Britcar Night Race - Brands Hatch to Flash or Not to Flash

[BigDaveTheMighty]

Hi All,

I'm thinking of going to the Britcar Night Race at Brands in few weeks. When I was last at Brands (BSB) a guy a few places up from me at Druids got a b0ll0king from the marshalls for using flash in the day.

Now, I would rather not be on the receiving end of a ticking off from the boys in orange so I would have asumed that it is unsafe to be using flash at this event (time to buy a decent tripod to get lots of lovely light trail shots methinks!).

Anyway, has anyone been to this before and what's the *official* line on use of flash for these kind of events?

Mods - sorry for posting this in the photosharing section - I'm not sure where this would go otherwise!

[tangown]

Right, i went to the Britcar 24hr at silverstone and also had the same question, emailed the enquiries at silverstone and they said

"Having checked with the organisers of this event we can tell you that there is no flash photography allowed in the Pit Lane but it is allowed around the circuit."

I would check with brands/ the eerc but i would imagine it would be the same for that race. The flash comes in useful, any sort of car pic without it is near impossible without floodlights, and a tip from me is try to shoot cars that are being closely followed, lights em up.
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/bgarlick/Britcar%2024Hr/?action=view&current=EVO.jpg

[GSH]

Those who posted shots on here from the same event last year were certainly using flash, but it would pay to check just in case the goalposts have moved, which they tend to do with tedious regularity :rolleyes:

If it's allowed, i would suggest not using full power AND certainly not firing flash directly into the Driver's eyes particularly up at Druids where you're close to the cars. I doubt they'd be too happy if you zap them and they end up in the gravel / fence and a smack in the mouth from an irate driver would spoil your day a bit :D

I've certainly used at at the '05 and 06 Britcar 24, but it still needs a bit of common sense applied :)

[Baldone]

i was at brands saturday/sunday using a flash for the last race saturday evening on the inside of druids nothing was said and i was'nt taking head-on shots :) this is one of the better ones

[Cadwell]

An observation... I was at Brands on Sunday and couldn't help noticing that the marshals at the post on the run-in to Druids had written "no flash photos" in big letters on the reverse side of the Safety Car board.

[BigDaveTheMighty]

Thanks All,

Glen - the marshals about half way round at Druids had a similar sign saying "DO NOT USE FLASH" in big shouty letters, which they used in the first instance to recommend that it shouldn't be used to the bloke a few places up from me.

I'll see if I can get an answer from Dr Palmer!

[Cadwell]

All that said, at the Britcar night race last year everyone (including me) was merrily shooting with flash and there were no complaints. Things do change from year to year though. Two years ago they didn't allow parking on the South Bank because "the cars headlights distracted the drivers", last year parking on the south bank was allowed.

I strongly suspect they make it up as they go.

[AzzA]

An observation... I was at Brands on Sunday and couldn't help noticing that the marshals at the post on the run-in to Druids had written "no flash photos" in big letters on the reverse side of the Safety Car board.

Good spot. I also noticed that:

http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/Do_Not_Use_Flash.jpg

My photo would seem to encourage using flash though :lol: :p

Not sure what the "official" line is but I can't see a problem with side-on flash, head-on may obviously be rather distracting!