SHIRAKIPHOTO: Specializing in Exotic Cars & High Fashion Photography
Mar 21, 2012 | 01:59 PM
#103
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 140
*Download the high res wallpaper here
Car: Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster
About the car: This car has proven to be quite an illusive catch for me. I’ve shot and driven literally every make and model of the modern Lamborghinis (2001-present) with the exception of the Murciélago Roadster. The sound of the massive 6.5L, 650bhp, v12 at wide open throttle sitting just inches behind my head was both intoxicating and exhilarating. I personally hate rag tops but theres just something special about the unadulterated engine noise and driving experience that comes with piloting a topless Lamborghini.
About the shot: I’ve been dying to use this location for quite some time now and thought it would be perfect for this shoot. I compose a lot of my shots where the car isn’t in the center and slightly skewed to the side like it is here. Cars always look great when shot really low so I was basically lying on the ground here. Other than that its a really straight forward shot.
Post processing: A very talented automotive photographer and close friend of mine, Dejan Sokolovski was recently visiting Vegas so we had some time to discuss/share techniques. He kindly gave me 400mb worth of filters (something I’ve never used before) and tried them out for the first time with this shot. I’ve done everything by hand in the past and these filters provide a short cut but with less control and finesse than my previous methods. However, I’m quite pleased with the result.
This shot took me longer than normal (3.5 hrs instead of the normal 1hr of post processing). I desaturated, sharpened, yellow & cyan filters, sharpening filters, selective colors, curves, contrast, shadow highlights, and lots of layers and masking.
Gear: Nikon D300S + Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8
May 30, 2013 | 04:04 PM
#105
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 140
After a long hiatus I'm back shooting cars and happy to announce I'm now one of Lamborghini North America's official photographers. I'll be covering the upcoming Super Trofeo Race Series so I'll have a ton of content to share with you guys.
And what better way to return than to showcase two really rare Lamborghini beauties:
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Race Car (check out the awesome air jacks)
Lamborghini Urus:
I'm glad to be back and looking forward to contributing to TeamSpeed's photography content
And what better way to return than to showcase two really rare Lamborghini beauties:
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Race Car (check out the awesome air jacks)
Lamborghini Urus:
I'm glad to be back and looking forward to contributing to TeamSpeed's photography content
Last edited by shirakiphoto; May 30, 2013 at 04:17 PM.
Aug 22, 2013 | 09:29 PM
#109
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 140
SHIRAKIPHOTO'S Monterey Car Week 2013 Coverage
This was my third consecutive year in attendance, and it was a busy week for me as I was contracted to shoot for Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, and Tom James.
For those of you who weren't able to go I documented my weekend with a few pictures and brief captions. This is straight from my blog but I brought it here on TeamSpeed for all of you to enjoy!
1. This is Lamborghini’s display at The Quail featuring its’ $3.5mil Veneno and their 50th Anniversary edition Aventador
2. The Bentley booth featured their posh meticulously crafted coupes and sedans. But the car that caught my eye was the Speed 8, one of my favorite race cars of all time. This beautiful car (pictured centered in green) dominated the 2003 24 Hours at Le Mans finishing first and second overall in the race.
3. The Audi display featured the first RS7 in the country as well as my current favorite race car, the stunning r18 which I had the pleasure to do a full shoot of the following day.
4. On Saturday, I shot for Audi corporate featuring the 2013 R8 V10 coupe and spider shown below.
5. Here is the 2014 RS5 Cabriolet, RS7 and R8 V10 (note the drone hovering above to assist with my coverage).
6. The event was held at a beautiful $18mil mansion right off of 17 mile drive headed towards Pebble Beach.
7. After the Audi shoot, I headed to the Lodge at Pebble beach to shoot Actor Edward Herrmann, the illustrious MC for Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Here he is outfitted in a custom suit by Tom James Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of custom clothing. Their suits range from $1,500 all the way up to $30,000.
8. Later that night, I finally got to relax at the Lamborghini Club of America dinner hosted by the hilarious Adam Carolla. Please excuse the terrible cellphone photo, but this is Tom Brazill of Lamborghini Las Vegas a long time very close friend of mine. I never ever post pictures of myself. I prefer to be on the other end of the camera not in front of the lens but heres a rare glimpse of what I actually look like lol.
