F1 at Valencia

[Lowner]

Just back from what must qualify as one of the most boring F1 races ever. The Formula BMW's were worth it for the entertainment value but that was it.

We watched the race from T19, a grandstand in the Nazaret area, which is where this shot of Massa was taken. Sadly there are no general admission areas and the Spanish Officials were a little "over zealous", so no possibility of looking for any other shooting angles. I played with shutter speeds and ISO settings and will go through my images over the next week.

The other big problem was access to the track. The organisers seemed to assume that no one would come on foot or in coaches. We heard one group saying it had taken them well over 3 hours to get from the North of the track where their coach had dropped them, round to our grandstand. They were not looking forward to the return.

[Lowner]

Another image, this of one of the Force India cars. Taken during Fridays free practise session.

I see that this was taken in Av, at f/8, in one-shot. I know most of the time I used AV Servo, but this was an early shot, before I got my head around how to deal with the issues.

[williamsf1]

G'day Richard you sound like I could have written that word for word!!!

we were stuck in row 17 95-96 and basically had to shoot from there.... HOWEVER! you may have noticed the temp tape fence up along the edge of T19 blocking off the photo spots infront of the stand... well on Friday they didnt have that up, and we took the usual thought that you can stand anywhere you like as long as you are behind the GA fence...

and shot this

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2798863115_1cc895ee70_o.jpg

however about 5 mins after shooting from the gap in the fence over the shoulder of a pro shooter (who turned around and took a pic of the GF with the usual kangaroo TV pose) ... pro dude then moved on....we then had old mate on a scooter come up and in spanish telling me I cant stand there!!! well I politely ignored his tabbaco stained teeth and continued to shoot....thinking he was just going to go away... which he did!

another 5 mins later.... he brings another guy.... and I tell them in no uncertain terms Im not moving as this is a public area, and they can go to hell...

5 mins more.... and 2 more guys come... and 2 more... and finally someone who spoke english.... and they blocked my lens!

we then moved.... and went back to the stand, but then tried to shoot from some other places only to be told that your not allowed to stop walking!!!!!

anyhow between the bad track design ( a 12 yr old could work out how to give a track passing places ... 1st gear hairpin into long straight, and another hairpin would be nice!!!) and the hotdogs as the only food....


oh and there was no water left to even buy by race time....

hmmm!

[Arctica]

Any of the Red Bull cars (for what good they did ! )

[Lowner]

Williamsf1,

By the time we got to the track on Friday afternoon, the goon squad had put the tape up. Why they decided not to allow access I just don't understand. Thats a superb shot under the circumstances, pity he never got going all weekend. And how can you dare criticise F1's favorite track designer! He must work cheap, because all his tracks seem to be clones of each other.

Actica,

Keep an eye on the zenfolio link below. I've just put one up of Sebastian Vettel and will put others up as I do them. Sadly they are all very "samey" and no out of focus backgrounds, having been shot from a fixed location too far away for that to work. Wish I'd had the gumption to try what Williamsf1 did, his is a far better shot than any of mine.

[Arctica]

The Vettel one is great, He's our rising star, just wish we could drop the old boy for him for the rest of the season!:rolleyes::lol:

[Krapo]

... and finally someone who spoke english....

You found him!! :D After spending two years in Spain I never found someone from the administration/civil servant who spoke english!

Great shot by the way

[williamsf1]

Sorry Lowner,

I may have blown it for you!!!

You see... well, from Friday on, I called that fenced of area "my area" as it wasn't fenced off before I caused a big scene and basically was only moments away from ending the weekend in a jail cell... hmmm! however I feel that they were going to block that area anyhow, as it was one of the only places you could shoot from, and get a "pro" shot....my other pics are frustrating (all 2000 of them) as whilst they are good, they are nothing on the 100 or so I got from the cut out infront of the T19 stand, and then carefully shooting from behind the marshall post on the corner!!! (before that was blocked too!!)

here are some others... they haven't been touched by photoshop yet :( as my software is acting up....

so forgive me if they are not that blingy!!

I will be at the DTM this weekend, then at SPA.... so should have less trouble getting the right pics there!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2804608602_aee71ffc3a_o.jpg

this was from behind the marshall post... shooting between 2 fences and a few girls in orange!!!

[williamsf1]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2804611072_0c2e033f4f_o.jpg

This from my seat.... sadly I have a lot from this angle, and not many from anywhere else!!!

