Snetterton Top Hat Classics

[DonaldM]

Great day at Snetterton with some really fantastic racing, although I am now very sunburned. This is only the first time I have used my long lens on big cars (my karting thread was the first time ever) and I am still very much learning what is what on the camera, so please, any C&C, good or bad, would be extremely welcome.

Please take a look at the best ones I picked here: http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/?start=20 There are only 44!

1. Everybody seems to love panning shots, and big Healeys, so heres a combination of both. http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7882.jpg

2. I'm unsure about this one as only the nose is in sharp focus (why?) http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7889.jpg

3. A sort of pan, nice Jag though. http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7872.jpg

4. Again not sure, too much sun on the bonnet? http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7879.jpg

5. This guy was doing a sterling job in his first race, too close a crop? http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_8306.jpg

6. Going in a bit too deep, not sure why I like this one but I do. http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_8336.jpg

7. This guy went into the chicane like this every lap! Which of the two is better? This ... http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_8077.jpg

8. ... or this?

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_8078.jpg

[Chisholm]

Too many questions !! , these are good shots, at then end of the day if youre happy, then thats the whole point.......
Tom

[DonaldM]

Thanks, I am happy with them, but would like to get better so I can be even happier.

Here are a few more:

9. A beautiful Jag.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_8208.jpg

10. Racing hard.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7911.jpg

11.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7990.jpg

12.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7966.jpg

13.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7949.jpg

14.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7936.jpg

15.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/DonaldMH/Snetterton/IMG_7989.jpg

[Ingsy]

Ok, here's my tuppence worth. And I'm fairly new to this too, so this is all IMHO etc :)

For the pans early on, they look a little soft - were you trying to be too optimistic with the shutter speed? Personally I find I need to start at around 1/320 first thing in the morning, and then work downwards throughout the day.

No 6 - I'd crop away some of the empty space on the left hand side of the frame.
I prefer no 7, but I'd crop into it a bit, leaving the kerbs as reference.

No 11 doesn't really do anything for me. I prefer the mre 3/4 type angle in no 12.


No 15 is my favourite but could do with a slower shutter to give a bit more sense of movement.

As I say, everyones mileage will vary, but that's my thoughts.

[Kevbuts]

What a lovely selection of machinary there was on offer at Snetterton. I also attended the event, and also got sun burnt!

You posted a nice selection of different shots here Donald. I think my overall favourites have to be #10, #13 & #15 as I particularly like these compositions. It's always nice to see more than one car in the frame too (just my opinion), so #10 is nice.

You've got the hang of panning by the looks of it, but I would suggest you use a slightly faster shutter speed next time to try and keep a little more of the subject car in focus. It's always a trade off between loads of motion blur vs. the subject being in focus. The more you practise the better you'll get - you've done a great job though if these are some of your first attempts a panning.

As Tom has pointed out in his reply, there are no hard and fast rules regarding compositions, tight crops, wide crops etc. It really is whatever you are most happy with yourself. Unless of course you're selling your work in which case your client's requirements may dictate compositions and so on.

The more you practise the more you will get a handle on what works for you in terms of shutter speeds, camera settings, compositions etc with the gear that you're using.

Keep up the good work though and most importantly make sure you enjoy yourself.

[DonaldM]

Thanks, I was struggling early on with there being so much light, so the camera was choosing the shutter speeds (I know that is silly but I am still just getting to grips with it).

Thanks for the input chaps :)

[ALALAL_1]

Hi Donald

Looks like you had a great day, some really nice cars out.

#12 is the best of the bunch for me

Cheers Alan