British Superbikes & Support @ Brands Hatch, Friday 4th April 2008

[AzzA]

Took Friday off work and wandered down to Brands Hatch for the British Superbikes (and Support) practice sessions. Firstly I have to say it... bikes are mad. VERY fast. Practice was ok, but even then the inside of Druids was pretty much full. Racing is very exciting, lots of overtaking and fighting for position. Unfortunately though (for taking photos) race days are silly busy with massive crowds, even the Saturday gets really busy.

Weather was actually really nice, nicer than it is looking out my window this morning (snow) lol. Snapping conditions were ok, just got to keep an eye on where the sun is, generally everywhere is better in the afternoon once it's moved round a bit... never happy am I haha

Anyway enough talk here's a few compressed "forum friendly sized" photos...

#1 Approaching Druids...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_08_Small.j pg

#2 Leon Camier tipping it into Druids... good to see this young chap back after a couple of horrible accidents...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_23_Small.j pg

#3 Pretty "standard" shot from Druids... everyone does it but it'd be rude not to I suppose... this one's of "Atsu"...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_26_Small.j pg

#4 A bit different, approaching Sheene Curve...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_56_Small.j pg

#5 Same corner but this time from behind...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_59_Small.j pg

#6 Around Surtees, from the inside...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_60_Small.j pg

#7 and from the outside...
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_85_Small.j pg

If you would like you can view more and larger versions you can on my site. Be patient the gallery may take a few seconds to load.

Comments welcome as always!

Cheers! :cool:

[AzzA]

... and here's how Brands Hatch looks as of 9am this morning :eek::eek:

http://www.square-egg.co.uk/Snow1.jpg

http://www.square-egg.co.uk/Snow2.jpg

Can't see bike racing going ahead on that... unless Pirelli have some metal studded snow tyres :p

Photos by "Square-Egg" off the BSB forum :)

[Big Ant]

Superb shots, I like the number of different angles you've caught

Looks like a snow plough is the order of the day

[SuperDan]

Great shots buddy...and for the snow, we all thought the weather was bad for the trucks a few weekends ago...man we were wrong...

[Slimsphotos]

Some cracking shots in that lot. I like the shots from the inside of the corner, makes a nice change. All are looking well sharp, and well lit for me.

As for the snow, causing me headaches at the moment, as I work for an airline flying into UK. Roll on summer.

Chris

[gkwood]

Outstanding shots Azza like the different take from your shots , did you build a snow man :)

[GSH]

The close-up of Leon Camier and #7 are my picks from these Az, very nice indeed.

The snow pics from this morning are obviously someone's revenge on Palmer & co for flogging the TV rights to Eurosport :D

[SuperDan]

The first rounds of the BSB have now been cancelled and rescheduled the meeting which will now take place on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on 10/11 May alongside the BMCRC meeting at the circuit.

http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/news/article.asp?NewsID=3648

[GSH]

The first rounds of the BSB have now been cancelled and rescheduled the meeting which will now take place on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on 10/11 May alongside the BMCRC meeting at the circuit.

http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/news/article.asp?NewsID=3648

And qualifying times from yesterday will be carried over...

[darren h]

Cracking shots Azza, love #'s 5 & 7

[Joffan]

Nice work Az. Just come back from Florence this afternoon... was walking round in sunshine this morning!

Good efforts.

[JSJR4]

Great shots. Wow look at the snow 2 days later.

[Ian_H]

WOW Azza great shots, hard to pick a favourite but the close-up of Leon Camier has to be up there.


Cheers
Ian

[despot]

Great looking shots Az. I'm liking #4.

Andy

[russdaz]

Some shots mate, i prefer bike photography more then cars.

[Curly68]

Cracking shots. What a difference in weather! I recorded nothing on Eurosport for obvious reasons. Got to watch World Supers instead.
How do get all the good angles from every corner? Do you have a pass at all?

[nevets2001uk]

Great work Az. Some really nice shots in this collection. I particularily like that last one.

Cheers,
Steve

[BigDaveTheMighty]

Really nice stuff here Azza. That shot of Camier is as sharp as you like!

Do you mind me asking what you've done in terms of PP? The colours are fantastic. I've got several from Friday and Saturday to go through and would at least like to have a go at making them stand out as much as these! :)

Thanks matey.

Dave

[stuman16]

Great shots! I love the shot of Leon and I too am glad to see him back at it. I coached him at the California Superbike School over here a couple times and he's a real nice guy.

[ghostrider_9]

Awesome shots. I love how quickly the weather changed . . .

[AzzA]

thanks chaps :)

Curly - nope I didn't have a pass for the bikes, just took a day off, chilled out with the G/F and took a few shots :) It was being run on the GP circuit so that helps get a few "not-so-common" angles. It's good to have a bit of variety :)


Really nice stuff here Azza. That shot of Camier is as sharp as you like!

Do you mind me asking what you've done in terms of PP? The colours are fantastic. I've got several from Friday and Saturday to go through and would at least like to have a go at making them stand out as much as these! :)

Thanks matey.

Dave

cheers bud. I don't do much with the colours, I increase the contrast and saturation levels in-camera since I prefer the results like that. I use an action in photoshop to resize and add the watermark. Sometimes I'll add a bit of USM and brightness/contrast adjust but these days I almost always shoot Manual so I try and get it right in the first place :)

If you like i'll post an original of the Camier shot so you can compare. Give me a sec and I'll upload it.

cheers

[AzzA]

Here we go...

Version posted:
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSBK_and_Support_Brands_Hatch_040408_AE_23_Small.j pg

Original, totally unedited:
http://www.ae-photography.co.uk/forums/BSB_AE_9177_org.jpg

As you can see I made a slight crop, but that was pretty much it I think :) Hope that helps. cheers

[BigDaveTheMighty]

Thanks Azza

Dave

[pete.rush]

Great shots Azza.....best one for me was No 7......shame about the race sunday....but with no crowds on friday and saturday I made the most of the freedom

Peter

[Guy594]

Awsome shots you made there :D