HOONIGAN'S LARRY CHEN | HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH CARS

Summary

In this video, automotive photographer Larry Chen shares his expertise on capturing stunning car photos using just a smartphone. Filmed at the Petersen museum, he demonstrates how to creatively frame shots, focus on details, and utilize natural light to enhance the storytelling of each photograph. Larry also discusses the importance of multiple attempts to ensure sharp images and the use of a polarizing filter to reduce glare. His energetic approach to photography, nicknamed 'machine-gunning,' emphasizes the value of seizing every opportunity to capture the perfect shot.

Takeaways

• 📸 The video is a photography lesson at the Petersen museum focusing on shooting cars with a cell phone.
• 🚗 Larry Chen, an automotive photographer, is excited to photograph a 1929 Ruxton model C roadster with his cell phone.
• 🤳 Cell phones are now capable of producing high-quality images, sometimes even rivaling DSLRs for certain photography tasks.
• 📱 The best camera is the one you have with you, emphasizing the convenience of cell phones for capturing moments.
• 🔍 Larry suggests focusing on interesting details of the car rather than trying to fit the entire car in the frame.
• 🏙️ The video features a surprise appearance of a 1971 Renault Alpine A110 on the rooftop of the Petersen museum.
• 🔄 Larry recommends doing a 360-degree walk around the car to find the best angles and backgrounds for shooting.
• 📐 He advises being mindful of the background to avoid unwanted objects that could disrupt the car's lines in the photo.
• 👀 Utilize the macro capabilities of cell phones to capture close-up details of the car, such as badges, wheels, and gauges.
• 🔄 Larry, known as 'machine-gun Larry,' emphasizes the importance of taking multiple shots to ensure sharpness and avoid camera shake.
• ☀️ To manage reflections on the car's body, Larry suggests using a polarizer filter or polarized sunglasses to reduce glare.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by Larry Chen?

The main focus of the video is to provide photography lessons on how to shoot cars using a cell phone, specifically at the Petersen museum with a 1929 Ruxton model C roadster.

Why does Larry Chen choose to use his cell phone for the photography session instead of his usual Canon camera?

Larry Chen chooses to use his cell phone to demonstrate that cell phones have become capable of taking high-quality photos and are always with you, making them the best camera to have when you're not carrying a professional camera.

What is the significance of the 1929 Ruxton model C roadster in the video?

The 1929 Ruxton model C roadster is significant because it's a vintage car with unique details that provide an interesting subject for photography lessons, showcasing how to capture interesting details of a car.

What does Larry suggest when photographing cars, regarding framing and composition?

Larry suggests that you don't always have to fit the whole car in the frame. Instead, you can focus on interesting details that speak to you, such as the front half of the car, headlight details, or the spare tire, to tell a complete story when displayed together.

What is the '360 lock' technique mentioned by Larry Chen?

The '360 lock' technique is a method where Larry walks around the car to see every angle and how the light is hitting each panel, doing this at different levels to find the best angles and backgrounds.

Why is it important to pay attention to the background when shooting cars with a cell phone?

It's important to pay attention to the background to ensure a clean and non-distracting setting for the car. Cell phone cameras have a small sensor and lens, which makes it difficult to blur out the background, so it's better to compose the shot with a clean background in mind.

How can cell phone cameras be advantageous for macro photography of cars?

Cell phone cameras are advantageous for macro photography because of their close focusing capabilities and compact size, allowing you to get very close to details like badges, wheels, and gauges, and even slip the phone in front of the steering wheel to compose shots of the gauges.

What is Larry Chen's approach to shooting multiple photos of the same scene?

Larry Chen takes multiple photos of the same scene to increase the hit rate of getting a sharp and well-exposed image. He taps the shutter release button many times for one scene to account for potential camera shake or less-than-ideal lighting conditions.

How does Larry Chen ensure proper exposure when shooting with his cell phone?

