Motorsports

[Seveneer]

Hi guys,

my future brother-in-law is taking part in the Pomeroy Trophy this coming weekend at Silverstone so I thought I'd pop along and take some pictures. I've furnished myself with a lovely 100-400 L beauty to make sure I had the right gear but I have no experience of shooting motorsport.

So, today, I went down to Goodwood on the offchance of there being a trackday or something going on. I figured I could shoot a few hundred shots to find the best method before I have to do it for real on Saturday.

What do you guys use by way of shutter speed, aperture and ISO for this kind of work? I took ISO 400, shutter of between 1/90 and 1/125 and let the camera worry about the aperture. I decided to handhold rather than use the monopod as I figured it would be easier to pan that way.

This is an example shot. What do you think :?:
http://www.philrobins.org.uk/Goodwood/images/IMG_1128.jpg
Taken with ISO 400, 1/125 second and f/27.

Regards,
/Phil.

[CoolToolGuy]

The rule of thumb is 1 over the focal length - so if you are at 100mm 1/100 (probably 1/125) would be the right speed. At 250mm, 1/250, etc. The IS will help stabilize the camera shake, so if the light is low, you may be able to back off of that by one or two settings.
That said, you can show a little action by slowing down the shutter, and try to keep the car steady in the viewfinder, while the wheels turn and blur a little.

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[CoolToolGuy]

OBTW - what is that - a Lotus? Looks cool from this angle.

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[Seveneer]

That's right Rick, It's a Lotus Elise. Very nice car.

Thanks for the tips.

/Phil.
:)

[aeroshots2003]

Yep, that's a fine set of wheels passing by :D

Although the car being somewhat off-center I like the shot. Because of the lower shutter speed you didn't freeze the image, which would take away the action. Also it may be important to include some diagonal lines in the frame, like here the roadsides going from bottom right to top left.

Taking the picture at 90° angle would make it less action-like (may I use dull?). So shooting your object at 45° angle or so would be good : diagonals, more background (maybe another car), less panning speed (so less chance of camera shake). I wouldn't go lower than 1/180 if possible. Best positions I think would be in a turn or chicane, where car speed is lower and cars tend to stick to eachothers bumper (Grace Jones' Pull up to my bumper, baby... :wink: ).

Have a sunny day at the track 8)


Johan

[KennyG]

What do you guys use by way of shutter speed, aperture and ISO for this kind of work? I took ISO 400, shutter of between 1/90 and 1/125 and let the camera worry about the aperture. I decided to handhold rather than use the monopod as I figured it would be easier to pan that way.

Good start Phil. The 100-400L is ideal as a hand-held lens. ISO400 is spot on. Using Tv and letting the aperture manage itself is just fine. You may find that 1/90 or 1/125 a bit slow when the speed of the cars goes up and 1/250 will give you more 'keepers' while still retaining the wheel and background blur.

Silverstone is a bit awkward to shoot at as a spectator due to the wire fencing and there are not a lot of opportunities to get a clean view. If you are permitted, make sure you get a lot of paddock and pit lane shots. Try to make a photographic record of the day, including the backroom stuff.

Have they given you any idea of how much freedom you will have and where you may shoot from? You seem to have got to grips with the techniques pretty well and it would be a shame to have it ruined by too much wire interupting the view.

I prefer racing at Silverstone to photographing there. Despite its fame as the GP circuit, it isn't the best to work at.

I love the Lotus.......

http://www.stiuk.dial.pipex.com/lotus-77.jpg

[Cadwell]

Hi Phil,

I don't know how familiar you are with Silverstone, but if the cars are running on the National Circuit then you can get some great unobstructed shots on the Club Straight from the infield. No nasty debris fences there ;) There are spots where you can get right up to the armco as a spectator.... with the 100-400L you should be able to get some fairly tight shots of the Luffield 1 and Brooklands corners from the top of the Luffield Terrace as well. If you pick the right spot there you can shoot over the top of the debris fence, it's not that high.

[iwatkins]

I've never shot at Silverstone but have also been told there are gaps and the are gaps close to the track.

Been on the black stuff a few times, but I find the track too big, too wide and not twisty enough. I'm sure it is all that in a F1 car when doing 200mph+ though. :wink: Give me Cadwell, Dono or Brands any day (both for driving and for photoging).

Another top tip ? Find out what corners you can shoot from and then work out where the sun will be. Nothing worse than shooting into the sun to spoil your day.

Cheers

Ian

[Seveneer]

Thanks guys. Some very interesting tips for shooting at Silverstone.

It's also interesting to hear a couple of you saying you prefer to be on track. I have done a few track days in my Caterham but so far only Goodwood as it's close to where I live. Not twisty enough for the Caterham so I'm practicaly flat out for the entire circuit.

Thanks again. I'll post a couple of shots after the event.

/Phil.
:D

[roughrichy]

Hi Phil,

I don't know how familiar you are with Silverstone, but if the cars are running on the National Circuit then you can get some great unobstructed shots on the Club Straight from the infield. No nasty debris fences there ;) There are spots where you can get right up to the armco as a spectator.... with the 100-400L you should be able to get some fairly tight shots of the Luffield 1 and Brooklands corners from the top of the Luffield Terrace as well. If you pick the right spot there you can shoot over the top of the debris fence, it's not that high.

Just booked tickets for 2004 F1 GP and apparently your not allowed on the infield this year. Anybody know of any other good picture taking spots

[Cadwell]

Just booked tickets for 2004 F1 GP and apparently your not allowed on the infield this year. Anybody know of any other good picture taking spots

The infield wouldn't help you much at the GP as they don't run the "Club Straight" in that configuration anyway ;)

"Club" is good from the outfield raised banking, as is "Abbey". You need at least a 300mm lens for decent close-ups there.

