in order. Focus on the following points:
- Use contrasting colours – If your bike is red, you don’t want the background to be red or a similar colour. The more contrast you have with the background, the more the bike will stand out.
- Keep it simple –Bikes often have unique details you want to highlight and therefore, try to keep the bike at the centre of attention. Avoid backdrops that are too detailed or complex. A brick wall can be a good idea, but a metal railing might not.
- Use natural light – Bikes are made for the road and natural light gives bike photos the best possible light. Dawn is a bit more colourful time to dawn.
Clean up your bike
Before you start taking the photos, take care of your bike! You don’t want it to be all muddy and dirty for your prime photographs. A quick rinse, and perhaps even a wax in the case of motorcycles, is often enough to give your bike the best look.
Select the right angles
(Photo: Freedom.Motorbike)Great photography depends largely on the angles you choose for your photos. While most people tend to photograph bikes either directly from the side or slightly from the front, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Here are a few angle suggestions to keep in mind:
- Go up or down – Instead of taking photos on the same level as the bike, consider either going down on the ground or stepping up into the heights. You can lie down on the ground for impressive photos or add an interesting angle by stepping on top of ladders for high-up photos.
- Focus on a detail – You shouldn’t just take photos showcasing your whole bike. Focus on a specific detail instead. For example, you could take a snap next to the wheels or the handlebars.
Refine your image
Finally, don’t just snap the photos and move on. After you’ve taken the photos, transfer them onto your computer and refine with photo-editing software, such as Pixlr or Fotor. You can add details, blur the background, or remove certain elements from the photos with the help of these apps.
The above tips will guide you through the basic elements of awesome bike photos. Spend a bit of time thinking about the kind of snaps you want to take and don’t be afraid of practicing your craft.
