great snaps tom....lovely angles as well.
after dave's tirade, i guess shooting in Bahrain is much better than in Albert's Park. I went for the testing sessions....One needs a media pass to have track/pit access, but once you get a pass, you are very well looked after. No one told me about a restriction on 400mm or higher...did not matter anyways since my longest glass is 200mm.
Wish I could get a pass for the Grand Prix in April, but looks like the pros have cornered all the good stuff ... grand stand tickets are on offer from the circuit though
Tirade? I pointed out a pertinent fact, and then addressed it with my disgust at the F1 parade's silly little 'we want to control everything' rules. Sorry, I can't recommend wasting my money and time on such an event until the organisers wake up and smell the roses.
You didn't have any issues as you had a media pass. They're not easy to get - at least in Australia. I enquired a few years ago, and was told that I had to have a portfolio of images (how do you get them when every friggen track is covered in wired cages and you can't get close enough to said wire cage to get a half decent shot), preferably have started shooting local events like hill climbs, smaller state events, etc. I was told that you had to have personal liability insurance covering you for 10 million dollars. This was CAMS who told me all of this.
The system is designed to protect the interests of the organisers, and deliberately leverage the potential for shots in the favour of the 'pros', rather than a fair foot for competition. How hard is it for the organisers to make a special area for amateurs, so they have a decent shot of the drivers/cars, and can take shots if they so wish?
I love F1, but under Bernie [Ecclestone's] reign of greed, it isn't the same. He's become a billionaire by bludging off others talents. Can't say I like the man. I further dislike him for the lies he made when Senna died. People come before money, always. Not with that bastard.
Dave
