In the US Scott Kelby described Tim recently as one of the most influential car photographers in the World today and Tim was recently invited back to the US by Kelby following the success of our online photography and photoshop training class videos that we recorded for the Kelby Group back in 2012. Today the first of those new videos was released which is a 1h 20min in-depth interview that he recored whilst in the US with TV Host Mia McCormick. He is now a regular guest at Kelby and continues to build on the catalogue of training videos available through his dedicated area on the Kelby site where he is one of the 8 featured instructors in the World alongside some of the biggest names in the photography today such as Joe McNally and Jay Maisel. 

Kelby Training - The Business Side of Tim Wallace 

Check out the new interview here right now.

Working closely with their filming and production crew produced a brand new series of video tutorials have been produced that cover subjects such as the aspects of the lighting cars with limited equipment, complex multiple pro lighting setups for shooting motorbikes as well as a special class that Tim shot with Scott himself taking him through lighting a car interior using pro heads step by step, all of these classes also include the post production element in Photoshop as Tim takes you through to the final image. You can also find 2 in depth interviews lasting over 1 hour each with Tim talking about the business side of the industry from setting up and first things to think about, through to client strategies and effective quoting as well as a second 1 hour video interview where Tim talks about what inspires him today and talks through the journey that led him to where he is today. 

If you would like to watch how we worked with these cars and made the best use of our lighting then please join us online at Kelby Training where you can review and enjoy all 7 video classes, each of which is around a 1 hour in duration. 

Kelby Training with Tim Wallace Checkout our online classes here at Kelby Training

500px this week launched a news page regarding the craft of car photography and named in their view the Worlds top ten car photographers to follow. We are very pleased indeed and somewhat humbled to have been placed at the top of that list.

500Px wrote: “Inspired by the Follow Friday hashtag movement on twitter we started a new feature on our blog. With Follow Friday posts you can discover new, popular and up-and-coming photographers from 500px to follow and add to friends. Today we are focusing on Automotive photographers”

500px - The World Best Car Photographers Check out the pages live here

Why not come and join us on 500px

Recently AmbientLife was over in the US recording and shooting some client work and whilst we were there we did some test work for a automotive company based in Clearwater near Tampa Florida. 
Our task was to create a hard hitting image of a new the new Dodge Challenger. 
The Challenger is a muscle coupe with a mix of retro style and modern performance. Designed to tie together the past and present, the Challenger competes with its classic rivals, the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro.

Although the Challenger was on hiatus for three decades, it was a muscle car from the start. The Challenger has remained true to its roots, its two generations spanning a three-decade hiatus yet still looking, driving and performing closely enough to recognize it at the same model. It has always been a great car to shoot photographically and we look forward to spending possibly more time with Dodge in the future to shoot this true American icon of motoring. 

The Challenger started production in 1970 and has only seen two generations of production due to a 30-year hiatus from 1978 to 2008. The original offered four hardtop models: Challenger Six, V8, T/A, and R/T. A convertible was offered in 1970 and 1971 only. Engines ranged from a 225 cubic-inch six to a 230-horsepower, 318 cubic-inch V-8, a 340 cubic-inch V-8 and the 290-horsepower 383-cubic-inch V-8. All models came standard with a three-speed manual transmission except for the 383 cubic-inch V-8, which was only available with a TorqueFlite automatic.

The R/T featured a 383 cubic-inch Magnum V-8, rated for 335 horsepower initially, but later 300 horsepower. The R/T could also be upgraded to a 440 cubic-inch Magnum, a 440 cubic-inch Six-Pack and a 426 cubic-inch Hemi. The first generation of the Challenger ran from 1970 to 1978.

The current generation of the Challenger was reintroduced in 2008, with a simplified lineup and engine range: the SE, a base V-6 model with 250 horsepower; the R/T, with a 5.7-liter HEMI rated at 375 horsepower; and the SRT8, with a 6.1-liter HEMI rated at 425 horsepower. This new range was styled to look much like the classic Challenger, though it has grown considerably in size, weighing over 4,000 pounds and featuring 17 to 20-inch alloy wheels. Nevertheless, it provides classic muscle-car feel and performance, with an available five-speed automatic or pistol-grip six-speed manual (manual available on R/T and SRT8 only).

