ROLLERS: A Guide to Car to Car Photography

NOTE: If you're asking about where to attach the tether for the harness in the back of your car, I clipped onto a pair of existing D-rings that were bolted to the chassis in the back of the wagon. I am not sure if child seat anchors will support the weight, so you should look for solutions specific to your vehicle about where to attach the tether and harness.
Car-to-car photos: what is it, and where do you start?
There is nothing else quite like the sense of motion, the impact of the car against a moving background. We achieve that sense of motion by shooting at a slow shutter speed, while keeping the subject car as sharp as possible.
Please be safe! I'm not encouraging anyone to do anything dangerous or illegal. This guide is purely for education, and tips to help you shoot better, and safer.
References:
suncalc.org
Guardian Fall Protection 1703 Velocity Economy Harness
amzn.to/3e5qxK3
Guardian Fall Protection 01280 AWL4-6 Adjustable Non-Shock Absorbing Lanyard from 4-Feet to 6-Feet
amzn.to/2OlDCUN
Rallt Carabiner Clips - 12kN Aluminum Heavy Duty Carabeaner Hooks
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PocketWizard PlusX Transceiver (Black) (Pack of 2)
amzn.to/3qbXWVH
Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber 4-Section Monopod (MM290C4US)
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Camera Wrist Strap - Rapid Fire Secure Camera Sling Strap
amzn.to/3xsCQGf
Special thanks to Matt Tierney and Roman Raetzke for input with this video, and Dave Burnett for helpful advice.
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0:00 Start
0:09 Intro
0:29: Be safe!
1:13 Camera car
1:58 Be safely secured
2:24 The right location
3:35 Choosing a lens
4:19 Shooting
6:22 Selecting images
7:11 Conclusion
7:48 Outro
#nikon #automotivephotography #porsche #photography #cars #sigma #nikkor #lexus #sportcross #is300 #rollingshot #rolling #cartocar #rollers #rollingshots

[@JohanEkatama]

My personal tips,, use nd filters + cpl and keep the apeture wide open while using low shutter speed😉😉

[@capturingthemachine]

That's a great tip! It's a little more advanced than I was showing here, but that's definitely a smart way to be able to have a more aesthetically desirable aperture, while maintaining a slow shutter speed 👍 I have pinned your comment so people can see this. 😄

[@danielsloan]

"you want smooth pavement if possible" *shows houston*

[@capturingthemachine]

I said IF POSSIBLE

[@ranjitklr]

Keep up the good work, amazing channel!

[@AdrianRodriguez-wv6zb]

Amazing content bro, hope you keep uploading frequently, it's amazing to learn this things.

[@capturingthemachine]

Thanks so much! I dragged my feet on finishing this video but I am excited about doing new ones!

[@GapSauceYoutube]

This definitely deserves more exposure, thanks for the tips mate 🙂

[@capturingthemachine]

awesome, thanks for watching!

[@ShortGuac]

Great video and thanks for the tips. I'm going on a rolling shoot tomorrow and this popped up in my recommended just in time!

[@capturingthemachine]

awesome, so glad if this helped - good luck on your shoot!

[@5Sp0kesMedia]

This guy is great his videos are so informative!

[@capturingthemachine]

this guy thanks you!! 😄 🙏

[@ILoveMyKSeries]

Why am I just discovering your content? This is amazing. Now I am going to binge watch all of your videos. Hope to see you around Houston some time!

[@capturingthemachine]

awesome to hear, thank you so much! Please say hello if we cross paths in Houston 😄

[@Taylittle]

Absolute top quality content. Keep it up, Cap!

[@capturingthemachine]

Thanks so much! 😄

[@KilozMedia]

These are always fun. You can do what ever you want in Detroit it’s one of my favorite places to get rolling videos off cars

[@capturingthemachine]

hahah that's awesome, I'll have to do that next time I'm there

[@jamiljafri4841]

Thanks for the advice man. This is so useful. I need to get that harness for sure 👍

[@jamiljafri4841]

Have you got any advice for shooting inside the car?

[@snehithps2175]

Thank you so much for the video bro, your content is great!

[@capturingthemachine]

Thank you!

[@lewismoore9n3]

Gran Turismo start sound for the intro. Instant thumbs up! :)

[@capturingthemachine]

haha thanks so much!

[@emilymarie1244]

It would be so helpful if you could create some points for night time still rollers and still photography.

[@206dannyboy9]

This video was extremely helpful! I am very new to car photography and especially rollers, this helped so much ty!

