What’s the first thing we do when we get our new Corvette home from the dealership? Naturally, we photograph it, a lot.
Numerous photo albums gathering dust on our shelves are overflowing with snapshots of our beloved Corvettes. So, do we have an obscene number of photos taken from every conceivable angle?
The answer is a begrudging yes. But, if we’re honest here, our images are much closer to insurance company claim photos than artistic expressions.
Where do we go to get the artistic rendering that our fiberglass creation deserves? Or perhaps, just as important, one you would consider hanging on the walls of your home?
Your solution could very well be Jeffrey Lorber from Lorberphoto.
We were fortunate to catch up with Jeffrey at a recent Gateway Caffeine & Chrome cruise-in. The following is an edited transaction of our conversation.
Camera At The Ready
Rod Worley – Editor – Jeffrey, we were talking earlier about the journey that’s led you to Lorberphoto. Can you share some of that with us?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – It seems I have always had a camera by my side since high school. But I never had any real focus (pun intended) or vision.
I shot whatever looked interesting. Around 20 years ago small digital cameras became available (before cell phone cameras) like the Canon PowerShot, that you could keep in your pocket.
Once freed from the constraints of film and the ease of carrying a camera, I started taking photos of things on the side of the road, mostly in rural Georgia: Old
barns, decaying buildings, and rusted trucks covered with weeds.
I printed and framed some of my favorite photos and hung them in my office. My colleagues seemed genuinely impressed and I found myself giving many away.
The rusted and abandoned cars and trucks were clearly the most popular. Eventually, I discovered the monthly Caffeine and Octane Car Show at Perimeter Mall and fell in love with the styling and beauty of so many of the cars on display.
I was hooked and now attend every car show that I can, from Hilton Head, SC to Amelia Island, Florida.
Digital Artist
Rod Worley – Editor – How did you get so accomplished at photography? What did you do that advanced your art the most?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – Even though photography is the medium, I think of myself more as a digital (car) artist. The photos are just a starting point.
I know about twenty better car photographers, right here in Atlanta; but they stop at the photograph. I spend hours making my picture in post-production.
The term “making” is used deliberately here. My process is one of construction. To get “accomplished” I just started doing it.
I’d make pictures and solicit feedback from anyone willing to take a look. The key is to stay open-minded.
I think of my work as always being in progress. So how do I know when I am finished?
Do I ever truly finish? At some point, the work will give me a sense of satisfaction.
I look at it and if I say, “Wow”, then I know it’s done.
Love Of The Subject
Rod Worley – Editor – For us amateur photographers, what camera body and lens do you recommend for automotive photography? Any other pertinent gear we should consider? Tips?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – I do not think it is about the gear. Any decent camera or cell phone can get you a great shot. It’s much more about your love of the subject.
Art, for me, is about passion and romance. Not all cars move me equally. I recommend you shoot everything, to begin with, in order to learn the best angles and to understand lighting, color, and composition.
Once you get that down, then take 100 pictures of a few cars that rock you and discover what works. That’s another important concept – discovery.
Every time I go to a car show or photoshoot, it is about discovering what makes that car special. Does it evoke something from my past or is it just beautiful on its own?
Why do I think it is so cool?
Hone Your Skills
Rod Worley – Editor – Your images have visual energy that demands your attention. Post-production would be a key component to bringing your vision to life.
What kind of tools do you use for post-processing? What’s your workflow like?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – This is a much bigger question than it may appear. Use whatever programs you like (or can afford), and that you can learn easily.
1. I have several rules that I follow: Never use the “Easy Button”. There are programs out there that will do a lot of the work
for you. If you want your art to look like everyone else’s, then use them.
2. I shoot everything in my photo, even getting up early to get those sunrise backgrounds. I do not buy or use stock images.
3. Keep learning. Everything is on the internet. Look at other people’s car photos too. What did they do that you like? Headlights on – very nice look. Let’s try that. Mirror image in a puddle? How do I make that?
The “work” must be fun. So much so that you can’t wait to get to your computer or to the next car show.
Lighting Is Paramount
Rod Worley – Editor – Can you walk us through a car photo shoot? From scenery selection to the number of photos, to the cost?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – I never charge for a photo shoot unless it is very far away and I have travel expenses to cover. Good lighting is paramount.
The “golden hour” just after dawn or before dusk is ideal. I love the warm hues. Second, the best are mostly cloudy skies.
Sunny days can be brutal – glare, reflections, and shadows can make the task extremely difficult. I am at a place where I can manage those obstacles in post-production, but don’t recommend it if you are just beginning.
I like fairly simple backgrounds because I mostly eliminate them anyway. Sometimes if there are good clouds or a historic building in the background, I might incorporate them into the shot. I can usually get the photograph I want within 20 takes.
Having Pizazz
Rod Worley – Editor – You print your photography on a number of surfaces. What are some of the most popular?
Jeffrey Lorber – Lorberphoto – I send everything out to be printed. That adds to the cost, but I know my limitations.
My absolute favorite is metal (aluminum) and it comes with a frame attached to the back! Glass and Acrylic are great too, but very expensive. I don’t normally print on those unless requested.
From the internet: “Metal prints are made by a process called dye sublimation. Unlike the traditional method of printing directly on the surface, which may damage easily, dye sublimation infuses the image directly into the hard coating to provide lasting durability and protection.”
New cars in particular look especially dramatic on metal. Chrome looks fantastic!
The second choice for the budget-minded is metallic paper. You get a similar effect for less cost.
But you still have to mat it and frame it, so in the end, it is not too distant from the cost of a metal print and without the pizazz!
Lastly, certain (mostly older) cars and trucks look great on canvas. I often place older vehicles in front of abandoned barns, or rusty silos to look as if they were taken 50 years ago.
Canvas is less expensive than metal but more expensive than metallic paper.
Art Worthy Of Your Corvette
Corvettes are wondrous works of art rendered in fiberglass: every contour, every body line considered and reconsidered ad nauseam.
Yet, do we fully capture the design team’s artistic expression in our photographs? The numerous photo albums gathering dust on our shelves would point to a disappointing and resounding no, not really.
Fortunately, Jeffrey Lorber’s photography creates art worthy of your Corvette and the walls of your home.
Contact Info – Call or text 678-429-8212
Email: [email protected]
Facebook @LORBERPHOTO
You can see my work at: www.pixoto.com/jeffreylorber
(That is a shared website that also sells my work, but please don’t buy from them. They pay me peanuts!)
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