Interested in learning how to light and shoot car and automotive photography? 
Why not join us here to enjoy over 4 hours of video tutorial classes on car photography Tim Wallace - Kelby Training Instructor

This month the work of commercial car and automotive photographer Tim Wallace was featured in the German Profoto News Magazine. The magazine features each quarter a cross section of work from cutting edge professional photographers from around the world and we were very proud to have Tim’s work showcased in the magazine as well as being held across the front page of the Spring edition of the magazine. In the feature Tim talks about his work, his views and his lighting within his role as one of the top commercial car photographers in Europe today.

Profoto Germany Interview and Magazine Feature

Tim Wallace shoots cars. That is the short explanation. But it is somewhat misleading because looking at Tim’s images you get the feeling that he not only shoots what is in front of the camera, but also what is hidden underneath the body of the car – its heart and soul.

“For me it’s all about creating an emotional image,” says Tim. “I mainly work in the prestige end of the car market, and such brands as Bentley, Jaguar and Aston Martin aren’t sold with reason but with passion and emotion.” 

But as we all know, cars are not actually emotional. They are lifeless objects made of plastic and aluminum. So, how do you capture the passion and emotion in something like that?

“First of all, I spend very little time in the studio,” says Tim. “Personally, I don’t believe cars belong there. They belong on the road. That’s where they come alive. 

“It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to shoot the entire car to show its personality. Sometimes shooting just a tiny detail is enough, like the rear light on an Aston Martin DB5 or just a fraction of the grill on a Morgan Aero. I remember that when I first started working commercially, a lot of people told me that what I was doing was too much like art. But to me that was a positive thing, because like art, a really good car image should evoke an emotional response. Today, the most common compliment I get paid by my clients is … that it looks like art…

“Finally, light is fundamental. The camera is, of course, important. The lens is important. But when it comes to building up an emotion, nothing is more important than light.”

As you might have guessed, Tim does not just photograph cars. He also teaches others to do the same, and being a self-taught photographer himself, he very much believes in the learning by doing methodology.

“Cars are difficult to light,” admits Tim. “They’re large, they’re reflective and they’re multi angled. So, I always say to those who are getting into the industry and want to learn the craft that the best thing to do is to get the best equipment you can and start shooting.

“Start with one light and experiment with the power, proximity and positioning of that light. Don’t read books. Don’t try to copy other people’s work. It’s like riding a bike. You need to fall off a couple of times to learn what works and what don’t. It’s a part of the process, or the journey, if you will.

“But the beginning of that journey is to have consistent lights. That’s the only way to be certain that it’s the power, the proximity or the positing of the light that causes whatever changes you observe. You need lights you can trust. And for me, Profoto is that light.”

Interested in learning how to light and shoot car and automotive photography? 
Why not join us here to enjoy over 4 hours of video tutorial classes on car photography Tim Wallace - Kelby Training Instructor

Nikon launch their Nikon Pro Book for Spring 2013 featuring some photography recently completed by Commercial Car Photographer Tim Wallace during a shoot in Los Angeles using Nikon based equipment with the infamous Aston Martin DBS

Nikon Pro is a very highly successful publication that in the past few years has won five industry awards. It is aimed at working professional photographers and agencies across Europe and demands the highest quality work in its features to showcase the work of professionals from around the globe. Its current readership levels exceed 75,000 and it is also a source for advanced technical information as well as new products that are soon to be available, reports and reviews.

Tim - “I’m delighted that we have had some work chosen for this years exciting Spring edition of Nikon Pro and in many ways its a great honour as I know that Nikon actively choose each year the photography to include from quite literally a global pool. In my work as a professional commercial photographer I use both medium format (Hasselblad H3 / H4) and DSLR (D3s / D4) camera solutions to best adapt and work in what can often be a changing and demanding field of photography. Since the onset of the ‘digital age’ we have heard many voice concerns about if digital holds the quality of film and in my opinion digital as a whole overtook film for dynamic range and quality approx 3 years ago. Nikon is a brand that I am very familiar with having used these camera’s all my life since my first Nikon, a rather battered FM that still resides on top of my book shelve in the office, and for me they are a valuable addition to my high end medium format equipment. I think the comparison between DSLR and medium format will always be made but for me its quite simply a case of what is fit for purpose for the shoot in question. I will never be looking to get 14 frames a second from my Hasselblad but on the other side of things I would not expect to maintain the noise control and speed of my D3s and D4 if it attempted to reproduce the fine definition and resolution from a Hasselblad. In essence each has their role and each has their strong points, as a professional working photographer my only comment would be that its not productive to believe that you must ‘choose’ between either, use what works for you and if that means working on both a DSLR and medium format then pick the best ‘tool’ for the job at that point” 

Today saw FWA select one of our recent shots from Los Angeles featuring a Lamborghini Murcielago SV as there chosen global ‘Photography of the Day’

FWA was first created and launched back in 2000 and is a project that is uniquely funded by sponsors such as THEFWA, developers and creatives to showcase the best work in photography from around the globe, each day bring a new image forward for people to enjoy and hopefully be inspired by. The project has grown from strength to strength over recent years and now attracts over 50 million users worldwide. 

