Any car shooters out there?

**deltacandid** · July 31st, 2009

Hey guys. I see from a lot of the posts that many of us shoot from parked cars. I do this from time to time and thought I would start a post where we could share techniques. Lets face it, its tricky to sit in a car for any length of time, especially while trying to take pictures.

I usually sit in the back of my SUV. It has tinted windows, which hurts my image quality because of the light, but it does a good job of hiding me. If I have my DSLR, I cover the body up with a black shirt, so even if I get spotted inside, its tough for people to tell what I am doing. I've been been busted once, but it was because I rolled down the window and tried to get a clearer shot.

If there are any other car shooters out there, we would love to hear how you do it!

**svannman101** · July 31st, 2009

I have tried several methods. The sit and wait is the most popular. My windows are tinted and it is a van so I can move freely about inside the car. Not that people don't notice the movement or see a shadow inside. But think about it, how many times have we gone places and never even noticed much less cared who was in a vehicle. So its a pretty safe move.
My second method is a Tripod - Remote control method. Basically its setup in my van, I can sit in my van and push my remote to take a picture. The downfalls are: you never know exactly if you are getting the shot and it takes a minute to setup the right angle for a shot to take place. I have taken some good ones and some not so good ones.
Her are some examples

Good One:

(See Full Post here: http://www.thecandidboard.com/forums...ics-91084.html )

So-So One, taken in my rear view mirror (no pun intended):

(See Full Post Here: http://www.thecandidboard.com/forums...ml#post1426022 )

I think the main thing is, be careful out there in your car, I like to take them and get out of there. Just like anything, if you stay too long, someone is going to notice.

**be123** · August 2nd, 2009

I have no experience with that techque, but when this bikini girl was shot out of your car... Wow, excellent! Congratulations to that picture.
Tinted windows are not popular in my country and so I have not the opportunity to use your technique.
But I was thinking about shooting for the moving car. Never done, but will use the next chance. So when there are any hints for that... I would love to hear (using a non-DSLR camera).

**Magnum PI** · August 11th, 2009

I shoot from the vehicle occasionally. I'm actually thinking about doing it tomorrow afternoon. There is a beauty place in a nearby town that has a lot of hotties going in and out all day (especially teens)...and it's nice because it's in a little strip mall that doesn't have a lot of traffic or people otherwise. It would be awfully tough to get busted.

**svannman101** · August 11th, 2009

Magnum, do you conceal yourself at all? Tinted windows? Do you have one of those vans with no windows? (those are a dead giveaway.)

Like this?

**Bucks5** · August 12th, 2009

I hope you have extremely dark window tints. The biggest problem about car shooting is that your registration plate can be used to identify you if someone decides to report you to the cops.

**Magnum PI** · August 12th, 2009

I'm just very aware of who is possibly sitting in vehicles around me, if any. Also before I ever raise the camera, I'm watching for any vehicles that may drive past. I shoot out the driver's side window, I don't like shooting through any windows, period. Like I said earlier, where I shoot is not super busy, so that helps. Oh, I drive a little red blazer.

I was thinking about it, and one of those cameras with the swivel-LCD would be perfect for shooting in vehicles.

**romnxxxx** · September 5th, 2009

I shoot from the car all of the time. It is all about be aware of your surroundings and not freaking out if people see. All you are doing is taking a picture of that amazing landscape or cool car, right?

**lip** · January 11th, 2010

I do it occasionally, I'm actually very good at drive-by-shootings. I always have my little cam on my lap when I drive around. When I see a nice girl on the side of the road: *click*. The candid results of this aren't prize winners altough some come out good, but I just like to do it for the sake of it anyway.

But: Here is Switzerland numberplates are owner-linked and not car linked, and the owners adress is obtainable for free on the government website. This has advantages and drawbacks. One advantage is the fact that most people behave a bit better here in traffic because they don't have anonymity. It makes road travel politer and as lot safer compared to other countries. Here poeple actually do stop for pedestrians on zebra crossings, or letting people in coming from driveways for example, and the "zipper" rule when lanes merge is always in use.

But the nonexistent car anonymity isn't good in terms of candid shooting. Hence when I go to a public pool candid session (I shoot there in the open) I always take my bicycle with me in the car and then park a good distance away from my shooting place so I can do the last stretch without the car. - This "yacht-with-a-dinghy" principle helps to always have a good shady parking spot in the summer anyway.

**be123** · January 12th, 2010

I done one succesful car shooting yet, which I also posted on TCB:
http://www.thecandidboard.com/forums...nts-92385.html

In summer there are a lot of girls on bicycles and I would say I see once in a week a thong peeking out.
So I'am interested in the car shooting, when moving. Must be careful, but I guess there is a lot to capture.
I will see what the summer will show.