First time shooting Speedway... Dusty, dark and noisy!

[gmen]

Courtesy of a new contract, a summer of shooting the top level of UK Speedway is ahead of me. Tonight was a chance to shoot a pre-season meeting to get my eye in.

Roll on the summer evenings! In typical fashion the floodlighting was poor, so I experimented with and without flash. Here are some of the results...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak001.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak002.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak003.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak004.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak005.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak006.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak007.jpg

It was certainly a learning curve... a big one!

[PhotosGuy]

Great shots! Love the glowing red eyes on the next to last one! ;-)

[skyphix]

What lens was used?

Nice shots! This is the kind of lighting I'll be dealing with once (American) football season starts.

[gmen]

What lens was used?

Nice shots! This is the kind of lighting I'll be dealing with once (American) football season starts.

These were shot with the famous 85mm f/1.8 wide open - with flash at ISO1000 and without flash at ISO3200.

[Ballen Photo]

Nice work Gmen, This looks like some fast action shooting. :D
-Bruce

[Ian_H]

Really great shots Gmen, like them all.



Cheers
Ian

[3oh6]

this was done with the 85!?!? i guess we can add motorsports to its resume ;) but damn son, thats gettin mighty close for high speed on the edge machines. i hope your having to crop into those a little bit at least. i do think the flash gives a nice dramatic effect with the ultra dark background. and there does appear to be the opportunity for lots of color with the uniforms. good stuff.

[gmen]

Nice work Gmen, This looks like some fast action shooting. :D
-Bruce

Cheers Ballen... these bikes certainly move fast, particularly given their distinct lack of brakes!

[Ballen Photo]

these bikes certainly move fast, particularly given their distinct lack of brakes!

No BRAKES? That helps explain what happened in photo #4 then. :shock: :lol: ;)
-Bruce

[timmyquest]

hmm, are these motorcycles with bike wheels, or bikes with motor cycle engines :-)

[cmM]

gmen, you're a lucky man.... I've been dreaming about shooting some sort of motocross event for a loooong time.

TQ, those are quite powerfull motorcycles. (500cc, running on methanol). This sport is quite popular in Europe.

[BigRed450]

Excellent gmen... 85mm that is getting in close. And I thought 100mm was way to close for comfort at the iceraces....

Great job and congrats on the contract...

[gmen]

this was done with the 85!?!? i guess we can add motorsports to its resume ;) but damn son, thats gettin mighty close for high speed on the edge machines. i hope your having to crop into those a little bit at least. i do think the flash gives a nice dramatic effect with the ultra dark background. and there does appear to be the opportunity for lots of color with the uniforms. good stuff.

Oh yes... the jolly old 85mm. It was vital for shooting with available light - but also, it was a peachy focal length for shooting from the inside of the first bend... it gave a good wide-ish view of the riders approaching the bend and then was spot on for isolating the lead rider as he came round the bend - all with very little cropping.

Here are a few more for good measure - including an attempt at angled panning - tough one that, plenty more work to do!

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak008.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak009.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak010.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/ak011.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

Nice effect on the next to last one. It has a feeling of motion, but the eyes are relativley sharp, too. I find that a happy medium like that happens about 5% (or less) of the time, but think that the results are worth it.