20_CiViC_02

I went out and took some pictures last night since I hadn't taken any since I've upgraded my car (rims, headlights, exhaust, intake).

Lemme know what you guys think and what you would recommend
Also, comment on my photography. I'm trying to get better at it! I'll be uploading more pics into the 'Post Your Ride' thread, but these are my favorite for now.

mac25

hi there first off car looks great! i'm entering my second year as an illustration major at emily carr university and an amiture photographer/digital photo editor (photoshop cs4), so i know a few things about composition, contrast, focus and subject position. photo 2 and 4 look great! i like the contrast between the subject and the framing background, and nice location it has detail but not too ,much to overwelm the subject. i've noticed you like to tilt your shots and center your car in id frame. the tilt works nicelly for 2 and four. but it getts repetitive and sometimes doesn't work. as for centering it's usually advised against for artistic expresion and mostly used for documentery, news and portraits of people. look up "golden ration", it's basiically dividing your image into thirds and lining up major defining lines such as a fence on these sweet spots. always try do divid your image in odd proporions eg. 3rds,5ths. if you do it in even devisions the two sides ballance too well and the image isn't as dynamic because your eye does not move around the image it just styes focused in one position, this is what happens when you center an object like in picture 7, the one by the antiques. that would have been a gorgeous profesional megazine shot instead of a great looking amiture shot (it still looks great btw!) if you shifted the image up 1/4 of the frame up and the car a bit more to the left, so the subject (your car) wouldn't be centered. anyway just some things i've picked up over the past few years, hope it helps if not then keep shooting i like your overall style man! ps:if you have a deviantart account tell me and i'll add yu =D

20_CiViC_02

Yea I have a DA account: ryan-14

I've heard of the rule about dividing the image into 3rds and I was do it last night, but apparently it didn't work out too well. The second last image is one of my favorites, but I didn't want to zoom out too much and put the car in the far left corner because there was other stuff in the background I didn't want in the shot.

But thanks for the photography tips, it has definitely inspired me to get into photography more. I'm using an Olympus digital camera so the shots aren't DSLR quality unfortunately.

Muirsy

car looks good just needs a drop and it will look so much better

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

Uhn...
Yeah, that's how it will look like lowered with 16" wheels...

20_CiViC_02

Yea I have 17" rims so I can't lower it too much.

Does a person just buy lowering springs and then replace them with the old springs? I read how to do it in the Hayne's manual but it looks difficult. And I don't wanna pay a mechanic to do it for like $200.

mac25

ya i only have a fujifilm s2000HD, i want a nikkon d90! my friend is a photo major and has one. the thing is soooo fast, never fails to auto focus and shoots frames so fast you can shoot falling water and it's crisp as frosen ice!

Nosepicker

Stealth baby, stealth!

Nice! Me likey.

Muirsy

its not hard at all just go out and rent a spring compressor and you can do it urself

20_CiViC_02

That's what I'm afraid of, the spring flying off and going through my face

Muirsy

dont worry as long as you have the spring compressor you'll be fine.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

and pleasure to meet my "almost" twin civic!
I am using the Anzo's too.

20_CiViC_02

lol I'd like to see your car.

edit: besides the one pic you posted above.

MelJ

Looks clean and simple. . Definitely likin' your ride.
Also, 56k

20_CiViC_02

Thanks! I'm going to be ordering a Mugen front lip for it, but I'm concerned with painting it. I know it comes primered black, but I don't think the primer will hold up...

Would it be stupid to spray paint it black, then clear coat it?

Muirsy

no cuz if u take ur time and do it properly painting it will look good. plus if u r going to be lowering ur car then u increase the possibility of scraping it and just wrecking the paint so might as well do it for as low as possible

20_CiViC_02

I don't think I'll be lowering it anymore...

I just hope that spray painting it won't ruin it. ie. Runs, globs, etc...
I'm pretty good at spray painting, so it should turn out alright.

02civicsi02

You know you dont need a spring compressor to put lowering springs on. I have never used one on lowering my car. And the spring isnt going to fly off and hit you. You will be fine and its really easy.

20_CiViC_02

Well, how easy is it? Can you give me a quick run through on how you did it without using a compressor?

And with 17" rims and 205/45R17, how low could I go? 1.5 looks too low, and is 1" worth it?

02civicsi02

To change the springs on your car either start with the front or rear it doesnt matter. Set the car on jack stands in the back or front which one you start with. I will start with the front, set the 2 jack stands under the reinforce part right behind the tires. To take the strut off you will need to unbolt the abs line and the brake line from the strut. Next to make it easier is to loosen the bolt that holds the top mount down on the coil spring. Its the bolt right in the middle of where the strut is connected to at the top with the other 3 bolts. Lossen it first and it will be easier than trying to loosen it with holding it with your legs lol. Next take the bolts out of the strut on the bottom where it connects to the knuckle. After that take the 3 bolts off the top and slide the strut out. Then take the bolt off the top mount that you loosened earlier and take the top mount off. Then just take the spring off and just put the other one on it the way it is suppose to sit. Then reassemble everything and its basically the same for the rear.

20_CiViC_02

I actually just read to diy article and it looks like a lot of work to lower it one inch lol.

Muirsy

heres my car with 205/45 17s lowered 1.5"... not to low but low enough. It seems like a lot of work but really its not. IMO its worth lowering the car

20_CiViC_02

I'll probably just get a lip kit and that'll make it look a bit lower. I gotta stop sinking cash into this car lol

02civicsi02

Thats impossible lol.

MelJ

It's like a can of Pringles. Lol.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

here you go. these are before the anzo's
before/after lowering and suspension in action

Muirsy

so true

20_CiViC_02

I'm going to be taking the rear wheels off and removing the brake drums so I can paint them red.

lol kidding. I'm painting them with black hi-heat paint. They are extremely rusty right now and it looks terrible.

And if I get the Mugen front lip, should I get side skirts and a rear lip as well? Would the front lip look out of place by itself?

Muirsy

i would get sides and rear looks more even

20_CiViC_02

I can't find a full lip kit for a decent price though. $100 for the front Mugen lip isn't bad, but then probably another $400 for sides and rear lip.