Cars 'V' Bikes

[moto-photos]

Following on from my first thread I thought it might be interesting to compare bike and car photography?? I assume most photographers do just bikes or just cars, I've only started photographing car racing because my brother started racing this year ( well I couldn't say no...... it's BORING could I??:lol: )

I find bike racing very exciting to photograph, you can see the rider physically "riding" the bike, battles with other competitors can be SO, SO close with elbows being used, some riders come so close to having an "off" but skillfully save it and some of the crashes can be very spectacular, does car racing provide the same sort of excitment???

Maybe it's just because I'm not really into car racing that I just can't seem to get any "exciting" shots and I'm very interested to know the opinions of car photographers, what do you see that I don't? Here's an example, these 2 photos were taken at the same place ( deers leap at Oulton Park )

Car photo, could just be parked on track, there's no "movement":

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/moto-photos/Car1-1.jpg

Bike photo, you can see just how "hard" he's riding his bike and how determined he is to go as fast as he can.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/moto-photos/Bike100.jpg

It's all in his eyes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/moto-photos/Bike100eyes.jpg

[GSH]

Car photo, could just be parked on track, there's no "movement":

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/moto-photos/Car1-1.jpg



Shutter speed is too high. The front wheel is frozen.

Given that at that point on Oulton Park, they've just exited Lodge Corner and will be powering down the Pit Straight, there's more than enough scope to show movement.

Keep it at 1/400th max, preferably 1/320th and it'll look completely different :)

[moto-photos]

Thanks GSH, my mission that day was to get photos as sharp as possible ( something I always try to do which results in many rejects if they are not spot on sharp ) So I did have my shutter speed too high, I know it's all down to practice but if the passion isn't there in the first place......

Thank you for the shutter speed info ( not everyone would provide that info freely )

[GSH]

Thank you for the shutter speed info ( not everyone would provide that info freely )

You're welcome and you'll find most of the motorsport regulars more than willing to help here.

As it was Oulton Park, i'll stick with something familiar..

More than 1 car in shot can help a lot...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Oulton%20Park/BTCC/IMG_2298_1.jpg

Or if the weather is being err.."helpful" ;)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geoff.hubbert/Pics/Oulton%20Park/Gold%20Cup%20Track/IMG_8933.jpg

[moto-photos]

The weather "helpful" !!! I hate photographing in the rain, ever since my camera got wet at Brands and it didn't work for the rest of the day!!

OK, here's another at the same spot ( with and without another car )

http://www.heels.me.uk/alfaracerphotos/Oulton%20Part%20-%20September%2023%202006%20-%20Qualifying%20-%20Maria%20Salt/OultonParkSeptember232006Q/images/0149.jpg

http://www.heels.me.uk/alfaracerphotos/Oulton%20Part%20-%20September%2023%202006%20-%20Qualifying%20-%20Maria%20Salt/OultonParkSeptember232006Q/images/0245.jpg

[Capt Rick]

I grew up going to the race track every weekend (My dad had two cars) I would NEVER stand on the outside of a turn! Only on the inside. Its a LOT safer!

[moto-photos]

Hi Capt Rick, I know what you're saying but we are usually a lot further away than the pic looks, we all take a risk when we go trackside and I'm sure all photographers are aware of that. I always pick my "duck or run spot" before I set up but I also know "things" happen in a split second, also if we do stand in a place which is a bit dodgy the Marshals soon move us on.

[yodasarmpit]

I find older cars are much better at showing speed, more movement.

http://yodasarmpit.com/motorsport/crail03.jpg