Anyone near Caltex Rimutaka with a digital camera?

**Beemer** · 1st March 2006, 10:14

I was in the Hutt yesterday to interview the owner of Caltex Rimutaka (who was inspired to buy a bike after seeing all the bikes turning up at his station!) and I had to take photos to go with the article. The interior shots are fine, as are a couple of the exterior ones, but it was incredibly sunny (typical weather down there!) and the wide angle shots of the forecourt and exterior of the site have come out a bit dark. I meant to dial up a bit more exposure but I damned well forgot so the cars filling up and any customers on the forecourt are almost invisible. I'm not planning on being down in the area again before Monday (when I have to forward the shots to the publisher), so I was wondering if anyone in the area who wasn't a bad photographer had a digital camera handy and could fire off a few shots for me? I need a shot showing the whole site (the forecourt with any signage and the shop in the background) and shots of customers filling up with fuel.

If anyone is able to do this, that would be great, but if not, I'll have to duck down there on Saturday - we're off to the Martinborough Fair but usually go over the top and down through Masterton rather than over the Rimutakas.

My email address is faye@writeability.co.nz if anyone is able to help. The shots need to be in high resolution, but most digital shots nowadays are perfectly good enough.

**riffer** · 1st March 2006, 11:16

Hey Beemer.

If you want them fixed quickly, email the RAW images to me at work.

PM me for details.

I may be able to tweak them anyway. You'd be amazed how far you can process an underexposed image if you get the RAW file.

Failing that, I could still work on the images you have. Or I can pop up the road and take some.

Simon

**Beemer** · 1st March 2006, 12:54

Thanks Riffer. I have Photoshop at home and tweaked them a bit myself - I panicked when I saw how dark they were but they did actually come up okay after a bit of dodging! I sent them through to the publisher and he says they are fine, they plan on running them over two pages as a background wash anyway, so the darkness wasn't an issue for them.

I'm just waiting to hear if they need a separate shot of the owner now - I only got a shot of him with the team - typical! If they do, I can pop back over the hill on Saturday as it sounds like we'll be visiting my Mum in Lower Hutt on the way home anyway.

Thanks for the offer though!

**RantyDave** · 1st March 2006, 13:03

Originally Posted by Beemer

I was in the Hutt yesterday to interview the owner of Caltex Rimutaka (who was inspired to buy a bike after seeing all the bikes turning up at his station!)

Faaaaaaabulous. Is he going to come on the newbie rides?

Dave

**Fishy** · 1st March 2006, 13:45

Maybe he can discount fuel costs to all KB members?....sounds like another Tui ad.

**Beemer** · 1st March 2006, 14:41

With the number of bikes that stop at his station, he'd probably go out of business if he offered a discount - nice try though!

His name is Peter and he is American by the sound of it. He's had his full licence for a year and owns a Hyosung 650 cruiser. Doesn't sound like he's a speed freak, so do call in and make yourself known to him and encourage him to go on some organised rides - I'm sure he'd be really keen.