Bemsee rounds 1/2- Brands hatch (56k beware)

[Swaffs]

Well, that was one cold weekend!

My initial post on Saturday night was a bit rushed and I guess that explains the lack of responses. I hope this is better: (C&C welcome)

Unfortunately my pal who was racing his first time in Rookie 600's Mark Gomersall #43 had a highside on Friday so was out of action for the whole weekend, but despite that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Looking at the times, I'd like to think Mark would be in the mix, top 10 at least once he has healed (hopefully by Lydden)
Lots of new faces &bikes. As ever I took thousands of photo's and have reduced it down to about 400 on my site.

Rookie 600's
Looks like it will be as exciting as ever and initial indications show that Philip Edwards#39, Chris O'Donnell#41, Daren Busa#17 and Paul Davies#3 are setting the standards at the top of the table.
bext Rookie 600 lap was 52.2 by Chris O'donnell on Sunday Morning.
Here's a few pictures:
Phil Edwards entering Druids:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_7838.jpg
Leaders dropping into Paddock hill:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_7516.jpg

Paul Davies leads pack through Druids:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round1_Brands_110306/630x630/Sswaffs_CRW_6760.JPG
Some interesting lines!!
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_7467.jpg
As for the other classes, quite a few new 06 R6's one in particullar from Phil Seton left everyone standing in SS600 nearly claiming the lap record during qualifying on Saturday.
tow riders Sam Bishop and Leon Hunt were out on 06 Virgin R6's ready for thier Virgin cup campaign this year:
Sam Bishop.
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_8124.jpg
the 'stock' virgin bikes were clearly struggling against the highly tuned bikes.
Forza is now known as Open 1300, mainly consisting of litre bikes:
I was dissapointed not to see Bob Collins this year, as he is ever entertaining but Pat Sheridan (last years rookie 6 Champ) has aquired a nice ZX10
Pat sheridan takes the win early on Sunday morning
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_7808.jpg
Adam Lovett had a great weekend, the young lad collected 1st and 2nd place trophies in the bar on Saturday night
Lovett show's how it's done:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round1_Brands_110306/630x630/Sswaffs_CRW_6957.JPG

A few more quick pictures:
MZ's using smoke screens to get away!
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_7602a.jpg
Aprillia Superteens, having a torrid time, 6 crashes on opening lap on Sunday afternoon:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_8244.jpg

http://www.swaffs.co.uk/resources/library/Bemsee_2006_Round2_Brands_120306/630x630/Swaffs_IMG_8334.jpg
Looks like we have a fantastic season ahead.

Come to Snetterton in two weeks!

That's it for now, apologies if your on a slow connection.
All shot on a EOS 300D with Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

Saturday was all RAW, however I found it struggling with buffer etc. so switched to JPG on Sunday.
Personally I found the reduction process produced better images from jpg-jpg in Adobe photoshop CS2 than from RAW-jpg in RSP....strange.

More image here:
WWW.SWAFFS.CO.UK (http://www.SWAFFS.CO.UK)

[AzzA]

Nice shots, caught the action well. I assume you had accreditation? The last shot in particular isn't from a spectator area is it? If so, I've never been there before :)

[Swaffs]

Yes, I was fortunate to have accreditation for this event.

The last shot is from about 50yd down from the exit of druids.

Ididn't know where to look, they were crashing over at Paddock hill, out braking into druids, lowsiding out of druids, and outbraking into Graham hill bend !!

Was very entertaining, fotunately no one was hurt even the teenager doing the ostrich impression above, not.

[AzzA]

Yeh 6 retirements after 3 corners lol. Plenty of good racing, I was also there and just about have feeling in my fingers and toes now lol

I took a few photos but don't know whether to post a new thread or not, to me it seems a bit weird having lots of threads on the same subject, but I guess we want opinion on "our" photos in the hope of improving next time. Thats me anyway :) What do you think? Would you mind if I posted a few here?

[Swaffs]

Feel free if you want to post on here, people oftem create their own threads as well.

I'd like to see your shots.. what kit were you using?