The "Bridge Corner" end of the Luffield Terrace can also be quite good as you can get shots of the cars coming under the Bridge and then again going into "Luffield" without having to change position. 400mm or more needed though.

Friday is the best day for photography, less people so you can get better position.

[iwatkins]

Phil,

As an aside, if you want to take the Caterham out on track can I throughly recommend Cadwell. Twisty, hilly, basically everything you need for fun in Westerham type car.

Best track day I've ever been to was as Cadwell. Mate of mine had a Westfield ZEi with the Escort Cossie lump in it. Boost raised giving power around 550bhp per tonne. Was a giggle to say the least. :shock:

Cheers

Ian

[Seveneer]

Hi Ian,

yeah I must do Cadwell some time. I was hoping to have a go at hill climb this year but that may have to wait until next year for one reason or another.

ATB,
/Phil.

[Cadwell]

yeah I must do Cadwell some time.

:shock: :shock: :shock: We've barely been introduced :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Seveneer]

:oops: As I typed that earlier I knew you'd take it the wrong way :shock:

[KennyG]

The infield wouldn't help you much at the GP as they don't run the "Club Straight" in that configuration anyway ;)

"Club" is good from the outfield raised banking, as is "Abbey". You need at least a 300mm lens for decent close-ups there.

The "Bridge Corner" end of the Luffield Terrace can also be quite good as you can get shots of the cars coming under the Bridge and then again going into "Luffield" without having to change position. 400mm or more needed though.

Siverstone is one of the few circuits my 500L F4L IS gets an outing, and it is needed.

I have had VIP access to the GP on a few Saturdays over the years and much prefer it to race days.

Didn't realise you were a BARC member Cadwell. I have been a racing member for years and also a racing member of the BRSCC. I am very close to Harewood hill climb but rarely go. I don't find it that exciting from a photogs point-of-view.

[Cadwell]

Siverstone is one of the few circuits my 500L F4L IS gets an outing, and it is needed.

I have had VIP access to the GP on a few Saturdays over the years and much prefer it to race days.

Didn't realise you were a BARC member Cadwell. I have been a racing member for years and also a racing member of the BRSCC. I am very close to Harewood hill climb but rarely go. I don't find it that exciting from a photogs point-of-view.

Silverstone for the GP isn't really my idea of fun at all... but it's just one of those things you "have to do" in a motor-sport year. I've got a three day ticket this year so I will concentrate my photography on the Friday and Saturday. Wielding a long lens in the crowded grandstands on a Sunday is not a great idea. You're more than likely to damage your lens on the top of someones head ;) :P

Yes, BARC and BRSCC member. I don't tend to visit the hillclimbs but I cover most of the "Southern circuits" during the year (Southern being Oulton Park and South in my book). Croft and Knockhill are just too far away. Actually, my copy of "Startline" has just arrived so I must go and read it! :D

[KennyG]

Cadwell, I cover Oulton, Croft, Donington (not an outstanding photog circuit) and if I'm pushed, Snetterton. This year I have been asked to do some work at Knockhill so it means a few trips north of the border. Maybe we can meet up at Oulton sometime.

Just got my Startline too. My favourite pic (for composition that is) is Owen Jenkins and his Legend on page 17, although it looks like a badly interpolated jpeg. The classic is Jackie sitting on the wheel of his car. I had some pics in BRN recently and they did a good job of re-sizing my large tiffs. At least it was a colour issue. :)

[Cadwell]

Cadwell, I cover Oulton, Croft, Donington (not an outstanding photog circuit) and if I'm pushed, Snetterton. This year I have been asked to do some work at Knockhill so it means a few trips north of the border. Maybe we can meet up at Oulton sometime.

Just got my Startline too. My favourite pic (for composition that is) is Owen Jenkins and his Legend on page 17, although it looks like a badly interpolated jpeg. The classic is Jackie sitting on the wheel of his car. I had some pics in BRN recently and they did a good job of re-sizing my large tiffs. At least it was a colour issue. :)

Donington isn't great, I agree, but things improve slightly if they're using the GP circuit. There are some good spots round the Melbourne Loop.

The Jenkins picture is good but he really doesn't look old enough to drive :? (or is that just me getting ancient :lol: )

It would be good to meet at some point, either at Oulton or maybe Donington or Snetterton. I'm still not sure of my timetable this year; I'm waiting for Palmer's lot to publish their calendar...

[KBMphotography.com]

I have very little experience of cars on a track, and not much of rallye cars.

But, I have found that head on shots are incredibly tricky! These were taken yesterday (Sun 28th Feb) at a meeting in the UK. The head on when using the 70-200 2.8L IS and 1.4x converter means it is hard to get it all in focus (especially when coming at you at 60mph+)

Go for side on as a first stab, and you can then do some nice panning shots at a slower speed. Oh, and pray for sun!!

http://www.pbase.com/image/26459830.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/26459832.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/26459615.jpg

[KennyG]

I have very little experience of cars on a track, and not much of rallye cars.

But, I have found that head on shots are incredibly tricky!

I hope you enjoyed the Sunseeker, you did pretty well by the looks of it. The last rally I shot was shortly after Xmas. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, but it was cold, really Arctic cold. I much prefer my main activity of photographing racing cars. At least it starts in spring and ends in autumn.

Wait until they are coming at you at 100mph like this one of Cocker's Porche.

http://www.ken.grey.dsl.pipex.com/images/porche2003/por-c-jc2.jpg