Drag racing exposure question

[andrewmr]

Hello all.

I hope to be going to an NHRA event next month and wanted to take photo's while there.

My question is, when taking pictures of fuel cars, with the flames coming out of the exhaust, how does one meter the exposure? I'm guessing the additional light (toward dusk) will have some impact in that area of the photo but not the whole image. So, do I just let the camera meter the whole shot or do I have to compensate somewhat?

[DC Fan]

Can't find originals from six years ago; hopefully, small images will help.

http://www.fansview.com/racing/0905c245.jpg

http://www.fansview.com/racing/0905c121.jpg

Used shutter priority 1/125 at ISO 1600 for the track lights, and let the header flames take care of themselves.

[Jim M]

At an NHRA event you will have multiple chances to get such shots. I'd try your best guess, chimp, and adjust to taste. Do be careful not to under expose based on chimping. Use the histogram more than the image. It probably won't be a bell curve, but you should have a little bit of graph all the way across. Be aware that if you are shooting as the sun goes down, light may change until the Musco system overwhelms the sun. If you are using one of the automatic metering modes, this may not make much difference, but if you are shooting manual, you may need to keep an eye out for that.

At every NHRA race I've attended, Top Alcohol Dragster runs before the Top Fuel and Fuel Funny Car classes. some of the T/A cars will run injected nitro and may give you a chance to practice as well if the sun has started to go down.

[Zilly]

depending on nitro content and air density and temperature you want to be looking at between 1/3rd and 2/3rd of a stop under exposed for the ambient

Apart from that you can shoot it how you like