Larry ensures proper exposure by tapping on the detail of the car he's shooting to set the focus, and then adjusting the exposure slider to achieve the desired exposure level, taking multiple attempts if necessary to avoid overexposure or underexposure.

What technique does Larry suggest to reduce glare on the car's hood and windshield?

Larry suggests using a polarizer filter to reduce glare. If a polarizer filter is not available, he recommends using polarized sunglasses in front of the cell phone camera and turning it until the glare is reduced.

Where can viewers find more content like this and ask questions to Larry Chen?

Viewers can find more content like this on Hoonigan's YouTube channel and can ask questions or reach out to Larry Chen on Instagram.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Car Photography with a Cell Phone

Larry Chen, an automotive photographer, shares his experience shooting at the Petersen Museum with a 1929 Ruxton model C roadster. He challenges the conventional use of DSLRs by opting to use his cell phone for photography, emphasizing the convenience and quality of modern smartphones. He provides tips on capturing interesting details of the car, such as the spare tire and headlights, and discusses the importance of framing and composition. Larry also highlights the advantage of shooting from different angles and levels to create a story with the images, concluding with a surprise encounter with a 1971 Renault Alpine A110 on the museum's rooftop.

05:00

🌆 Advanced Cell Phone Photography Techniques

In this segment, Larry delves into advanced cell phone photography techniques, focusing on how to avoid unwanted elements in the background and suggests shooting from higher or lower angles for a cleaner composition. He emphasizes the importance of macro photography for capturing intricate car details and the flexibility of shooting from various angles due to the cell phone's screen-based viewfinder. Larry, known as 'machine-gun Larry', advises taking multiple shots to ensure sharpness and correct exposure, adjusting the exposure slider on the phone for better results. He also introduces a technique to reduce glare on car surfaces using a polarizer filter or polarized sunglasses, wrapping up with an invitation to engage with him on Instagram and watch more content on the Hoonigan auto focus channel.

Keywords

💡Automotive Photography

Automotive photography is the art of capturing images of cars, focusing on their aesthetics, design, and detailing. In the video, Larry Chen, an automotive photographer, emphasizes the importance of capturing the essence of cars, such as the 1929 Ruxton model C roadster, by highlighting interesting details and using different angles to tell a complete story.

💡Cell Phone Photography

Cell phone photography refers to the practice of taking photos using a smartphone instead of a traditional camera. The video showcases how cell phones, with their advanced camera capabilities, can be used to capture high-quality images of cars. Larry demonstrates shooting with a cell phone, highlighting its convenience and the quality it can achieve, rivaling that of DSLRs in certain situations.

💡Canon Cameras

Canon is a well-known brand for cameras and photography equipment. In the script, Larry Chen typically uses Canon cameras, such as the 1DX Mark III, for his automotive photography. However, in this video, he chooses to use his cell phone to emphasize the versatility and quality of cell phone photography.

💡1929 Ruxton Model C Roadster

The 1929 Ruxton Model C Roadster is a classic car model featured in the video. It serves as the primary subject for the photography lesson, with Larry expressing excitement about its unique purple color and the opportunity to photograph it. The car's vintage design and details are used to illustrate various photography techniques.

💡Detail Photography

Detail photography is a technique that focuses on capturing close-up images of specific parts or features of a subject. In the context of the video, Larry advises on capturing details of the car, such as the spare tire or headlights, to convey a story. This approach allows for a more intimate and engaging portrayal of the car's features.

💡Studio Photography

Studio photography typically involves a controlled environment with professional lighting and backdrops. While the video is not set in a traditional studio, Larry discusses the concept of '360 lock,' where he walks around the car to find the best angles and lighting, similar to how one would in a studio setting.

💡Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, often resulting in a smooth blur that can make the subject stand out. Larry mentions that while newer cell phones have software to simulate bokeh, it's better to avoid distracting backgrounds to ensure the car is the focus of the image.

💡Macro Photography

Macro photography is a technique that allows for close-up photography of small subjects, capturing fine details. The video highlights the capability of cell phones to perform macro photography, enabling Larry to capture intricate details of the car, such as badges and wheels, by getting physically close to the subject.

