I was able to shoot this Grand Prix White 2008 Honda S2000 CR over the weekend. The owner of the CR contacted me a few weeks back and expressed interest in booking a shoot for his car. At this point and time, I thought it was only a standard AP2 S2000 and was very surprised when I found out that it was indeed a CR model. Production for the CR model was originally planned for 1,500 but was stopped after only 650 chassis rolled off the line. This S2000 is one of only 82 Grand Prix White CR’s in the world, and one of only two that I know about in the Houston area. Totally immaculate car inside and out with a lengthy modifications list, including:
- K&N FIPK
- Berk High Flow Cat
- Greddy Spectrum Elite Exhaust
- FlashPro
- APR Carbon Fiber rear Diffuser
- Downforce Carbon Fiber side skirts
- Megan Racing Coilovers
- Spoon Strut Bar
- Titanium engine bolts
- NRG Hood Dampers
- Moddiction Anvil Shifter
- Password JDM Radiator Brackets
No doubt that these modifications ehance the performance of the CR, surely bringing the horsepower and torque above the stock levels of 237 and 162, respectively. The less restrictive exhaust gave the CR a hoarse exhaust note that sounded uphappy to be in the lower range of its power, as if it was constantly being restrained from exploring the upper limits of its rev range.
We met near Elanor Tinsley Park off Allen Parkway right before sunset to begin shooting. I’d been there a day or two before, and had envisioned a panned shot of the CR racing down memorial past the bern near the Policeman’s Memorial, lit by the setting sun. The light was not quite right when we arrived, however, so we went into downtown to explore a few areas to shoot. Having worked downtown in the past, I knew that the most picturesque area was northwest downtown, where all the buildings still had a vintage feel and parks popped up green splotches among the gray-clad concrete streets. I picked a parking lot next to the new Market Square Park, which houses a dog park and a small Niko Niko’s restaurant. I chose the area because the now waning light backlit the old buildings behind the lot in a brilliant yellow light, popping out all the colors and details. I positioned the CR in front of the buildings and set up my lighting.
For this shoot, I kept it simple. I used an SB600 and SB900, both mounted on light stands at about 3′. I set them bare on 1/4 power and shot using the long end of my 80-200 at 1/250 sec and f4 to make sure all of the body was in focus. immediately, the natural light paid off and the CR popped out from the background with its brilliant white pearl paint. The gunmetal wheels shone off in a deep contrast, adding a rich depth to the car’s overall look. After a few repositionings to get shots of the interior, rear and engine, we were all finished! We had to make a split decision at the end of the shoot to drive back to Memorial for the panning shot or to go ahead and set up a rig shot in the parking lot. With the evening light fading, we chose to go ahead and rig it. I love using the rig, it’s quite the attention-getter! People always seem to gawk at at and wonder what the hell this huge contraption hanging off a little car actually does! The rig shots were nice and to the point, and after about four or five shots, I had one keeper in the bag. The owner and I talked for a bit, shook hands, then parted ways.
Editing the photos was pretty straightforward. The lighting was so spot on SOOC that the photos really only needed a little sharpening and minor adjustments to look great. I was really happy with this, as I think that most photos look great with minimal processing (although sometimes I do indulge in doing the exact opposite). The rig shot was very crisp, and I loved the contrast between the sharp white of the CR and the lovely teal color of the sky. This shot eventually was Explored on Flickr and reached #82 in the world for June 2!
All in all, this was a great car to shoot. The owner has kept this example in near showroom condition, somehow avoiding Houston’s merciless gauntlet of potholes. This shoot also kept me on my mission to pay better attention to ambient light, as it can obviously make an OK image something much, much more.
Stay tuned for postings in the near future!
Thanks,
Theo
On to the pics!
