Redcar Bears Speedway

[Simon Harrison]

I shot my first speedway meeting this week, and IMHO it is one of the hardest forms of motorsport to photograph. Each race lasts about one minute and in that time, the four riders will complete four laps. It's fast and furious tosay the least. High speed, short(ish) focal length panning in low light is kinda tough and you really only get one chance at each shot.

Would like to say thanks to Gmen who filled me in on some of the etiquete of being on the centre green. My keeper rate was low, but I got the shots I needed and learnt an awful lot. Anyway, here's some shots. All of these were taken from the centre green, as access around the outside of the Redcar track is well pretty much non existent.

#1 The magic number - all 4 riders into the first turn. Getting this shot is harder than it looks from the centre, particularly if it's your first time shooting.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Speedway/01-06-06---016.jpg

#2 Balanced on 2 concrete blocks to clear the 2 catch fences and I still couldn't get quite high enough - will take necessary precautions to avoid doing this next time.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Speedway/01-06-06---051.jpg

#3 Two abreast on the apex of turn one
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Speedway/01-06-06---040.jpg

#4 The sun came out very briefly (like for one race - remember they last about a minute), giving some lovelly light. Here's one of the Redcar Bears setting up for turn 1.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/Speedway/01-06-06---106.jpg

I'm not that happy with the results that I got, although I was able to satisfy my brief in full. I have a long way to go before I get to Gmen's standards. However, from what I learnt, next time I should take a few steps forward, and as long as I keep doing that I'll be happy.

Any comments or feedback on these pictures would be very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Simon.

[gmen]

There's nowt wrong with these Simon... good stuff...

I'd imagine you found it a bit different to the usual 4-wheeled sports... like you say, the races last less than one minute so the pressure is really on to get the shot.

Getting all riders in a group of four from the centre green can be a real toughie... so #1 is a peachy shot.

My fave though is #3... I like the overlapping composition as it shows the riders battling it out with each other AND with their bikes as they try to hold the line...

Enjoy the evening light while it lasts ;)

---- Gavin

[coatsie]

Simon they are excellent - been a few years since I have been to watch speedway. :D

Mal

[victorrrr]

I think they are fantastic shots and the riders and the sponsors would be very pleased with them.

[Simon Harrison]

There's nowt wrong with these Simon... good stuff...

I'd imagine you found it a bit different to the usual 4-wheeled sports... like you say, the races last less than one minute so the pressure is really on to get the shot.

Getting all riders in a group of four from the centre green can be a real toughie... so #1 is a peachy shot.

My fave though is #3... I like the overlapping composition as it shows the riders battling it out with each other AND with their bikes as they try to hold the line...

Enjoy the evening light while it lasts ;)

---- Gavin

Thanks Gavin - I appreciate the comments. #1 was used as the lead picture in the article for the event. While I'm still not that happy with the shots that I got, I must have done something right, as I've been asked back again ;) . Hopefully will be able to put into practice some of the lessons learned last week.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Simon they are excellent - been a few years since I have been to watch speedway. :D

Mal

Thanks Mal. The Speedway is proving extremely popular - there must have been between 1000 and 1500 people through the gate for this particular meeting.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

I think they are fantastic shots and the riders and the sponsors would be very pleased with them.

Thanks Victorrr.

Simon.

[KevB]

Great shots Simon:D