💡Polarizer Filter

A polarizer filter is a type of filter used in photography to reduce reflections and glare, enhancing color saturation and contrast. Larry suggests using a polarizer to manage reflections on the car's hood and windshield. He also creatively suggests using polarized sunglasses for a similar effect when a filter is not available.

💡Exposure

Exposure in photography refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, affecting the brightness and detail of an image. In the video, Larry explains the importance of correct exposure when photographing cars, advising viewers to tap on the car's details in their cell phone camera to adjust the exposure and ensure well-lit, clear images.

Highlights

Larry Chen, an automotive photographer, is at the Petersen Museum to conduct photography lessons with a twist.

Instead of using his usual Canon camera, Larry decides to shoot with his cell phone, showcasing the capabilities of mobile photography.

A 1929 Ruxton model C roadster is the subject of the photography lesson, highlighting the vintage car's unique purple color.

Larry emphasizes that the best camera is the one you have with you, advocating for the convenience of cell phone photography.

He suggests focusing on details of the car, such as the spare tire or headlights, to capture interesting stories.

Larry demonstrates the 360-degree walk technique to find the best angles and backgrounds for shooting a car.

He advises on avoiding unwanted elements in the background, like porta-potties or trees, for a cleaner shot.

Macro photography capabilities of cell phones are highlighted, allowing for close-up shots of car details.

Larry shares his 'machine-gun' approach to photography, taking multiple shots to ensure sharpness and quality.

He explains the importance of adjusting exposure by tapping on the car's details in the cell phone's camera app.

Larry introduces a polarizer filter technique to reduce glare on the car's hood and windshield, using sunglasses as an alternative.

The lesson concludes with a surprise appearance of a 1971 Renault Alpine A110 on the museum's roof.

Larry encourages viewers to engage with him on Instagram for more questions and to follow Hoonigan Auto Focus on YouTube for similar content.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey everyone I'm Larry Chen automotive

photographer we're here at the Petersen

museum and we're gonna do some

photography lessons today but it's not

what you think

let's check it out I'm ready I'm ready

about to shoot alright so we're at the

Petersen Studio and they actually

brought out 1929 Ruxton model seat roads

there for us to shoot

it's very purple and I'm really excited

to shoot it and as you guys know I shoot

with Canon cameras normally I'm shooting

with this one DX mark 3 camera but not

today this this one doesn't have a

battery in it I'm actually going to

shoot with my cell phone today and I'm

gonna bring you guys along and I'll tell

you some tips and tricks on how to shoot

cars with a cell phone

[Music]

you can't discount cellphones now

they're so good if not sometimes better

than DSLRs for certain things the saying

goes the best camera is the one that you

have with you right so you have your

cell phone in your pocket

all the time when you're at car shows or

when you're just on the street or

anytime you see a cool car or heck if

you come to the museum here at the

Petersen you essentially want a piece of

that car for yourself I'm never gonna be

able to afford a 1929 Rexton model C

roadster but I can actually take photos

of it with my cell phone or with

whatever camera and essentially I can

take a piece of that car for myself but

I'm enjoying the car in a different way

especially with a car like this there's

so many interesting details on the car

like look at the spare tire you don't

actually have to fit the whole car in

the frame every single time you can

actually cut it up and pie it out in

terms of just interesting details that

speak to you so I could just shoot the

front half of the car or just the

headlight detail here or just the

passenger compartment or just the spare

tire there's so many ways to shoot just

little pieces of the car that tell a

complete story when displayed together

[Music]

