A1 GP meeting story PART 2 (56K warning)

[KennyG]

Saturday - Yipee, sunshine. Arrived 8am ready for a busy day. A walk around the paddock to meet old friends and then off to Paddock bend in for TGP qualifying.
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-22.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-23.jpg

Worked my way towards Druids for the GT250 qualifying and when taking a shot of a TGP recovery from the Paddock gravel trap the shutter went on my 1D MK-II. I put the camera in sensor clean mode so I could see the shutter and one of the blades was hanging rather sadly in front of the sensor. I quickly switched over to my MK-I (all pros should carry at least two bodies) and after contacting Glenn (Cadwell) on my radio I arrived at Druids. Thank's for the ice cream Glenn, I needed it.

The Ultima caught my eye as a good subject, seen here on its way into Druids:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-24.jpg

This was follwed by the Ferrari Formula Classic race:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-25.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-26.jpg

Next up, more A1 GP practice:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-29.jpg

The first of the TGP races taken at Paddock:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-30.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-31.jpg

Followed by the MSV Formula Ford championship, won by Irishman Peter Dempsey (pictured here):
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-32.jpg

Off to Stirlings on the GP circuit for A1 GP qualifying, where I met up with a few POTN regulars:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-27.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-28.jpg

We then had the first of the GT250 races:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-33.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-34.jpg

I then made my way to Clearways for the last three races of the day - Caterhams, Ginettas and the second FF race:
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-35.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-36.jpg
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images83/bh-37.jpg

Another day over and the light was fading fast. Back to the hotel for a good rest and to get ready for the big A1 GP launch day.

Look out for PART 3 tomorrow.

[3oh6]

nothing beats your quality of work ken. not only the photos but the commentary and stories that come with them are top notch. just keep posting your shots and i will be sure to get my automotive fix every week. this series you are putting together from the A1 meet will keep me going through next week as well...stunning stuff mate!

[peacock]

Fantastic ! pure quality . I notice your first pic of this post was actually the chap who fell off the track and was recovered when your shutter went , his front looked very different .

[Skip Souza]

They are all absolutely stunning Ken, absolutely stunning.

[dodger]

Fantastic shots Ken.

What news on the body?

[Cadwell]

I quickly switched over to my MK-I (all pros should carry at least two bodies) and after contacting Glenn (Cadwell) on my radio I arrived at Druids. Thank's for the ice cream Glenn, I needed it.

S'all right mate, what else are us lowly mortals for but to bring you hard working pros ice cream ;)

Excellent shots!

I hope the trip home on Sunday wasn't too much of a trauma.

[KennyG]

Dodger, I have a weekend off so I won't miss it and it will be back next week with me £200 poorer. The old MK-I did a good job and I am happy with the results.

Glenn, I got back at 10:30, had a meal and then worked until 2am to get the last of the images off for publication. Apart from the magazine, I had two newspapers to satisfy as well and they were printed Monday night..

[Simon Harrison]

Outstanding Ken. I'm interested in a couple of things. When you cover an event as large and significant as this, how detailed a brief do you have for the type of shots that the clients your working for are after? For example, do you have simply a list of cars to shoot, or do you have very specific requirements for the type of shot and location that is required? The scale of this event is beyond anything I have experience with, so I'm interested to find out more about how it all works.

Secondly, just how good is the P2000. Presumably the screen must be very clear if you were able to review your shots and delete a small number of shots you weren't happy with.

I'll look forward to part 3 this evening!

Cheers,

Simon.

[Moppie]

These are just beutiful images, I don't know if Brands hatch is photography friendly, or if you were just on top of your game on the weekend, but these are above even your usualy perfect standards Kenny.


How did you find the event to cover?
IMO it has the potential to out class F1, but of course thier treatment of the press will be an important part of being able to do that.


I can't wait till part 3, its recieved a lot of media coverage here, so I know there was some very exciting racing on the Sunday.
If you have any photos of the Kiwi car I would dearly love to see them?
I went to school with Matt Halliday, he was in the year before me, and his ablity with a Kart was known well then.

