How To Use Your Diecast Cars For Life-Like Photo Shoots

Earlier, movie production was an incredibly tough task as CGI was still at a nascent stage and live shoot locations weren't always perfect. Diecast cars were one of the most important elements used to make the sets look real. That's where the practise of creating life-like photographs with model cars began. When it comes to taking shots of die-cast cars, you need to be careful with the angle, lighting and focus. There are some intricacies that you should keep in mind. Here's what you should know:

Invest in a tripod

A tripod makes it easier for you to keep your camera balanced and still. It helps in adjusting the angles and taking life-like pictures. A tripod will be handy for all kinds of photography, hence, you should consider investing in one.

Find the right angle

Real cars can be perfectly photographed at a certain angle that is typically slightly biased ¾ front angle. This makes the cars look longer and more spacious. Start with this angle then keep exploring more angles. Keep shifting your camera up and down at different angles and compare the pictures to see which one works best for your diecast.

Keep the camera closer to the car

Taking a closer shot enhances the features of the car, like door handles, windows and more. This gives it a more real feel. Taking a close shot also helps you avoid unwanted elements around the car. Closer shots also allow you to create the perfect angles with the background. This is because the farther the background, realer the car will look in a photograph taken from the right angle.

Mind the light and shadows

During outdoor photoshoots, if the car and the sun are in front of you, the car will project a silhouette feel in the picture. If you want to take clear images make sure that the sun and the lighting are in opposite direction.  

Choose the right background

While shooting a car, the background should be clear enough to allow focus on the car. If the background is cluttered or more interesting than the car, it will put more focus on the background.

Start with a higher F number

If your camera has an F stop adjustment it will help you understand your field of view better. Start with a higher F number and more focus on the overall picture. Slowly move to a lower F number and see how the focus changes the whole picture.

Although you need to focus on the right technique to take a real-looking picture of a diecast car, practicing regularly will help. The goal should be to take a picture where you cannot decipher whether the car is real or diecast.