taking pictures at a NASCAR Race ?

[NASCARaddicted]

Hello

I am a hobby photographer and in May, I am going to the USA on vacation. For the most time, I will stay in Miami and in Orlando (Sea World) but I am also visiting the NASCAR Race in Darlington (at the Tyler Tower Grandstand). What equpiment is useful and what is useless, when I am going to the race ?

My camera is a Canon EOS 10D (I am not sure if the name is the same in the USA - she is about 5 years old). My lenses are: Tokina 12-24mm wide angle, F4 Tamron 28-75mm F2,8 standard and my big tele zoom, Canon 70-200 F2,8 L IS USM. And I have an 2time lense converter, so my zoom goes up to 400.

Also I have a Canon Speedlite Flash 420 EX.

So does it make sense to take all that stuff with me ? It sure weights a lot. And I guess the security guard may have a problem with all that stuff, too.

What is usefull ? The wide angle might be cool for overall shoots, but when it comes to stuff further away, I guess only the 70-200 is usefull. Is that correct ? I have no infield pass, so I think the 28-75 also wouldn't be of much help.

And last but not least: A few days later, my girlfriend (then wife) will be swimming with dolfins and I want to take pictures, too. I guess in this case it is the same, right ? The 70-200 would be the best ?

I am thankful for your help.

[Woolburr]

For where you are sitting...the only thing you have in your selection that will work real well is the 70-200 and your 2x TC. The other lenses are too short to give you any real usable stuff from the stands.

Here is a real world shot from Darlington....with a 70-200 and 2x TC.

[RTMiller]

NASCAR is pretty liberal about cameras and coolers. You won't have any problems. Bring both a wide angle and a zoom.

http://rtmiller.smugmug.com/photos/199902642_VFzQv-L.jpg



http://rtmiller.smugmug.com/photos/284799202_GR7VA-L.jpg

[chs4]

Whatever you decide to bring for equipment, know that it has to:

1. Be hand/neck carried in the open
2. Fit in a bag no larger than 6"x6"x12"
3. Be carried in a clear plastic bag

Darlington Raceway - What Can I bring? (http://darlingtonraceway.com/fan%5Finfo/what%5Fcan%5Fi%5Fbring/)

Not sure how strict they are with their policy but I'd keep it in mind just the same.

They also have a 3D seating chart (http://www.seats3d.com/international_speedway_corporation/darlington_raceway/)which will give you a reasonable indication of distance and view from your exact location.

[NASCARaddicted]

thanks for your advice and also thanks for this great photos. You are really helping me.

So it seems as if I have to bring all my stuff to the track (except maybe for the flash, since there are so much lightpoles, and over this distance, the flash would be useless, right ?). But then ... the race is part of my honeymoon (well, to be exact, the marriage will be 2 days after the race) but since my fiance and I travel all the way across the pond just to see the USA (and a NASCAR race) I think I should take all my stuff that I have.

Woolburr, your picture is really great.

RTMiller, your picture are also really great. Can you give me some details about the pictures, especially about the Earnhardt/Gordon picture ? Judging by the angle of the picture, I would guess that you have been sitting on the front stretch, behind the SF Line and the cars have been exiting turn 2, entering the back stretch, right ? What lense did you use ?

[RTMiller]

Yes, we were sitting up high on the front stretch about halfway between the start/finish line and turn 1. Both pictures were taken with my 20D. I used the kit lens for the first (18-55). The second picture was taken with the 100-400L. The cars were just going into turn 2 by the Sunoco and Pepsi ads seen in pic 1.

I would bring the 10-22 and the 70-200 and converter. You probably won't need the flash at the race but you probably will use it at other times on your trip. Have fun and remember to post pictures when you return.