[PhotosGuy]

Love those Loti! How did that car in the "A1 GP practice" shot ever make it through Tech (Scrutineering)? It has an illegal # of tires! :D

[Dave_G]

these are fantastic Ken, the TGPs really do it for me

question for anyone that was there: have they put more fences up all over the place?

Moppie - Brands is fairly 'photographer friendly' from whichever side of the fences you are, all the best corners seem to be angled nicely so you can get really low shots!

[Cadwell]

question for anyone that was there: have they put more fences up all over the place?



No additional fencing. Top marks to MSV for that.

[Dave_G]

Hurrah! Mere mortals can still get good shots from the exit of Stirlings then...and hopefully my log is still there....

[Cadwell]

Hurrah! Mere mortals can still get good shots from the exit of Stirlings then...and hopefully my log is still there....

Yes, and the log is still there... I kinda thought it was mine though... perhaps it's a timeshare log :confused: ;)

[Dave_G]

Communal Log!

You're a bit taller than me so maybe I should claim it?

Actually I have a pic of you that I found from the CSMA @ Brands last year. My Mrs took it because she was impressed with your Sigma's length...

[Dave_G]

not that we're stalking you, you understand ;)

[Cadwell]

:lol:

[Dave_G]

http://images6.fotki.com/v77/photos/1/105162/965275/bh689-vi.jpg

:D

[madmike283]

Superb shots as always Ken. Incredible! Sorry about the bad luck with the 1d-II. Those first two images of the TGP qualifying are so great. That elevation change in the background is so cool along with having the sun through the visors lighting up the driver's faces.

I have a tech question if you don't mind sharing. What kind of shutter speeds do you use on the head-on and 3/4 shots? They are just so crisp, yet still add a little blur to the tires. Thanks for posting!

[GSH]

http://70.85.81.229/2858/72/emo/bowdown.gif

Amazing shots, something for us mere mortals to aim for.

How's Brands from the "public" point of view? Never been there and should have a 100-400L to play with after tomorrow. Might go down for the BTCC finale.

[despot]

Lovely shots Ken. It was good chatting to you on Saturday.

GSH - You'll have no problems shooting the dodgems with the 100-400.

Andy

[Dave_G]

You'll be fine with the 100-400, you should be able to shoot through the fence at Druids, easily have enough reach at Paddock and the same at Clearways.

Brands is pretty good for us mortals!

LOL @ dodgems.

Muller: "Plato took me out"

Plato: "Muller is a pig"

:D

[KennyG]

Outstanding Ken. I'm interested in a couple of things. When you cover an event as large and significant as this, how detailed a brief do you have for the type of shots that the clients your working for are after?

I get mixed briefs (not the sort you get from M&S ) and they range from - "Single out car xxx", "In this race a pack of them", "Show some crowd", to absolute "Car xxx at Druids". Other times it is simply "Give us a dozen of your best shots and some winners please". A lot depends on how clued up the publication is. Teams are a lot tougher and more demanding. Some even put markers on the cars so you can't get away with practice or qualifying shots.

Secondly, just how good is the P2000. Presumably the screen must be very clear if you were able to review your shots and delete a small number of shots you weren't happy with.

The P2000 is excellent. A lot chunkier than it looks in the pictures. Operation is simple and downloads are fast enough for me. Battery lasts ages which is a good point when you use 2gb cards. The screen is excellent, quality beyond reproach, but in daylight it is useless, worse than your 20D. They are all like that.

[StevenHanna]

Fantastic images......

[Simon Harrison]

I get mixed briefs (not the sort you get from M&S ) and they range from - "Single out car xxx", "In this race a pack of them", "Show some crowd", to absolute "Car xxx at Druids". Other times it is simply "Give us a dozen of your best shots and some winners please". A lot depends on how clued up the publication is. Teams are a lot tougher and more demanding. Some even put markers on the cars so you can't get away with practice or qualifying shots.



The P2000 is excellent. A lot chunkier than it looks in the pictures. Operation is simple and downloads are fast enough for me. Battery lasts ages which is a good point when you use 2gb cards. The screen is excellent, quality beyond reproach, but in daylight it is useless, worse than your 20D. They are all like that.

Thanks for the insight Ken.

Worse than the 20D screen in daylight!?! Now that is saying something.

Cheers,

Simon.