Portland ChampCar Race

[defordphoto]

So far I only have one gallery online. Between my wife and I, we shot about 3500 shots. So, there's lots to go through. Here's the first batch. They're straight out of the camera and only run through BreezeBrowser for gallery creation.

I shot most of these in sports mode and then realized that I really needed to blur the (ugly) background as you can see. Sports shooting is not my forte, but is slowly becoming very pleasurable for me as I just love working with these Canon cameras. They really let you stretch your legs and open up.

I learned a lot these past couple of weeks between the boats and now the cars and also everyone's comments.

Enjoy:
http://racefamily.racinglines.com/Galleries/2003/CART/Portland/Friday/index.htm

http://racefamily.racinglines.com/Galleries/2003/CART/Portland/Friday/pir_friday2003_0077_std.jpg

[CyberDyneSystems]

RFM !!!!

OMFG!!!!!!!!!

That is the most amazing photo!!!!


It looks better than an advertisement for Eos Lenses!


I am really impressed. "like wow man"

[CyberDyneSystems]

Love the whole series.

This was one that stod out,. but they are all amazing.

http://racefamily.racinglines.com/Galleries/2003/CART/Portland/Friday/pir_friday2003_0074_std.jpg

!!!

The wet track turned out to be real godsend,.. makes for very exciting photos.

[defordphoto]

Almost like sprint boats eh? ;) I just wish more cars had gone out in that rain. I'm just thankful it broke when it did so I could grab the few shots that I did.

Thanks for the exuberant comments!!

[NILOLIGIST]

RFMSports,

Canon should pay you, those shots sold me. Man, I want that lens and camera so bad, I would sell my dog if I had one. LOL

Send some of those photos to Canon, they should use your shots instead of the ones they are using. You should seek partime work for them, free lens and cameras.
You are like this television show, that I can't wait to come on. I have been waiting for the new shots, I am addicted.

Also, I like seeing all those photographers using Canon L-glass, nice shots.

NiL,

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think we may be starting a cult of RFM worshippers ! :D :D :D :D

[NILOLIGIST]

CyberDyneSystems,

DONE!! I just can't wait until he posts, I checked everyday and was worried. I was just thinking this evening, gosh, doesn't he know I am waiting, next thing, he posted.

Now, I can go to bed.

NiL,

[FramerPDX]

Very Nice job I was wondering how long it was going to be before we saw some pics from the weekend I am sorry I didn't get a chance to make it down but I really would like to meet up with you sometime to get some pointers and ask some questions... just let me know when is good for you ok...

FramerPDX

[PaulB]

Nice photos, but at the risk of being a killjoy shouldn't they be in the Photography section of the Forum?

[defordphoto]

Thanks again for the comments. I stand humbled. Well, actually sitting, but you know what I mean. ;)

PaulB: Yeah. You're probably right, but this all started off in another thread about the new 100-400L IS lens I purchased (see my thread about the "100-400 lens works out well"), and this where I make this thread on topic and fitting this genre.

The other long lens that we use is a Sigma 70-300 APO lens. It does an okay job, but really sucks for sports shooting. The AF is super slow and very noisy. The 100-400 is smooth as a baby's butt and when in AI Servo it tracks your subject silently and perfectly and in perfect focus. My only out of focus shots were strictly my fault and at that were very few considering the 2300-plus photos I shot.

This was my second major shoot with this lens and I'm still learning it and the camera, which I have only had since the first week of May, so to say that I am pleased with the results is an understatement.

I shot this race last year with a Canon 650 and some Vivitar 70-200 lens. All you have to do is go to this page, and then select the 2002 photos to see the difference: http://www.rfmsports.com/CART/Photos/CARTphotos.html

I always knew I could do this kind of shooting, but just never had the proper equipment to handle the load and speed required. With my old film equipment I struggled at best. With the 10D and 100-400L my photos scream clarity.

Yes, I know I still have more to learn about sports photography. Mainly the right lens speeds so I'm not freezing the background, but this was a super productive and successful weekend shoot and I have many, many prints that shine with the professionalism that I have been looking for in a camera/lens combo that I have searching for for years.

Now that I have tasted "L", it will be extremely difficult to settle for anything less.

As an aside, there were at least 4 other 10D, 100-400L combos being used out there. And then you have the super-pros that were walking around with $30-$40,000 worth of cameras and lenses around their necks. 400-600mm, super-fast primes. Ahh yes, you could have gone camera/lens shopping in the media center at PIR over the weekend! ;)

And then back at the media center, we sat around mostly yakking about our equipment while we ate and did our other chores. I look forward to this weekend every year and this year has by far been the most fun. But, by Sunday my shoulders and back were feeling the pain of the hours of shooting I put in. I tried a mono-pod but found it way too constricting.

[Kenal0]

I only hope I could take pics that are even that close to those photos. These are as good as it gets for motoracing. I see no difference between these photos and the best photos in any motorsports magazine. Nice job. Just got my 10D yesterday and have not even got through a quarter of the manual yet.
Kenal0

[CyberDyneSystems]

Kenal0 wrote:
I only hope I could take pics that are even that close to those photos. These are as good as it gets for motoracing. I see no difference between these photos and the best photos in any motorsports magazine. Nice job. Just got my 10D yesterday and have not even got through a quarter of the manual yet.
Kenal0

There's a manual ??? :D

[PaulB]

Manual - where?

[defordphoto]

PaulB wrote:
Manual - where?

These things come with manuals? ;) Seriously though, coming from a Canon 650 and then previous to that an oldy-moldy Olympus OM-1, it was quite the learning curve. I seem to have leapt over that curve here the last couple of weeks. I still have the manual in my backpack, but have not pulled it out in quite some time now. I think I'll throw it in the main bag now that I don't need it as much.

[ssim]

Wow.......................

I was floored. You must have had great access. I went to the Montreal Grand Prix and ended up in the grandstands but at not a bad spot.

Damn... I feel like I should remove my grand prix shots from my pages.

Excellent work. I am totally humbled.

Sheldon

[NILOLIGIST]

ssim,

What are you talking about, your shots ARE GREAT!!! You were in the stands and it looks like you were right there.

NiL,