Petit Le Mans @ Road Atlanta

[John Thawley]

A few picks from a very long 9 days.

1. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=119967&g2_serialNumber=1

2. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=119976&g2_serialNumber=1

3. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120058&g2_serialNumber=1

4. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120068&g2_serialNumber=1

5. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120042&g2_serialNumber=1

6. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120018&g2_serialNumber=1

7.http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120022&g2_serialNumber=1

8. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120028&g2_serialNumber=1

[Jamie Holladay]

Nice set JT. Creative take on the autograph session.

[Eunos]

Excellent work as always, John. Too bad we didn't get to see any of the B-K Lola during the race, so I'm looking forward to Laguna Seca.

Thanks!

Gary

[Arctica]

All great shots, shame you can only post 8!
#1 especially for me.

[Bosscat]

Love the curb hopping shots. They so capture just how hard everyone is trying to shave time these days. Those that don't follow auto racing, just don't understand how hard a driver tries. This type of image certainly portrays that.

[mike1515]

Awesome as usual John. I really love #3 and #5.

--Mike1515

[chopperdave]

I love the 911 shot. Awesome stuff as always.

[profec291]

Excellent shots! I like 'em all!

[Owain Shaw]

It's all about McNish ...

[smcclelland]

Nice shots John, #3 and #6 are my favourites of the set.

[Croasdail]

Interesting selection John here and on FM. It was a struggle for me to see something unique this year, and with so many blue vests running around, a bit frustrating to find that unique local. Always nice to see your take on an event... cheers.

[John Thawley]

... and with some many blue vests running around, a bit frustrating to find that unique local.

Amen to that!!!! I'm having my camera bodies customized for mounting a small dart shooting device onto the hot shoe. Should help clean up the backgrounds.

Seriously, though... they've got to do something regarding credentials. It's time to raise the bar on this situation and determine who's working and who's not.

Thanks for the comments...

JT

[sadler21]

Amen to that!!!! I'm having my camera bodies customized for mounting a small dart shooting device onto the hot shoe. Should help clean up the backgrounds.

Seriously, though... they've got to do something regarding credentials. It's time to raise the bar on this situation and determine who's working and who's not.

Thanks for the comments...

JT
Gotta agree with you guys... went as a fan, busy with more stuff than shooting, but was surprised the number of what appeared to be teenage girls with blue vests. Probably saw at least 20...

[John Thawley]

Gotta agree with you guys... went as a fan, busy with more stuff than shooting, but was surprised the number of what appeared to be teenage girls with blue vests. Probably saw at least 20...

Ah.. yes. Notice the equipment they had? No, no... not THAT equipment. The cameras and lenses. :)

They are students from a Photo Journalism class at Georgia Tech (or one of the universities.) Someone at the ALMS got it in their head that this was a nice "community" thing to do. And... I agree. Though I think it would be better to do it on a weekend when you're NOT handing out over 400 media credentials, piling five prototypes into the turn one wall... and hosting arguably one of the most important sport car races in North America.

It seems it would make more sense to host them on a weekend when they could have safer and easier access... and even provide a "tutor" to show them the lay of the land. As one of their track photographers, I've offered to help.. but not at this event.

JT

[smcclelland]

Ah.. yes. Notice the equipment they had? No, no... not THAT equipment. The cameras and lenses. :)

They are students from a Photo Journalism class at Georgia Tech (or one of the universities.) Someone at the ALMS got it in their head that this was a nice "community" thing to do. And... I agree. Though I think it would be better to do it on a weekend when you're NOT handing out over 400 media credentials, piling five prototypes into the turn one wall... and hosting arguably one of the most important sport car races in North America.

It seems it would make more sense to host them on a weekend when they could have safer and easier access... and even provide a "tutor" to show them the lay of the land. As one of their track photographers, I've offered to help.. but not at this event.

JT

That sounds like quite a large liability given it being a high profile event and an actual race where the drivers are going to push hard for their lap times. It's a great experience but at the same time I have to question the organizers for allowing it and the person who planned it, why not take them out for a track day with a car club or something?

Sounds like the ALMS needs to pull in the reigns on vest access a bit more and start being a bit more thorough in their selection. Mosport this year surprised me at how many vests were present compared to last year (I counted 8 vests inside the fence and 3 outside in Turn 1 at the start of the race).

-s

[John Thawley]

Mosport this year surprised me at how many vests were present compared to last year (I counted 8 vests inside the fence and 3 outside in Turn 1 at the start of the race).

-s

Well, at Petit, there were 12 of us with reserved spots on the raised platform for the start in turn 1... add another 8-10 shooters without "reservations." Below the platform, at the wall, there was a line of photographers spanning no-less than 100ft., left to right.

I'm with you... I don't get it.

