04/07/2020
Welcome to the first in Porsche Newsroom’s new series of masterclasses, designed to help enthusiasts sharpen their creative automotive skills during lockdown. In part 1 Richard Pardon explains the art of photography.
With so much of the world urged to stay home and save lives during the current crisis, Porsche Newsroom is today launching a new series of automotive masterclasses designed to help you sharpen your skills from the comfort of your homes.
The team has picked the brains of some of the automotive world’s most creative and talented people, from Michael Mauer – Head of Style Porsche – to car-valeter-turned-accidental-influencer Richard Tipper. The aim has been to create a series of guides that will enable enthusiasts to polish their skills in a number of disciplines, including car photography, design, detailing, art – and even driving. All while staying at home and adhering to social distancing rules.
First up, is Richard Pardon – the official photographer for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, whose images of cars have graced the covers of some of the world’s biggest motoring titles. Over the course of the next week, Pardon will cover a topic a day on Newsroom’s social channels (@PorscheNewsroom on Twitter and @Porsche_Newsroom on Instagram) and the official Porsche tribe on Drivetribe.
The Brit, who travels the world shooting cars for some of the top magazines, will cover equipment, the best and easiest editing apps, how to use light to make the most of a car’s shapes and lines, the “rule of thirds” and more. In turn, Porsche Newsroom invites you to share your own car photographs – whether taken in the past or while at home, during lockdown – using the hashtag #GetCreativeWithPorsche. The best images will be shared on our social channels, and our expert, Pardon, will offer commentary and advice.
Firstly, says Pardon, you don’t need expensive equipment.
The best camera and apps
Shutter speed
“Shutter speed relates to how long the shutter inside the camera is open: anything from 1/8000th of a second, all the way up to half a minute. While the shutter is open, light pours in and exposes your image. When it comes to photographing moving cars – something none of us are able to do at the moment – changing the shutter speed allows us to freeze an image (fast shutter), or add motion/blur (slow shutter) to create a dynamic effect. All modern cameras have a mode that allows you to adjust the shutter speed, and the camera will then work out all of the other variables for you.