[@capturingthemachine]

awesome to hear it, thank you!

[@206dannyboy9]

@@capturingthemachine kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKG5eX6knb6XY8U heres what I was able to create with your tips! you are a legend sir!

[@erry1618]

Woaw the quality in this video is 🔥

[@capturingthemachine]

thank you!

[@AsianGargamel]

Great advice as always

[@capturingthemachine]

Thank you for watching!

[@BuyYourBuild]

Awesome tips - need to try this soon

[@capturingthemachine]

Thanks - you should!

[@RacerrrOG]

Thanks for these tips

[@capturingthemachine]

thanks for watching!

[@yok3nny]

Great vid bro

[@capturingthemachine]

thank you!

[@purplestonehenge4501]

I am just getting into car photography, getting ready for a rally, thank you for all the helpful tips. 🙂 Lucky you, an empty 4 lane road at any time of day sound very scifi to someone from central Europe 😄

[@capturingthemachine]

haha, thanks so much! I'd rather have fewer lanes if it meant better pavement quality 🤣

[@purplestonehenge4501]

@@capturingthemachine yeeeeah... About that. 😆 I am from Prague, Czech roads look like a teenagers face and are almost wide enough for 2 cars side by side... 😄 Kidding aside at least we have castles you could try parking in front of.

[@capturingthemachine]

@@purplestonehenge4501 🤣🤣🤣

[@MrBrianJi]

Thank you so much for this content !!!

[@capturingthemachine]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!

[@MrBrianJi]

@@capturingthemachine Im Automotive Photographer in Vietnam, this video useful ! You are great !

[@capturingthemachine]

@@MrBrianJi thank you!! That's amazing to hear!

[@monibstar]

Nice

[@caaande]

Love this video, I would love to film something similar myself!

[@capturingthemachine]

Thanks - Go for it!

[@GiannisVeronis]

Man I love your presentation skills and how you unfold everything on the screen like a documentrary! Just dm'ed you on instagram

[@capturingthemachine]

Awesome, thank you!

[@WinterVR6]

Really appreciate you showing the blurry pictures as well 😂

[@capturingthemachine]

haha, I definitely got a lot of those 😆

[@jdd3993]

Hey mate, great video and great content. I am looking forward to applying some of your techniques in order to capture my cars in unique ways. Also, top tip... Toyota 4Runners have roll down tailgate windows which would be safer to film out of (I have one, hence the comment...)

[@capturingthemachine]

Thank you! Great tip, the roll down window is very handy and unique 👍

[@steelcitysupercars9329]

WE NEED MORE VIDEOS

[@capturingthemachine]

I'm going to try to cover smaller topics so it doesn't take as long to make each video 😸

[@WeiChauin]

Support this channel!!!

[@capturingthemachine]

Huge thanks! 🙌

[@amartherealest]

Probably a silly question but do I have it in burst mode or single shot? Just want to improve my rollers

[@derrickdoan1060]

I see some spots in Houston! Do you have any recommendations on where to shoot rollers?

[@capturingthemachine]

I wish 😭. Downtown is alright (on a low-traffic weekend) but it's really bumpy. Some of this video was filmed on the east side on Clinton Drive, which is fine, but there are ugly power lines everywhere and they ruined some otherwise good shots. I think the best bet is to get pretty far outside of town (like Sealy area).

[@joebeck0]

Would a older canon rebel and a sigma 18-35mm be sufficient for rolling shots? I only worry about the focusing and not being able to get a sharp shot.

[@capturingthemachine]

definitely, I think that will do the job

[@IgorHorvat]

Great video, great advices. I miss just one thing - how to focus? For big part of the shots, I cannot look through the viewfinder, so I am either guessing or using LiveView, which is unbelievably slow and unreliable in those situations. Obviously, question is only applicable to dslr's, because with milc cameras, it's much easier to focus on the screen.

[@capturingthemachine]

Thanks! Good question, I wish I had a profound answer, but I usually have the autofocus set to single point (or a small cluster setting) right in the center of the viewfinder, and then spray-and-pray. 😭 Generally, you aren't at a wide aperture since you're shooting at such a slow shutter speed, so focus isn't as much of an issue, and I've found that the camera does a good job or recognizing the subject and focusing on the right thing. As with all of this, it's a lot of trial and error, in real time, seeing what's working, and adjusting.

