Motorcycle Photography

[mcopan]

I would like to shoot a couple of rare collector motorcycles for a web site that I am building for the company I work for. The goal for the site is to have a simple professional site with stand out photography of motorcycles to catch the viewers eyes.

Ive been shooting for a couple years now, on and off, and like to shoot some automotive, architecture, and landscape themed shots. Whenever I have shot a certain subject I have spend a fair bit of time working on the composition and what I want to portray, I take the shot or two. I normally focus on the design or specific item on a car/motorcycle that separates it from others.

After those two paragraphs above of my rant..... Do you have any suggestions?


-- I would like to maximize the quality of the photos as the owners of the bikes are not getting paid to loan there rare motorcycles to me for a couple hours.

[Iguanasan]

Don't be afraid to get down low to the ground. I think bikes look a lot better when shot from a low angle. Anytime I've ever shot motorcycles from above it always turns out crappy. Maybe it's just me.

Next, find the right location. Don't go to where the bikes are if you can avoid it. Bring the bikes to you. Put them near a beach, in front of a waterfall, or maybe in front of an office building. The key is to make the background pleasing and then put the bike in it.

Last, go on Flickr, search for motorcycle and get some ideas from others. ;)

[mcopan]

I have access to a medium sized warehouse for the shoot. The motorcycles are very detailed even more so then many of the m/c's of the last 25 yrs. I would like to have the space and be able to place with the lighting. Since I am in Vancouver British Columbia the chances shooting outside at this time of year are slim with all the downpour of west coast rain.