Dirt Track Racing

[Art Rodriguez]

Here is my feeble attempt at racing pics. Of course they are no way near the quality shots that you guys have posted but I was hoping I could get some input on how to improve. I use a Tamron 28-75 2.8 lens and the 430EX in Manual Mode. Thanks in advance.

Art

1/100 f/2.8 ISO400
http://www.pbase.com/jriggy4439/image/115857331.jpg

1/160 f/3.5 ISO400
http://www.pbase.com/jriggy4439/image/115857358.jpg

1/160 f/3.5 ISO400
http://www.pbase.com/jriggy4439/image/115889776.jpg

1/160 f/3.5 ISO400
http://www.pbase.com/jriggy4439/image/115889785.jpg

[Bosscat]

Turn your flash off and shoot the night racing is the only advice I can offer, as your photos have a cartoonish quality to them IMO.

[focus.pocus]

yep Flash is blowing out the photos.

[Art Rodriguez]

Thanks for your response guys. The only problem with not using a flash is the lighting at the track is terrible. So I have to use a flash. Maybe if I dial it down a bit it might help. They could also look cartoonish because of my post processing. I not very good at that either.

Art

[Bosscat]

I shot this at a place that isn't as well lit like I am used to, and I had the flash in the bag at the time.

[3rd turn]

Not to hi-jack your thread, but I shot this at a very poorly lit track with my 40D, 580EXII, 250 shutter, f5, ISO 800, 100mm

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2199/200914julytwincitiesusa.jpg

[Heartland Motorsports]

A pro once told me "No matter what you hear get use to always using a flash."

I use a 50D Canon
On Manual
Lens Set to auto

75-200mm Ultra fast 2.8
Settings: ISO400
250 to 320 shutter
f3.0 and up to get the lighting I want
I use a Norman 200B set at 100


http://www.heartlandmotorsports.com/Photo_Gallery/2009/FBLynch_MG_6108.jpg

[Art Rodriguez]

Bosscat, that's an awesome shot. What equipment were you using and what your settings were on?

3rd turn, not to worry. You're not hijacking my thread. That is what I want so I improve. That's a great shot too. Thanks.

Heartland Motorsports. That's an awesome shot too.

I've only been at this for just over a year now and I wish my pics could look like the one's that were just posted. I wonder if I up my shutter speed if it would make a difference in my pics getting blown out? I also know that the lens I'm using is not made for this stuff but it's the only thing I can afford at this time.

Thanks guys for your response.

Art

[Bosscat]

Bosscat, that's an awesome shot. What equipment were you using and what your settings were on?

50D at ISO 3200 for that shot, with a 135L and probably around 1/100th. This is about motion, regardless of what anyone will tell you. I never exceed a shutter speed of 1/320th at anytime when shooting anything at a dirt track, and only that high for WoO Late Models during hot laps, due to their violent pitching it into the turns.

Here is another at a better lit track, down at ISO 800. Only time anyone sees my flash fire is for victory lane shots.

[Art Rodriguez]

That's another great shot Bosscat. All I have is an XT which the highest ISO is 1600. With this camera if I went that route I know the noise will be really bad. Also I purchased the Tamron for portraits. I never thought I'd be shooting racing pics at night. But you can bet when I win the Lotto I'll get me better equipment :)

Art

[photosbybrian]

For you guys who are set up with local tracks, how do you approach a track for photography services and how do you charge? I shot a few of my cousins car a few weeks ago and he said they were WAY better than the "official" track photographer and that I should pursue doing more of them. This past Sat night they wouldn't let me in the infield with my camera unless I was from a "major racing publication". I have a press pass from a local weekly paper I shoot HS football for. This shot was at a Thursday night practice session. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian

[Wood #4]

I usually call the promoter for their approval to shoot. I have run into some promoters who want their track photographers to say it is ok. But if a track has a track photographer then you are pretty much out to lunch if you want to sell them because that will get you kicked out of the infield in a heartbeat.

The agreement I have with some of the track photographers is not to advertise at the track which works ok. I am also a series photographer with a local touring late model series and I always try to stop and talk to the track photographers so they know that I am not there to steal anything from them. Some have become very good friends and they even let me shoot with them when I am not shooting with the series I am affiliated with.

Also if you are wanting to sell maybe have some business cards made up so if you are asked at a track about a photo(s) with a track photographer you can give them your card so they can contact you. I would never contact a driver or team because if the track photographers find out good luck on getting back in the infield. I have witenssed this one first hand recently.

Good luck.:D

[NC Ghost Hunter]

I just finished my first year shooting dirt. I write for a website and needed pics so there went my tax refund...lol Like Woody said, the track photographer is there to serve the track and the local racers. While not an official series photographer (yet), I got in tight with a series by providing them with weekly free photo sets for their website in return I was put on the series media list. I do not know of a track that is going to say no to that. Some limit the amount of "media" too cut out the hobbyist that just wants to shoot for free. Also posting a few 3-4 low res pics on the local facing forum is a good way to drum up a little side action. But never, never solicit work at the track. If you do good work the people will come find you. In the last 2 moths I have done 2 shoots for racing product manufactures, 2 national dirt late model teams and 5 regional series teams. Only problem is figuring out what the going rate is? These were not one-on-one shoots these were at races. Any ideas on pricing? Hope I did not low-ball myself.

I just looked at you August 09 pics and you still are over cooking the flash shooting @ 90 degrees to the cars. Shooting with the 2.8 you should get reasonably good pics @ ISO400 if you are reasonably close. Viewing them on the camera they should look a hair underexposed when you get close. Also setup a user profile starting with standard setting and bump sharpness up one and saturation down one. Shoot a few, make notes and change the settings one at a time making notes along the way. You did not say if you were shooting in RAW, RAW/JPEG or JPEG? In post processing try fiddling with white balance styles if you are shooting in RAW. Most people don't, but I always do, and I archive all the RAW, fullzie JPEGS and batched files in seperate subfolders.