[Boggy]

Just had a trawl through your gallery, some very good captures that would make great caption competitions, and others like the three bikes with marshals and riders walking across druids? tells a story on its own.

Also love the shot of the other tog, every gallery should have at least one:)

Will you be covering all the Bemsee/MRO races? Any plans for any other meets?

Shaun

[Swaffs]

Thanks Boggy for your nice comments.
I do prefer to have images that show the excitement of the race or ther things going on.

I hope to have the quality to match one day as well.

I will be at every Bemsee/MRO event this year and also as many other events as possible.
a new lens (120-300 f/2.8) has been ordered so I can't wait to get to Snetterton in 2 weeks !

[AzzA]

Ok Swaffs thanks, I will post a few here. Thought I'd ask - didn't want to "hijack" your thread :p :)

I was using a 20D with 100-400.

Here's a few of mine... as I say I can just about feel my fingers and toes now :p really was cold :lol:

#1 The obligatory inside Druids bike shot. Still IMO a great spot for bike viewing :)
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6267_800x.jpg

#2 Powering out of Druids for the run down to Graham Hill
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6368_800x.jpg

#3 Close Superteen racing :)
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6484_800x.jpg

#4 On the run up to Druids
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6643_800x.jpg

#5 Whoops.... ouch
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6820_800x.jpg

#6 Hello!?
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BEMSEE_and_MRO_Nationwide_Championships_Brands_Hat ch_120306_AE_6843_800x.jpg

If you want you can view more here (larger) - http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/120306.html (be patient it may take a few seconds to load up)

Comments are most welcome. In particular I feel I'm still struggling getting the "brightness" right. The shots look ok to me on my LCD monitor and laptop however at work they look a little dark :mad: I've not had anything calibrated, just shows how big a difference the screen makes... :rolleyes: What do you think? Too bright? Too dark?

[Swaffs]

Great shots!
I think the contrast/brightness looks fine to me

I'm liking #4 was that by poking your head under the bridge entrance?

Also #6 is great, are you taking a photo of me?

good stuff.

Swaffs

[Swaffs]

I shot a lot of my images a 1/250 and feel I'm perhaps not helping myself by shooting that slow, whilst you get some shots which look great, I am going to struggle to get consistently sharp images.

I also am loathed to crop too tight, which as I was accredited and was damn close I could have easily done, I much prefer to show what is going on around as well.

I think for snetterton in 2 weeks, I will (not only have a 120-30 to replace the 70-200) try and shoot sharper, slightly faster shutter and also crop tighter. Although my jpg's seem ot be sharper than the RAW ones once compressed..... (must learn to use software better)

I was really fighting with the 300D as well, I'm hoping that some of my focus problems are related to that and not just my technique/skill... plus numb fingers and flat batteries inthe cold really didn't help.

I've decided that I will invest in a 1DMkII N in a few months and If I still can't take sharp shots then I will retire !!

hehe

[Boggy]

Swaffs is that AzzA in your gallery?:)
My thoughts, don't shoot much faster than 1/250 but practice your panning. If needs be turn your AF off and manual focus on a point on the track and practice, practice and then practice some more, this makes sure the wheels tyres etc have movement. Check AzzA's shoots they have nice movement in these areas. Not sure if you can, but you could try with a custom function put your AF on to your AE lock button so AF only happens when you press the AE button if you need to track a faller etc that will help with the focus. Then you can start nailing your timing. Shooting with a longer lens make sure you have a monopod, and you keep it mobile. By this I mean learn to pan with it. One trick is to have a tilt head, mine is only a one direction tilt as I have problems with my horizons:) . I have one with a quick release plate on, can't remember the number, and have this on the monopod in belt loop or resting in a bum bag as this makes the hole thing movable in all directions. Make sure you fill the frame with some of the shoots but also make sure to take the shots that YOU like as well. Show more than one bike (like AzzA's 3 and 4)as this proves they are racing and not qualifying, most of all try to tell a story of the race/event etc.
Enjoy Snett and let us know how you get on.

Shaun