my mind is so blown right now we just

came here onto the roof at the Petersons

and I didn't expect to see this here so

it's a Renault Alpine a110 it's a 1971

Wow does that look good so let's talk

about a couple other things in terms of

cell phone photography while shooting in

the studio spawn generally speaking most

people will never have a chance to shoot

in a studio with a car set up all lit

everything perfect this is more of like

a parking lot so what I usually do is I

like to do something called just like

the 360 lock right so if you're at a car

show and some normal person just park

there beautiful run all Alpine a110 the

beauty here what I like to do is I like

to actually take a walk around the car

and see every single angle and see the

way the light is hitting every single

panel and then I do it at different

levels so I'm doing it at eye level and

then I just bend down just to see

different shapes that kind of get

created as I'm looking at the car once

I've done like a 360 walk then I kind of

know hey here's the good angles and also

on top of that here's the good

backgrounds with cell phone photography

the sensor is so small and the space is

so limited for the lens it's actually

not able to blur out the background now

I understand the newer phones have

software that allows you to get the

really nice soft bokeh out backgrounds

for me it's a lot better to get things

in camera and if you can avoid it try

shooting in a way where you can make

sure there's no porta-potties or trees

or telephone poles or anything growing

out of the car so what you can do is you

can actually chew a little higher to

maybe have a cleaner background cleaner

horizon it could be the ground or you

can shoot a little lower and just use

this

as your background for the car here we

have a nice city backdrop and lucky for

us there's not too many things

protruding up to interrupt the lines of

this beautiful car but still it's very

good to kind of keep an eye on the

background one of the things that you

definitely have to take advantage of on

these phones is how good the macro

photography capabilities are you can

actually get really close to all of the

little details the badges the wheels the

gauges all the little textures and

complexities of the car you can actually

capture just by getting closer and

because of the form factor you can just

slip it in in front of the steering

wheel you can have enough room to

compose a shot of the gauges one of the

really big things that you have to take

advantage of on a cell phone is the fact

that you can actually shoot with the

screen when you're shooting with SLR or

DSLR you actually have to shoot through

the viewfinder you actually have to use

your eyes you don't have to do that

anymore you can shoot from the ground

you can shoot from up high you don't

have to limit yourself just to your eye

level because you don't actually have to

put your face to the viewfinder

people call me machine-gun Larry because

when they actually see me taking photos

I am firing non-stop and I am just

machine gunning away at any car that I

see

[Laughter]

part of the reason why I'm doing that is

because I just need more attempts at the

same photos I just want to give myself a

better hit rate when I'm shooting with

my phone

I'm doing the same thing if I see my

shot and I'm framed up for it I'll tap

the shutter release button many many

many times just for one scene I'll shoot

maybe five to ten photos part of the

reason why is because there's always a

chance for camera shake especially if

I'm tapping or maybe the it's a little

lower light situation or who knows maybe

I had too much coffee that day I'm not

very steady I just need to take more

attempts because the last thing I want

to happen is out I don't want to go back

look at the photo and the moments over

already the car is gone we're already at

home and I look at the photo and it's

not sharp and that's why I shoot as much

as I can because the photos that you

want other people to see are your best

photos if you guys had a chance to see

all of my outtakes you would think I'm

the worst photographer ever all right so

you got the perfect shot you got the

framing down you're firing away but is

your exposure correct one of the easiest

ways to make sure you have a properly

exposed photo is to just tap on the

detail or the car that you're actually

shooting then you just take the exposure

slider and then you just set it to a

certain exposure don't be afraid to take

a couple attempts at this because you

don't want to look at the photos later

and everything is either overexposed or

underexposed

I'll finish this off with a more

advanced technique a lot of times when

you're shooting out in the bright Sun or

if you're shooting during a gloomy day

there's a lot of reflection on the hood

and on the windshield the best way to

cut that down is actually to use a

polarizer filter so what I do is I

actually just put it in front of

camera on the cellphone and I just turn

it until I reduced the glare now I know

a lot of you guys don't have a polarizer

filter handy but what you could do is

you could use your polarized sunglasses

and have the same exact effect I hope

you guys enjoyed this quick little

lesson definitely hit me up on Instagram

if you have any more questions I tried

my best to answer all my direct messages

if you want to see more of this content

check out our Channel hoonigan auto

focus on YouTube

[Music]

just busted apart