Nopi Drags

[Cliff666]

shot for a website this weekend at atco.i love having a press pass =). was told to mainly take shots for the pro classes and the sport fwd and heads up classes.
all in all good fun alot of racing only thing that sucked was the overcast the entire weekend >:O
heres also the link for more pics from the day and the bikini contest =) :beer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cliffcphoto/
will be uploading more as the week goes after work and such.
enjoy and please C&C is appreciated
1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2447684985_297ee32d37_o.jpg
2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/2447984742_8f5aae4678_o.jpg
3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2447162381_83f293a2e7_o.jpg
4
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2447162459_752000efef_o.jpg
5
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2447984570_355374d7cf_o.jpg
6
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2447984514_588caee72d_o.jpg
7
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2447984448_e1143f5c9d_o.jpg
8
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2447161773_805391eda6_o.jpg

[JacobPhoto]

I know these cars move pretty fast, but you need to work a bit on your panning.

Also, try and varry your shots. Get some head on shots, some shots from the rear, etc.

[saturnin]

work on your panning buddy... most are oof...cars are fast but they are big so panning is much easier... i'm comparing to motorcycles of course...

[Cliff666]

k thanks u 2, i have done the panning b4 but not in that spot where i was shooting(more by the tree this time). last time i did the panning i was told to try shooting the shutter a bit slower around 1/160 1/120 instead of 1/200, 1/250 to get more of a blur.
thanks for the C&C

[tehdrok]

You could maybe get access to a part of the track further up..? If you get the cars after they've started off, once they're on a bit of a run, you could use the slightly faster shutter speeds that you're used to, AND get the blur :D

Number 2 and number 5 are good :)

[Mark1]

I believe they meant blur the backgrounds not the cars. To me everything else looks ok. Fairly good timing, your able to keep the car in a good spot in the frame, and the overall exposure looks ok. It's just that the cars are too blurry.

[saturnin]

dont worry about shooting 1/160 shoot 1/250 or 320 get a feel for it.. if u go any lower try a monopod if you are not that steady.. also shoot in burst, u'll get @ least 1 keeper and thats all you really need right. :D

i have a wierd thing when i shoot action.. i can get all my pics in focus if i shoot tilted.... lol.. i'm not sure why?

[davidk]

You could maybe get access to a part of the track further up..?

As amatuer and disorganized as NOPI is, they wont let you get far past the tree on the drag strip for safety reasons. Im glad i dont have to shoot anymore NOPI Drift events, because i almost died like 10 times at each of the events i was assigned to.

[Cliff666]

As amatuer and disorganized as NOPI is, they wont let you get far past the tree on the drag strip for safety reasons. Im glad i dont have to shoot anymore NOPI Drift events, because i almost died like 10 times at each of the events i was assigned to.

now add atco's poorly prepared track to that as well. 5-7 accidents almost happened this weekend and 2 big crashes all at the end of the track. :-X

[Jim M]

I don't think panning works well on a drag strip starting line. I think it actually detracts from the raw power this kind of racing is all about. I prefer to freeze the action to show wrinkled slicks, wheels in the air, and the driver's expression where this is possible. Yeh, I know front wheel drive won't have wheels-up action, but the principle is the same. Down track, panning is OK because there isn't much else going on. And panning is fine for other forms of motor sports where there isn't that instant burst of power, but that brief moment of intensity is a huge part of drag racing.

[Mark1]

I have seen severalshots from the start line, wheels up, and the background blured. Dont have a link to them, but they were as you described, but a bit more.

[gdrMatt]

you're lucky it was overcast, Atco has horrible lighting during the day.. sun comes up behind the track.. i doubt the track was prepped badly, it's one of the best prepared tracks in the northeast.. especially for a large event like NOPI.

[Z_Ghost]

I have seen severalshots from the start line, wheels up, and the background blured. Dont have a link to them, but they were as you described, but a bit more.
Not wheels up but close to it.
http://www.pbase.com/z_ghost/image/85626839/original.jpg

Focal Length83 mmExposure Time1/125 secAperturef/2.8ISO Equivalent800
That pic got used in RPM magazine last year.
Shot at TXR in Kennedale Texas.
KOTH race.


Cliff666
It's not easy at first to pan but your not off by much.
Keep at it and remamber to keep panning after you press the shutter button.

[squashed]

Wheres Charity?

[gdrMatt]

Cliff666
It's not easy at first to pan but your not off by much.
Keep at it and remamber to keep panning after you press the shutter button.

good advice.. if the car is at the same place in the frame after your shutter opens, it will probably come out sharp.. unless the shutter speed is to slow.. you have to remember the cars are moving up and down also, not just accelerating. so keep the shutter speed above 1/250.

shooting from the stands is completely different then shooting on the track.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2385291580_cc666ce2b7_o.jpg

[promod]

I would like to have seen a picture after this moon shot .. i'v seen a 55 chevy flatten his oilpan after a takeoff like that at epping , n.h.