[@IgorHorvat]

​@@capturingthemachine Thanks for answer. In that case, aside from focusing, there is also a problem of adjusting the frame... 🥲

[@capturingthemachine]

@@IgorHorvat set up the shot & camera settings while using the viewfinder, and once that's dialed in, you can shoot without using the viewfinder by guessing. I generally keep the car in the center of the frame for as many shots as I can, and I adjust the framing later in the composition by cropping.

[@scmclane]

@@IgorHorvat With many / most cameras you can lock the focus by pushing down half way on the shutter release button and then adjust the frame. Once you have the photo framed as desired - push the button the rest of the way to capture the shot. If you use center point focus it will be very easy.

[@paulyeung6608]

do you use polarizers on your lens

[@capturingthemachine]

I don’t on a rolling shot, personally, because I’m usually wide (~24mm) and it can give you a weird/bad effect in the sky that I don’t want to have to deal with later

[@Hyper_drive214]

That e46 wagon in the intro. I hear those are pretty rare.

[@capturingthemachine]

Yes they are! This one is a really beautiful build that I got to review: www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/car-design/a33229293/bmw-m3-wagon-tested-august-2020/

[@Hyper_drive214]

@@capturingthemachine I saw one a few weeks ago and didn't think anything of it until it started drawing a crowd.

[@zafarhashmi929]

Bro how did you achieve those rich vibrant colors?

[@capturingthemachine]

I have a video all about my editing process here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHfNf2mEjdBqhq8 I generally like to shift daylight photos a little warmer/more orange, and nighttime photos a little cooler/bluer. For this I definitely added some color overlays to heighten the blue

[@Chefkoch010]

This made me realise that I don’t know shit about cameras

[@capturingthemachine]

I'm sure you know plenty! So much of working with the camera is instinct/reflex, when I make a video like this it feels weird to try to articulate it into words

[@tricasterstrat]

Where does the body harness attach to in the car?

[@capturingthemachine]

many cars have hooks/rings for cargo in the back. It might be under the carpet, but there are often metal rings for tying down cargo connected to the chassis somewhere.

[@VaneAeon]

bro didn't even ask for like or sub, just show it to friends , damn

[@capturingthemachine]

😅

[@leonlee995]

Really high quality content. Just my thoughts, I enjoy looking at cool person talking just like how I enjoy looking at cool cars. I think your video will be more aesthetically pleasing by changing your own appearance a little bit. Still a great video nonetheless.

[@capturingthemachine]

Cool, thanks!

[@baggedtuned8569]

i have an R7 cant i just use the app instead of a remote trigger?

[@capturingthemachine]

Probably - I'm not totally familiar with Canon's app, but most remote camera apps I've used have a virtual button shutter and a bit of lag. It's always tricky if you're holding the camera, keeping it stable, and also pressing a shutter button on a touchscreen. You can do it, but being able to press an instant, physical button without looking will be easier, and your attention will be less divided while you're keeping the camera steady.

[@baggedtuned8569]

@@capturingthemachine bought the remote trigger and it wont take pictures. so far buying the monopod and the remote triggers ($195.00) have been worthless bc i cant get them to work with the R7. I would let people know this before they buy it this isnt a $12 remote trigger youre recommending

[@capturingthemachine]

@@baggedtuned8569 if it's pocket wizard, make sure you have the right cable to plug into your camera, they're customer support can probably help you with making your specific camera work.

[@baggedtuned8569]

@@capturingthemachine i have 2 cables in the kit one is for the flash the other is an AUX that fits in the camera ive tried pretty much everything in every setting of the camera after countless hours i cannot find any instructions on making it work for my camera.

[@baggedtuned8569]

@@capturingthemachine The AUX cable only fits in mic and headhone jack its not small enough to fit in the remote aux port. in other words the cable doesnt come with the kit youre recommending. again if this was an inexpensive kit i wouldnt even care but its quite expensive to not have a remote cable for my camera.

[@Wikhighterp]

Best car to shoot from is a Bmw touring👌

[@capturingthemachine]

BMWs are good!

[@grenda12]

Rolling shots on an iPhone???

[@capturingthemachine]

I haven't tried that, it would be tricky. When you do rolling shots, you're taking up two other people's time (drivers of both cars), so I usually try to be as efficient/effective as possible, which means using a camera better suited for the task

[@jacklack1818]

Lexus is300

[@capturingthemachine]

Yes 👍

[@gaming-Rchive]

1:03 "dont instruct your driver to cross into opposite lanes..." 0:14 shows a photo from an opposite lane

[@capturingthemachine]

where should I send your prize?