Mazda RX-8

[Dave_G]

Kinda fluked this shot. Meant to get the BMW M3 and Honda Integra in focus...but obviosly didn't. Was about to bin it when I realised I'd got the Mazda behind in focus so cropped it in Potatochop and liked the result.

http://images9.fotki.com/v176/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7553-vi.jpg

[DxHatchback]

not really doing a whole lot for me

the bmw and integra take too much away from the main focus which is the rx8

also, maybe try some side shots next time where you can work in some panning for more interesting shots

[Dave_G]

Pan
http://images9.fotki.com/v189/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7748-vi.jpg

Head-on 3/4s
http://images10.fotki.com/v197/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7570-vi.jpg

[Cadwell]

First off the pan shot is excellent. Sharp, good motion blur behind, the wheels look great and you've not been tempted to tilt the frame at a daft angle (one of my pet hates).

The head on shot coming into Druid's is less convincing. There looks to be slight back focus thing going on (the front of the car appears just a touch OoF - the driver is sharp) and the sunstrip looks a little blown (I hate white sunstrips). Without looking at the EXIF, I'd say you could have done with running the shot 1/3rd of a stop down. On the plus side the shot is nicely framed and that angle with Hailwood Hill behind is one of my favourites.

[fotogeek]

Damn it man! How do you get your pan shots so sharp, and your head on shots so soft? :D kidding...

Are you hand held, or using a tripod, if tripod, what kind of a head do you have on it? That pan shot is sexy.

Does the 300D have AI Servo mode? Would be interesting to see if that helps sharpend up your on-coming shots. I know how hard it is to shoot something coming at you that fast and get it sharp. I shot my first Panthers game last year and man... 90% of my shots were soft, I didn't realize I was shooting in one shot mode.

They really do look nice though. Good work.

[Dave_G]

Cadwell - I was using a 1.4x tc and had to meddle in Photoshop so have blown out the white a bit, and know what you mean about the focus from the front of the car to the back. I love this angle too, and will definitely try some more shots from there as I was (reasonably) happy with my results. The problem I have is I'm not that tall so getting over the top of the fence at Druids is a challenge for me.

I don't do funky tilts either :)

fotogeek - that was handheld.

Thanks for the kind words.

I like these from the top of Drids as well

Much better focus of the RX8, might crop a bit in PS later
http://images10.fotki.com/v193/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7554-vi.jpg

http://images10.fotki.com/v197/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7744-vi.jpg

http://images9.fotki.com/v198/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7542-vi.jpg

[Andy_T]

Dave,

the images are sharp and contrasty, and the composition is nice .... BUT!!!

The paint job on that car is godawful. The red duct tape fits right in :p

Best regards,
Andy

[Dave_G]

hahahaha

Mazda produced a limited edition MX5 called the MX5 Le Mans to celebrate their Le Mans 24 hour race win with the 787b - which looked like this
http://images9.fotki.com/v198/photos/1/105162/2349468/IMG_3994-vi.jpg

Someone at Mazda was on crack that day I think. It matched the race car paint job!

[Andy_T]

Actually, I think it's nicer with the dotted white dividing lines ... but not much :p

I reckon the designer was a tad colour blind.

Best regards,
Andy

[R32Bum]

http://images10.fotki.com/v193/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7554-vi.jpg





I think you would be crazy to crop this. I think it is a very powerfull shot the way it sits, nice pans, love the FWD car!

[Dave_G]

Ok I'll leave it then! lol

[Dave_G]

I've been looking through my 'work' for that day and have a few different angles of the RX8s - I'll post them later in this thread :)

Right now, I have a hot air balloon to shoot! Not literally....

[KennyG]

Having owned a 230bhp Mazda RX-8, just the sight of one makes me shudder. Biggest load of rubbish to come out of Mazda. Looks great, handles like a dream, no guts, drinks petrol, seats designed by a sadist for masochists and the suicide dooors need 6ft free space to be useful. I'll stop there as the list of why you should never even think of buying one is very long.

[Dave_G]

Not high on my list of next cars either...still...quite photogenic

Anyway, the hot air balloon never materialised so here are more of the Mazda as I said

From inside of Druids - looking slightly down onto the car - 1/125 of a sec
http://images10.fotki.com/v195/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7696-vi.jpg

Hailwood Hill - 1/250th
http://images10.fotki.com/v197/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7657-vi.jpg

Same as above, different car, 1/125th
http://images10.fotki.com/v196/photos/1/105162/2359269/IMG_7665-vi.jpg

That's enough now, my eyes are sore from Orange and Green overload!

[KennyG]

It is a horrible colour scheme, the sort of thing one would expect from a bad LSD trip. I don't know what is in the mind of some designers. Do you "tear along the dotted line" to reveal a better colour scheme?

The orange is clipping like mad and the sun to shade differences are huge. A problem with a lot of digital sensors is their inability to handle certain strong colours, particularly those of the Daglo type.

I was at Brands at the weekend and it is a nightmare to get sun and position right when the light is harsh. Keeping the gravel dust out of everything when the wind is blowing uphill from Paddock doesn't help either.

[Cadwell]

I love this angle too, and will definitely try some more shots from there as I was (reasonably) happy with my results. The problem I have is I'm not that tall so getting over the top of the fence at Druids is a challenge for me.

I don't do funky tilts either :)


Good stuff on the funky tilts (or lack of).

If you have a problem shooting over the fence at Druid's don't bother. Open up your aperture (adjust ISO to compensate), get your lens close to the fence and shoot straight through it. At around 300-400mm you will never see the fence.

[Dave_G]

Thanks Glenn I'll give that a try.

Kenny - I was struggling on that day with the bright sunshine and shade combo...wasn't much dust though, I must attract a less wayward racing driver ;)

[KennyG]

I always get the drivers that have a fascination for my 300mm. For some reason they want to get a closer look at it - maybe they are jealous Nikon users, who knows. They usually end up in the gravel or tyre wall in front of me. Marshals now check my itinerary and refuse to work at posts where I will be.

Talking about tilts (which I hate) and apologies for posting this, but you get very strange angles on the way into Paddock. All the verticals and horizontals are spot on. Now this was awkward, almost straight on into evening sunshine.
http://www.motorpix.co.uk/images71/bh-15.jpg

Just a note - that's his team mate being pushed back into the garage, and no I didn't plan it.

[Dave_G]

Jeez, I wouldn't have even attempted that. Erk!

Nice shot though.