THE PROCESS | FROM ORIGINAL PHOTO TO FINAL PRINT
THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH
Simply send me some photographs of your car, and I’ll get back to you to discuss ideas and put some concept sketches together. At this point we can look at available photographs and, if necessary, take a few more from different angles. Sometimes a lower viewpoint will create a more dynamic result – if that’s what you’re looking for.
STAGE 1
Once we’ve got the ‘story’ and the best angled photograph, I can start with background elements. In this Monte Carlo Rally scene the key parts were obviously spectacular roads and mountains. The distant ridge of mountains really helps to give a dramatic perspective.
STAGE 2
So far so good – the road in the background is working well but more ice and snow was needed. A blue tint helps give the distant mountains a wintry feel. At this point I’m also thinking of the lights in a village down in the valley – another way of helping scale and drama. See Stage 5.
STAGE 3
The cliff on the right looked a bit precipitous (see previous stage) but some fir trees and banks of snow on the edge of the road help frame the subject. The background is looking good but now’s the time to look at blending the car into the scene.
STAGE 4
I added some more fir trees in the background behind the car to soften the edges and some blurring of the foreground starts to give the feeling of speed. At this point I carefully added the correct decals, changed the spotlights and added snow and spray to the wheels. I’ll often send updates through to the client at this stage.
STAGE 5
With all the key elements in place, I generally stand back and think ‘atmosphere’. A blue tint gives the scene that cold, early evening feeling. This really helps all the lights shine out too – both headlights and the village lights. A layer of light snow fall will complete the scene..
FINAL IMAGE
At this point I’ll send you another digital image for final approval. Then, once I get the thumbs up, I’ll send the high resolution digital file through to you. Your car has been transformed! I can also make arrangements for photographic prints of any size to be made, delivered and framed if required. Drop me a line if you have any queries at all.