FWA
Take a view of FWA here
THEWFWA
THEFWA here

This week Tim and the crew started shooting a series of new training video’s in the US for Kelby Training. The crew are out in Washington and Florida for just over two weeks and its an exciting programme schedule with 3 brand new classes being completed to compliment the 4 that AmbientLife and Tim already have available with Kelby Training as well as two new in-depth face to face interviews with Tim talking through his life and what inspires him as well as a separate master class on business and how to redefine your view of your industry and your position within it.

Tim - ”It’s been a really manic first week out here in the US and currently we are shooting down in Florida with pretty long days to make sure we try to stay on our production schedule, that said its been absolutely fantastic and it’s always a real pleasure to work with the crews from Kelby with some days on set and location where we do really enjoy ourselves and have a damn good laugh even though we are working flat out, true professionalism and a great team I think. I have been working with Kelby for abut 2 years now and this new series of classes were pretty much born from the successes of the first 4 that we recored. The CEO of Kelby Training, Scott Kelby, asked me a few months back to come up with a series of additional classes that would complement what we already had out there with Kelby. During this visit into the US we are recording 3 classes, Lighting a Car with just one light!, squarely aimed at those who may only have 1 speed light. We also have done a class on shooting Motorbikes, this was a really big shoot with lots of Pro lighting gear not to mention a one off customised Harley Davidson from New York and a whole heap of scaffolding! Lastly we looked at shooting Car Interiors, and this was a personal class with Scott himself, again using Pro lighting equipment and looking at just what you can achieve in camera. We have also been filming some interviews, business and personal which have had a great reception so far from those that were on set and in the control room on the days of filming so I personally am hoping that these really inspire people. 
It’s been a great first week and I guess we are well on our way to completing the filming on time so thats good news indeed and even before we are ‘all set’, we have already had talking with Kelby and another series of additional classes has already been planned for 2014.”

While Tim is in the US he is also filming several interviews and appearances from Kelby’s ‘The Grid’ to other spots that will appear over the next few months. Below is a recording of his recent appearance on ‘The Grid’ earlier this week in the US were he talks in general about his work but also discusses the benefits to finding your ‘niche’ within your photography commercially. 

The Grid with Tim here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OZ_Rb62HdZ8

Interested in learning how to light and shoot car and automotive photography? 
Why not join us here to enjoy over 4 hours of video tutorial classes on car photography Tim Wallace - Kelby Training Instructor

This week commercial car photographer Tim Wallace spent 3 days on a project for our client Aston working on a series of photographic work of the new Aston Martin Rapide. The work is bound for marketing usage within Europe but also was completed towards additional work for a major one year that AmbientLife and Tim are working on with Aston to produce all the photography for the Aston Martin 100 years Centenary Book that is due to be published and launched in London later this year. The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door ultra-luxury sedan that borrows styling elements and mechanical components from the brand’s elegant sports cars. For the latest model year, Aston Martin has upgraded its sleek sedan with a more powerful V12 - now boasting 550 horsepower - along with freshened styling and a number of new interior options packages. Aston also changed the name from Rapide to Rapide S to reflect the significant nature of the revisions.

Interested in learning how to light and shoot car and automotive photography? 
Why not join us here to enjoy over 4 hours of video tutorial classes on car photography Tim Wallace - Kelby Training Instructor


2013 Seminar Events with photographer Tim Wallace 
Check out our events booking page and our main seminar page here at AmbientLife

Elinchrom is a worldwide lighting based company and brand with it headquarters based in Switzerland overlooking Lake Geneva. Elinchrom has been at the forefront of photographic lighting technology since the earliest days of studio flash manufacture with its products being used by the world’s leading photographers and this week they launched two new featured galleries of the work of commercial car photographer Tim Wallace of AmbientLife.

The two new featured portfolio’s can be viewed at the main Elinchrom website here or by visiting http://www.elinchrom.com

A recent trip over to the US saw us shooting in various places across California including the very amazing ‘Death Valley’. This week we have decided to post a quick piece of film footage that we shot using the GoPro Hero system as we travelled from Death Valley towards Las Vegas.