Drag racing C & C, please

[slimenta]

Have been shooting drag racing for the first time, quite a challenge. Would appreciate feedback.

http://www.sportsactiondigital.com/Miscellaneous-Stuff/Riley-Auto-Parts-Nationals-9/13813795_4wpgb#1011904053_ndHCd

[Jim M]

Looks great to me. We should be coming to you for advice.

[slimenta]

Looks great to me. We should be coming to you for advice.

Hardly, but thanks. You should see the guys who are good at it! This was my first effort.

[PhotosGuy]

Good work! #9 has tire wrinkle & the front wheels in the air. I don't see how you could do any better under the conditions you were shooting unless you were allowed to kick a bit of strobe into the drivers face.

[slimenta]

Good work! #9 has tire wrinkle & the front wheels in the air. I don't see how you could do any better under the conditions you were shooting unless you were allowed to kick a bit of strobe into the drivers face.

Frank, thanks, I have looked at your stuff before and like it, I am an old muscle car guy. They actually did allow strobes and there were guys shooting on manual with 1/4 power during the evening portion. Chose not to do that since I was shooting mostly 200 feet from the start line. Eventually with a 400, 2.8.

[Lowbyte]

What you have is well done, NHRA can be rough as you have so few locations to shoot from. I will take shots from the spectator areas to create additional angles to the cars over the course of the weekend.

[cayenne_ksa]

what set up were you using?

[slimenta]

what set up were you using?

Canon 1D Mark IV, ISO 2000, various lenses all at 2.8. If you go to the gallery you can find the specific settings for each shot. Lenses for this shoot were primarily 70-200, 2.8; 400, 2.8; 24-70, 2.8 and occasionally 16-35, 2.8. Shutter speeds for night/evening shots 1/400 (gives you flames as you see as opposed to streaks if you shoot faster). For daytime shot 1/4 mile past the finish line, aperture priority, 2.8 with ISO to achieve 1/1600-1/2000, all shot with 400, 2.8.

[Zilly]

Not bad all a bit samey

For fuel car's launching head on your shooting too fast (notice how your not getting equal headder flames both sides ) The trick is to shoot at 320th or lower and you can nearly always get (there are a few odd expceptions) balanced header flames both sides. Also shoot 1/3rd under exposed and you get some next texture and shape rather than just white streaks


http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000NJ.5U7nhdm4/s/500/I0000NJ.5U7nhdm4.jpg (http://www.modernpics.co.uk)
p.s thats a remote shot as well

Side on stuff you can shoot much slower than 1/800th burn outs I normally shoot at anything between 1/160 and 1/80 depending on the class and launches I shoot at about 1/200th


http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000b4MCLgoIweM/s/500/I0000b4MCLgoIweM.jpg (http://www.modernpics.co.uk)

[snyderman]

One comment, one question. Comment: shot #2 of the lucas oil top-fuel dragster is so totally nailed! Just a gorgeous shot. Question: Was it freakin' LOUD enough for you?!!!!

I've been to Nationals events to watch and enjoyed it immensely. I've also been in a similar vantage point as your shots with my camera gear shooting the action. The top-fuelers and alcohol funny cars still scare the bejesus out of me EVERY run! Probably because I've seen a couple of blowups.

Thanks for sharing. Shots are great.

dave

[slimenta]

Dom,

Understand, thanks for the thoughts. Went to your site and you have some great stuff. Love the sky background, but in doing this you sacrifice other stuff. I think some of this is a matter of taste.

Snyderman,

You bet! I had never done this before and the first dragster that went by scared me to death. It's hard to pan when you are being buffeted. We had good ear protetion, so that wasn't a huge issue.

[Jimil]

"quite a challenge" he says!

Great shots for your first time shooting drag races, but obviously you know what you are doing.

You definitely feel these bad boys more than you hear them. Plus you gotta deal with all the little bits of rubber falling down on you and sticking to everything!

[Zilly]

you sacrifice other stuff. I think some of this is a matter of taste.

No problem would be interested to here what you think I'm sacrificing. It is very much a taste thing and the clients quite like it as it means that they can crop it which ever way they want

[slimenta]

No problem would be interested to here what you think I'm sacrificing. It is very much a taste thing and the clients quite like it as it means that they can crop it which ever way they want

I think that the side shot is soft b/o shutter speed. A taste issue, not a criticism!

[Zilly]

I think that the side shot is soft b/o shutter speed. A taste issue, not a criticism!

Fair point, to be honest that was the first image I could find that illustrated my point , can't say I spend long trawling through my archive to find the best example ;)

[slimenta]

Fair point, to be honest that was the first image I could find that illustrated my point , can't say I spend long trawling through my archive to find the best example ;)

Understand, I hope to do the four wide this spring where I will get to experiment again.

[socalrailfan]

Awesome shots! I shot my first race yesterday and compared to your shots, well I'll delete mine. How did you get to shoot trackside? I will say at the race yesterday the trackside photographers killed about 90% of my shots! They're just always in the photos on their ladders, criminal.

[slimenta]

Awesome shots! I shot my first race yesterday and compared to your shots, well I'll delete mine. How did you get to shoot trackside? I will say at the race yesterday the trackside photographers killed about 90% of my shots! They're just always in the photos on their ladders, criminal.

I was credentialed through ESPN the magazine working as an asst to Mark Rebilas. You definitely have to stake out your spot except when you are at the end of the track beyond the finish line.

[socalrailfan]

Thanks for the info. Can I ask how you got your foot in the door being an asst?

[slimenta]

Thanks for the info. Can I ask how you got your foot in the door being an asst?

Not sure I have a perfect answer, eager, humble, available. Try to meet people when the opportunity presents. Work on my skills as much as possible.