Zilla's Car-Spotting Guide for Beginners! #firstblogpost

G’day, fellow CTzen! If you’re reading these words as of right now, it’s probably safe to assume you’ve interest in becoming a good car spotter! Well, let me assure you, right here and now, that by reading my car-spotter’s guide, you’ll be taking plenty of nice car pictures as a self-proclaimed photographer in no time! So bust out your notebook and a writing instrument, and get ready for some knowledge!

• Selecting a camera device.

The first step for any prospective car-spotter is selecting their tool of choice. This may be a camera, a smartphone with a camera, a handheld gaming device, etc. Nowadays, a decent camera is obtainable for most, if not all budgets, so you have a wide selection to choose from, from the everyday potato camera to more expensive, professional grade cameras. Whatever you choose, or are otherwise stuck to using, it then comes down to how you use it, which we’ll discuss in the sections ahead. I personally recommend a nice smartphone with a good outwards-facing camera, as they don’t make it too obvious that you’re taking pictures of someone’s car, they’re compact, and the quality of the pictures taken wouldn’t be too far off of those taken from an expensive, professional camera, especially after some editing has been done. Plus, it’s a multi-use device you can use everyday. Nothing beats practicality and functionality.

• Determining your spotting route and transportation.

Selecting a car spotting route and how you go about the route is more important than most realize. Depending on where you go and whether you’re a driver or passenger of a vehicle, as well as the type of vehicle you’re in, these factors can really switch up how you must go about snapping your pictures.
Let’s start with the route. If you know the route you plan to go on, you probably have a vague idea of the sort of cars you may see. For instance, if you’re going through a trashy neighborhood, you’ll likely see many uninteresting cars, with the occasional Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, or such, of varying degrees of condition. Even in these places, it’s best to keep your eyes peeled, just in case. Or say you go through a nice part of town, you may see some nicer cars, like perhaps a BMW, an Audi, or even a Porsche. If you’re lucky, your nice town will have plenty of wealthy folk where you’ll see some supercars and other high-end vehicles, prime targets for your spotting expedition. Perhaps you’ll pass by a car dealership with nice cars, or even a car meet, if you’re not at one already. Take any and all opportunities you can as your area allows you.
Next, let’s talk about how you get through your route. If you’re on foot or on bicycle, you’re pretty much able to go and stop as you please, but you can’t quite move as fast. This is ideal for taking pictures of parked cars or cars that are stopped at the traffic light (if you’re quick enough). You also have the freedom of being able to adjust your angle and distance of your shot(s). If you’re in a car, as a driver, you have to pay attention to the road at all times, for your own safety as well as others, so I highly recommend you don’t use your phone while moving. If you’re stopped at a light for a while, then try to use your phone quickly. Otherwise, don’t let your car-spotting activity distract you from the road. If you happen to see a nice car ahead of you while you drive, if it’s not inconvenient for you, follow it a little and look for your opportunity to snap a picture quickly before the car eludes you. If possible, have a passenger take your pictures if you have any and if you’re driving where you must focus on the road. If you’re in the car as a passenger (includes being a passenger on a bus), then you don’t have to worry about the road as a driver, so you can take pictures wherever the designated driver goes. If you’re in your parent’s or friend’s car and they support your car-spotting, they may be willing to drive a certain way or follow a certain car to help you get the shots you wish to take, especially if it’s a nice Ferrari or such rolling by. Obviously, if you’re using public transportation, you don’t have this luxury, so plan accordingly.

• Preparation and taking your pictures.

When preparing to take your pictures, you must take several factors into consideration, such as how much time you have to take the picture(s), if you have the camera focus on your target, if you’re positioned and distanced/zoomed as you’d like, if the lighting good, if you’re moving or if you’re still, and if anyone is in the way. By considering all of these variables, you can then determine the likelihood of the quality of your pictures beforehand and you can make any adjustments necessary to get the best pictures possible. As a side note, if the owner is in or around the car, unless it’s a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, etc, assume taking the picture without their consent is rude. I’m not sure about you, but if I was in the bad part of town and someone took pictures of my nice car up close and at all angles, and especially of the interior, I’d get really paranoid and will probably react in a certain way. In this case, try to keep your distance, use zoom and focus if possible, and look inconspicuous as you take your shots. If you’re more of the outgoing type and aren’t too timid to approach strangers, try approaching them and asking if you may have permission to take pictures of their car. By doing so, and hopefully adding in an explanation of how you think their car is cool, chances are they’ll agree to it. Who knows, you may even start a conversation, make a friend, or even get to sit in it.
When you’re taking your pictures, just remember that your position and your camera settings can enhance or ruin your shots, so take all factors into consideration and take your pictures as you see fit. Be sure to have the proper focus, zoom, angles, and lighting for the best quality pictures possible.

• Editing and uploading your pictures.

With today’s technology, you have access to all sorts of free to paid professional photo editing software/apps. Be sure to take advantage of the available software/apps to really make your pictures pop. Then, when you upload your pictures, whether onto CarThrottle, Instagram, Facebook, or a blog, try using as many relevant tags (when applicable), a good caption, and share with as many people as you know that would likely enjoy your content as possible. Who knows, with enough of a following and with quality enough pictures, you may be able to take up professional photography and be contracted to take pictures for companies to go on their sites, to Instagram, or wherever. The opportunity can happen, so it never hurts to try now!

• Repeat and enjoy!

This concludes my Car-Spotting Guide for Beginners! Be sure to follow and share this guide, and you and your friends may be big shot photographers (or skilled recreational photographers) in no time! If you have any questions or comments about this guide, leave them down below. Happy spotting!