Anyone shot drag races? Quick question...

[Adam Hicks]

I'm out at the O'Riley Fall Nationals this weekend shooting the drag races for the magazine I freelance for. The NHRA granted me Photo / Press access so I'm leaning against the 1.5-2ft concrete barrier that separates me from 200mph cars by only a few feet. (what an experience! Every time a drag or funny car passes you it's like being simultaneously punched in the nose and the chest. The power is unbelievable)

I'm loving the opportunity and having a lot of fun, but I was just wondering what modes those who have shot these events use. Tv at 1250? Av at 5.6 to get the fastest shutter with available light? (I'm using the 100-400L on the 20D so 5.6 is my fastest at the far end.)

Any tips are appreciated!

P.S. Not much but I shot these yesterday... I was only there for 2 hours but will be there all day Sunday.

http://www.golilm.com/photography/Valspar%20colorful%20small.jpg

http://www.golilm.com/photography/blueorangedragportrait%20small.jpg

http://www.golilm.com/photography/dragharley.jpg

[Cadwell]

I've only been drag-racing once and I was bored out of my tiny brain... but each to their own.

I shoot lots of proper :P racing cars though. The last thing you want to do is use incredibly high shutter speeds. If you do then your very fast moving car looks - stationary. Not the best result.

Certainly use no faster than 1/400th or 1/500th for head on / angled shots and slower still for pans. You should be panning at 1/250th or slower in order to blur the background nicely.

[Adam Hicks]

Well I'm only a few feet off the track, so if you can pan a car moving 300mph at 1/250 I'd be impressed! I generally do panning shots on road course motorsports events, but the speed and proximity to the cars makes this a challenge, that's why I was wondering if anyone else had experience.

As far as boring goes, it's pretty exciting in person, just the feel and noise and the fact that I had 'real' credentials. Not something I would watch on TV though.

Adam

[MrChad]

I agree with Cadwell, use a bit slower shutter.

I shoot roadracing in the 1/250 range, nothing looks worse then non-blurred tires/rims in a photo. I also have a soft lens(es) so I also need the slower shutter to use an f8-f11 shutter.

Does your pass let you down the far end of the track near the traps?
Getting cars blowing motors near the finish-line seams cool to me.

[Adam Hicks]

While my pass gives me more access than anyone else in the house (really) nobody is allowed at the far down the track. Way too dangerous so the track rule is that we can shoot along the side of the track for the first 300ft or so, but after that it's off-limits. I could walk down there, but they don't like it!

Adam

I'll play with some slower shutter times, but with drag photos, people sometimes like to see the tires squished and distorted from the 8,500 horsepower some of these things are putting down. I have 5 hours to play around tomorrow at the final eliminations.

[JK]

I'll play with some slower shutter times, but with drag photos, people sometimes like to see the tires squished and distorted from the 8,500 horsepower some of these things are putting down. I have 5 hours to play around tomorrow at the final eliminations.

Hehe... I'm one of those people.

"Hmmmm, squishy!" :)

http://members.iinet.net.au/~jk/squishy.jpg

[spoolin_photography]

cars are the main thing that i like to shoot and drag racing is the one i enjoy the most, i havent been doing it long but i am learning quickly

ok i find tha with a shutter speed of 1/250 its realy boarder line and i prefure to have 1/500 or faster.

for the best shot zoom is your friend realy, go down the track a bit and just zoom in, you will find it easyer to get the car in the center fo the frame.

its normely best to set you Fstop as low as possable to, with my nikon i used to just leave it set on F2.8

heres some i took as the Jamboree here in Australia please not these shots where taken with my nkion coolpix 5700

http://users.tpg.com.au/adslwpkt/jambo/Jamboree_2004_c_0012.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/adslwpkt/jambo/Jamboree_2004_c_0051.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/adslwpkt/jambo/Jamboree_2004_c_0008.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/adslwpkt/jambo/Jamboree_2004_c_0013.jpg

Cheers
Shane