[Swiss Toni]

A
Seriously, though... they've got to do something regarding credentials.
JT
It would appear from viewing this forum that media passes were also handed out freely for the AMA series at Laguna Seca as well. :rolleyes:

However that number 3 shot is spot on, and cars don't normally do it for me.

[sadler21]

Ah.. yes. Notice the equipment they had? No, no... not THAT equipment. The cameras and lenses. :)


Actually, the girl I noticed first had a 70-200 f/2.8 L, but now that you mention it about the others... On one hand, I wish our college/uni did that for Road America and and the same time, IMO thats just insane lunacy for the reasons you stated.

[chrispons]

What fabulous and creative shots John,really standout.
The car shots are terrific,as are the people shots.
Love them all,Top Shooting !
The stunning 7 Ferrari shot is my favourite,but 3 is very clever use of light and crop.
Pons

[kyleturbo]

[quote=Croasdail;6458991] so many blue vests running aroundquote]

I was hoping to stumble upon a blue vest dropped on the ground. There are so many gated areas now at that track. As a fan, I wish I had found some better areas to shoot.

Nice shots BTW!

[Bosscat]

Seriously, though... they've got to do something regarding credentials. It's time to raise the bar on this situation and determine who's working and who's not.

I agree, because I think we can all see that at some point, someone will get injured, due to lack of understanding of the dangers involved, and everyone will be shooting through a few holes in the catch fencing after that.

Who will draw the line in the sand and how to draw the line is the question?

I don't have that answer myself, only an idea.

[John Thawley]

Well, as far as "where to draw the line," it isn't really all that complicated.

Start with the REAL reason for media and photo credentials"

Media and Photo credentials are issued for the purpose of generating media exposure for the Series. Period. It is that simple.

With that in mind, as the demand increases, the Series obligation to itself is to issue credentials to those outlets that assure they are getting the most exposure.

So, as saturation increases, they need to review WHO is requesting credentials and WHAT markets they reach. The problem today is eveyrone has a website or a blog and feels they are entitled to media access. Think about it, your buddy owns "ILOVECARS.COM and is asking for the same access as USA Today. That makes no sense.

The Series needs to review previous coverage and relevant content. In the old days, every TV station and every newspaper or print journal warranted a credential. After all, there weren't that many of them. But the Internet has changed that. Anyone with blog or website can claim to be a publisher and apply for a credential.

The Series is pretty specific regarding hard cards. But, the promoters are the ones issuing the event credentials at the local level. So, I think the burden is on the Series to put restrictions on the promoters.

JT

[kit lens]

Outstanding shots! Might I ask your choice in equipment for the action shots?

[John Thawley]

Outstanding shots! Might I ask your choice in equipment for the action shots?

I shoot Canon with Canon glass. Specifics are embedded in the EXIF data which is left intact in the files.

Thanks,

JT

[jayhova]

<Jealous!> Great tight shot in #3. Is that Helios get out of jail (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/more/10/05/castroneves.atlanta.ap/index.html) celebration in #2? :)

I kind of agree with not sending in inexperienced shooters to a situation like this. I've even asked John recently about how such access is garnered in the industry and he kindly explained through a lot of hard work. As an amateur shooter, racing fan and sometimes racing participant I can see how someone not knowledgeable about the racing world could get themselves in trouble especially at a large event such as Petit Le Mans...


full 3" exhaust....oh wait, wrong forum.
HA good one!

[Croasdail]

Well, as far as "where to draw the line," it isn't really all that complicated.

Start with the REAL reason for media and photo credentials"

Media and Photo credentials are issued for the purpose of generating media exposure for the Series. Period. It is that simple.

With that in mind, as the demand increases, the Series obligation to itself is to issue credentials to those outlets that assure they are getting the most exposure.

So, as saturation increases, they need to review WHO is requesting credentials and WHAT markets they reach. The problem today is eveyrone has a website or a blog and feels they are entitled to media access. Think about it, your buddy owns "ILOVECARS.COM and is asking for the same access as USA Today. That makes no sense.

The Series needs to review previous coverage and relevant content. In the old days, every TV station and every newspaper or print journal warranted a credential. After all, there weren't that many of them. But the Internet has changed that. Anyone with blog or website can claim to be a publisher and apply for a credential.

The Series is pretty specific regarding hard cards. But, the promoters are the ones issuing the event credentials at the local level. So, I think the burden is on the Series to put restrictions on the promoters.

JT

You know, I am with you on this. But, today I had a meeting with a Chicago based advertising company and in conversation we started to talk about this subject. The interesting part is how closely the advertising firms are now monitoring these blogs, and the decisions being made because of them. A larger part of the budget is being focused on these groups now. While not huge, it does show that some of the more significant blogs are taken very seriously. For what it is worth.