9. Sunday is reserved for the event that started it all, the Concours d’Eelegance. The crowning jewel of the Monterey Car Week, this event features 200 of the most prized collector cars in the world adorning the famous eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (click image for high res)
10. I was admiring what many believe to be one of the most beautiful cars ever created, the Lamborghini Miura SV/J. However, the owner had a slight problem with the headlights not retracting. Famed Lamborghini Chief Test Car driver, Valentino Balboni just so happened to also be walking by next to me and offered to fix the Miura’s headlights on the spot. It’s not every day that you see Balboni himself wrenching on a $1mil+ classic Lamborghini.
11. Another huge part of Sunday’s activities are the insane flamboyant hats that adorn many womens’ heads:
12. Also, I thought this would be the perfect time to try out a new toy to help me record the festivities: Google Glass Explorer Edition (click image for high res)
13. My friend Blake is a diehard Porsche fanboy so I snapped this shot of the new 918 for him.
14. Shot on the Concept Lawn, Lamborghini featured both the classic 1963 350 GTV and the 2013 Veneno to commemorate the brand’s 50th Anniversary.
15. One final shot of the aggressive Lamborghini Veneno.
I hope you enjoyed my coverage of this year’s Monterey Car Week. Thanks again for everyones support!
This was my third consecutive year in attendance, and it was a busy week for me as I was contracted to shoot for Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, and Tom James.
For those of you who weren't able to go I documented my weekend with a few pictures and brief captions. This is straight from my blog but I brought it here on TeamSpeed for all of you to enjoy!
1. This is Lamborghini’s display at The Quail featuring its’ $3.5mil Veneno and their 50th Anniversary edition Aventador
2. The Bentley booth featured their posh meticulously crafted coupes and sedans. But the car that caught my eye was the Speed 8, one of my favorite race cars of all time. This beautiful car (pictured centered in green) dominated the 2003 24 Hours at Le Mans finishing first and second overall in the race.
3. The Audi display featured the first RS7 in the country as well as my current favorite race car, the stunning r18 which I had the pleasure to do a full shoot of the following day.
4. On Saturday, I shot for Audi corporate featuring the 2013 R8 V10 coupe and spider shown below.
5. Here is the 2014 RS5 Cabriolet, RS7 and R8 V10 (note the drone hovering above to assist with my coverage).
6. The event was held at a beautiful $18mil mansion right off of 17 mile drive headed towards Pebble Beach.
7. After the Audi shoot, I headed to the Lodge at Pebble beach to shoot Actor Edward Herrmann, the illustrious MC for Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Here he is outfitted in a custom suit by Tom James Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of custom clothing. Their suits range from $1,500 all the way up to $30,000.
8. Later that night, I finally got to relax at the Lamborghini Club of America dinner hosted by the hilarious Adam Carolla. Please excuse the terrible cellphone photo, but this is Tom Brazill of Lamborghini Las Vegas a long time very close friend of mine. I never ever post pictures of myself. I prefer to be on the other end of the camera not in front of the lens but heres a rare glimpse of what I actually look like lol.
9. Sunday is reserved for the event that started it all, the Concours d’Eelegance. The crowning jewel of the Monterey Car Week, this event features 200 of the most prized collector cars in the world adorning the famous eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (click image for high res)
10. I was admiring what many believe to be one of the most beautiful cars ever created, the Lamborghini Miura SV/J. However, the owner had a slight problem with the headlights not retracting. Famed Lamborghini Chief Test Car driver, Valentino Balboni just so happened to also be walking by next to me and offered to fix the Miura’s headlights on the spot. It’s not every day that you see Balboni himself wrenching on a $1mil+ classic Lamborghini.
11. Another huge part of Sunday’s activities are the insane flamboyant hats that adorn many womens’ heads:
12. Also, I thought this would be the perfect time to try out a new toy to help me record the festivities: Google Glass Explorer Edition (click image for high res)
13. My friend Blake is a diehard Porsche fanboy so I snapped this shot of the new 918 for him.
14. Shot on the Concept Lawn, Lamborghini featured both the classic 1963 350 GTV and the 2013 Veneno to commemorate the brand’s 50th Anniversary.
15. One final shot of the aggressive Lamborghini Veneno.
I hope you enjoyed my coverage of this year’s Monterey Car Week. Thanks again for everyones support!
Last edited by shirakiphoto; Aug 22, 2013 at 09:30 PM.
