Ironman Karting

[Simon Harrison]

I'm getting in here early, as I think there are quite a few POTN forum members running around Sherwood Forest in tights pretending to be Robin Hood today :lol: - expect one or two threads later this evening!

While I to would have liked to have got down to Nottingham today (although I'm more Friar Tuck than Robin Hood), I had a small job to do at Teesside Autodrome for a local motorclub. Thankfully, the wind wasn't too bad today, but we did have bright sunshine, rain, hail, sleet and a small snow flurry in the space of 60 minutes. Made things interesting for the karts to say the least.

Enough waffle - onto some pictures.

#1 Local man Colin Peacock during qualifying
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0064.jpg

#2 There was some really close racing throughout the field
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0262.jpg

#3 Fighting hard for every position.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0159.jpg

#4 First the rain started....
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0021.jpg

#5 Which then turned to hail, sleet and briefly proper snow
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0037.jpg

#6 Following the racing line
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0150.jpg

#7 I'll finish with another local man, nicely lit up by one of the brief periods of sunshine.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/SDMC08_Rd2/NX4L0234.jpg

Certainly nothing glamorous about this lot - just good, hard, club level racing.

All the shots were taken with a 1D mk II + Sigma 120-300 f2.8. One or two also had a 1.4XTC in there as well.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. As usual, any comments or feedback are most welcome.

Cheers,

Simon.

[jim9449]

What wonderful clarity and sharpness in all shots Simon, did you use custom WB? in the EXIF it says manual WB
Jim

[Simon Harrison]

What wonderful clarity and sharpness in all shots Simon, did you use custom WB? in the EXIF it says manual WB
Jim

Thanks Jim :D. Yes, I did set a manual WB for these. I have both an Expodisc and a CBL Colour balance filter for setting WB. The expodisc gets used with my 85 f1.8 and 17-40 f4, and the CBL filter with my bigger lens as you don't need to completely fill the frame with it to take a reading. While Canon's AWB does a good job in most outdoor light, I have found I get much better and more consistent results setting a custom WB. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

Lovely those Simon :)

I've never done any Karting. I assume they're a bit more difficult to track than cars due to the size difference and lack of any large flat surfaces?

As for Sherwood Forest, the tights stayed at home today. Glenn hasn't got the legs for them anyway but a good old-fashioned Longbow would have been useful for some of the spectators ! :D

[Simon Harrison]

Lovely those Simon :)

I've never done any Karting. I assume they're a bit more difficult to track than cars due to the size difference and lack of any large flat surfaces?

As for Sherwood Forest, the tights stayed at home today. Glenn hasn't got the legs for them anyway but a good old-fashioned Longbow would have been useful for some of the spectators ! :D

Thanks Geoff.

I do find the karts much more difficult to photograph than cars or bikes. All karts are very 'darty' and change direction very quickly and sharply, but what makes these so hard, is the almost total lack of contrast on the front of them. They are 'arrive and drive' karts, and so carry no sponsorship stickers and are all matt black. I usually end up aiming at the number plate.

Hope you had a good day down in Nottingham. I did warn you about the type of spectators that tend to go along to this event :lol:.

Cheers,

Simon.

[GSH]

I did warn you about the type of spectators that tend to go along to this event :lol:.



Most of "those" spectators were actually ok. The family i'm referring too should have known better..

[Cadwell]

As for Sherwood Forest, the tights stayed at home today. Glenn hasn't got the legs for them anyway...

:eek: Oi! I'll have you know... errr... maybe not :oops:

Simon! Lovely shots, karting can't be easy. #2 stands out for me with the driver's concentrations, close action and nice motion blur. Cracking shot.

[Simon Harrison]

Most of "those" spectators were actually ok. The family i'm referring too should have known better..

Okay I'm intrigued now, and you can't just leave it there. Take it to PM if you want :lol:.

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

:eek: Oi! I'll have you know... errr... maybe not :oops:

Steady now :lol::lol:.

Thanks for the comments on the pictures. I like #2 as well. That angle was a new location for me at this track, and I'll definately give it a go again.

Hope Nottingham was worth the run up the A1.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Box Brownie]

All wonderfully crisp and so sharp I could cut myself ;)

As the others have said #2 is the money shot ~ it has the best sense of racing & motion combined with great clarity what with the drivers face. Very nicely done.

[Simon Harrison]

All wonderfully crisp and so sharp I could cut myself ;)

As the others have said #2 is the money shot ~ it has the best sense of racing & motion combined with great clarity what with the drivers face. Very nicely done.

Thanks!

Simon.

[Thameth]

Awesome stuff! Karts are not easy to shoot...

[gkwood]

Lovely shots Simon 2&6 for me mate , is it wrong to wear tights not running around Sherwood :oops:

[Simon Harrison]

Awesome stuff! Karts are not easy to shoot...

Thanks. They are a bit more challenging than the normal race cars I photograph.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Ian_H]

All great shots Simon but number 2 really stands out, it looks like we had the better weather down in Sherwood Forest


Cheers
Ian

[Simon Harrison]

All great shots Simon but number 2 really stands out, it looks like we had the better weather down in Sherwood Forest


Cheers
Ian

Thanks Ian. Looking at your photographs in your Robin Hood Rally thread, I think you are spot on about the weather.

Cheers,

Simon.

[PhotosGuy]

Good ones! Love the rub marks on the bodies. Looks like a lot of fun!