St. Pete Grand Prix

[ERG]

Hi all, a newbie here! I've revisited my passion for photography after recently purchasing my first DSLR, a 400d. I also purchased a 70-200mm f/4 L lens with a polarizing filter.

I've never had any schooling, and don't plan to until I can locate a good course locally here in central Florida.

Below are images from my first effort at a motorsport event, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This event hosted Indy Lites, ALMS and IRL in the same weekend. Please let me know what you think and be honest, I'm very eager to learn - Thanks!

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/PorsheBattleTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/HairpinTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/FusionTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/DB9TR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/BPP2TR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/AudiP2TR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/HelioTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/IndyLiteTR.jpg

[ryant35]

Very cool. I'm hoping to go to the Long Beach Gran Prix next weekend.

[John Thawley]

Well, I hope you were being serious about being honest... but, I'm confused by your ALMS photos. Why were you using 400 ISO and 1/1600 sec. shutter speeds? It was extremely bright during their sessions.

The composition of your images is WAY too tight. You're clipping all of the corners off the cars... but worse than that, you've cropped out all of the backgrounds too.

Shutter speed is WAY too high. All of your wheels are frozen. Not good.

So... to explain....

First lets talk about energy. Your photos have lost this energy. This is an action sport and you aren't portraying that. You've got to retain the part of the story that shows the viewer the action.. the speed... the quick movement.

Second... think about the POINT of your shot. Showing the car? Showing the driver? Showing the track and atmosphere? Do you see where I'm going? You need to pick one.

With open cockpit... (which in ALMS will be going away) it's cool to get in tight and see the face/eyes of the driver. See the concentration and intensity. BUT.. try to keep one of the wheels (spinning) in there... show that he's not parked. Blurred background helps.

Next... people like car shots... that's fine.. but don't clip the car off. If you want to do a nice tight car shot... keep all the fenders in the frame and keep the wheels spinning... and backgrounds blurred.

In some cases (see my "harbor" shots), you don't want to over-blur the background because it is a scene setter. A race car flying by boats is a pretty cool shot... but we need to be able to distinguish that they are boats.

After you have enough car shots... remember where you are. You're at the St. Pete Grand Prix. Show that in your pictures. It's part of the story. Backgrounds.. atmosphere... it's all part of telling the story.

That's what we are... story tellers.

Hope that helps.

JT

[GSH]

Biggest tip i can suggest for now is forget Sports Mode.
It defaults to ISO 400 and ramps the shutter speed up as far as it can. You've gone for shutter priority on your pan shot and that's the way to go.

[ERG]

This type of advice is exactly what I was looking for. I'm tired of getting the standard "nice shot" or "good catch" from people when I know something is missing or wrong with the image.

John, thanks for your directness, it's how I deal with people and how I like for people to deal with me. I know I have a lot to learn!

GSH, thanks for the insight, I'm still reading the manual and learning this camera.

[pointerDixie214]

I agree with what was said above...

1. I am confused by your composition. I would back off if you are going for car shots...

2. Use manual mode. It is your friend! ;)

[GSH]

2. Use manual mode. It is your friend! ;)

Let's not run before we can walk...

[ERG]

Thanks Dixie! It appears I posted eight images of similar composition, I do have a number of image like the ones below. Of course they share the same problem as my previous images, high ISO and shutter speed.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/TargetCornerTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/TwinFerrarisTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/CautionTR.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh233/elcgaudette/TargetCarsTR.jpg

[FatAlbert]

Let's not run before we can walk...

GSH, Thanks,
I couldn't have said it better. For someone who I assume (forgive me if I am wrong) is realtively inexperienced, unless you are TOTALLY familiar with your camera, and know what you are doing I would agree. I have shot in manual several times, with varying results, but find that Av/Tv is a lot easier. You only have to worry about one parameter, rather than 2.

However, later on when you are familiar then you can get good results in manual, but you need to know what you are trying to achieve. A good wheel blur, and the impression of speed with race cars is important, and that means a reliable relativley slow shutter speed.

Keep at it and it will come. I just wish I had the opportunity to shoot what you did last weekend.