Bruno rocks tho!!!

the rest can be seen here...http://www.flickr.com/photos/9802416@N05/2804607174/ etc etc

more later if requested!!!

[Lowner]

Williamsf1,

OK, I'll blame you. But seriously, what was their problem? Why be so heavy handed the whole weekend? We normally wait after the race on Sunday to let the crowds go, here we were kicked out! And explain to me why walking access to the Nazaret grandstands was made almost impossible.

I've decided that while Valencia is a beautiful City, I won't be back.

[williamsf1]

yes we were watching the post race on the big screen and listening to it on kangaroo.... and the staff tried to kick us out of the stand!! told them very nicely to go fly a kite, and then we stayed until we were last out of the stand!

we worked out on friday that walking was going to be hard.... so decided to catch the tram to what we called "doctor lunch" and then caught a taxi from near by... all of 6 euros and the taxi got us to the gate at T19... no 6km walk!!

I'm hoping all my media contacts make as much noise about the security and access problems, thats all...

but yes.... the tape was my doing! hahahaha!

I won't be back without some better passes.... thats for sure!

[dodger]

I visited the circuit as it was being built last April and decided there and then that I wouldnt be going to the race. It was too dear and I figured that the potential for good viewing/photography were zero. I watched the race on Spanish TV instead and have to say it was the dullest race so far this year and also that the track was very unattractive. Sure Valencia has some beautiful parts but this circuit didnt weave around any of them, seemed to me that all we really saw was safety fencing.

[Lowner]

Dodger,

You are right, and very new and big and in your face safety fencing it was too. My wife claims it was the least she's seen of any F1 cars ever at any race she's ever been to.

Were you able to get any impression of which parts of the track would be better for photographs when you went round it? This year was obviously a total lottery, but if we could get a knowledge base for other years, then others might benefit. It won't be me, because I'm never ever going there again, but thats because of Spanish officialdom rather than the track layout.

[dodger]

We visited Valencia on Wednesday after the race
They were busy dismantling the circuit.
We took some shots with our "unbreakable" Olympus Mu 1030 SW, it broke the next day!!

Look at the catch fencing,
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nfbds/catchfence.jpg

look at the seats in this stand, if you were unfortunate to have chosen the lower down seats then I reckon you would have seen n**f all.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nfbds/circuit.jpgThese pics were taken just before the track went over the bridge. Having been round the whole circuit either on foot or by car I woulkd have to say its not worth the effort.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a30/nfbds/tribune.jpg

Having been to and driven Imola I really cant see why F1 is ditching such classic and beautiful circuits in favour of these new concrete jungles

Nick

[mixin]

Couple of months old this thread, but I visited the European F1 so thought I'd upload my first ever photos for this place.
I was located in stand T8, which was just before the bridge. All in all nothing eventful happened during the F1 so it was a bit disappointing.

Rosberg:
http://www.mixin2.com/mr/IMG_3891.jpg

Hamilton:
http://www.mixin2.com/mr/IMG_3892.jpg

[JBlue]

GO GO GO McLaren!

[Lowner]

I believe that Bernie Ecclestone is making a big mistake with this new push for city centre "Events". I'd rather see many more interesting tracks like Spa, or the AI Ring, where spectators can see whats happening.

Mixin, Was the "Security" at T8 as heavy handed as we saw at Nazeret? I'm wodering if it was a local problem.

[mixin]

My only confrontation was when I was trying to get round the back of our stand to where there was a gap in the fencing at a run off area, but there was a couple of guys there who were quick to start having a go at me. My Spanish is very limited, so figured I'd avoid any hassle that might come of me being over there.

There wasn't really any options of where to shoot apart from in the stand, so all my photos are very much like the one's I've already posted.

I do agree with you on the street circuit thing as well. I'd much prefer to see more proper race tracks which allow for overtaking and more interesting racing. Valencia was my first F1 race, and I really enjoyed it, but I think i'll be heading off to a proper race track next year.

[BrettRio]

Cool stuff..
Great photos! Can't wait for next year F1

[scermat]

hmm okay i had been planning to go to valencia next year for f1 but after reading your comments im seriously reconsidering :S seemes to be as bad as i hoped it wouldn't be in terms of what you're allowed to see :(

i also agree with you on the tracks. damn. :(