2nd try at panning at Snetterton Raceway

So, since yesterday was such a nice day I wanted to get some more practice panning. My first attempt was not quite a success. I ended up with only 3 or 4 pictures out of a few hundred that I liked or were even clear. This time I came back with a longer lens which really helped. I ended up taking over a thousand shots. By the end of the day I was rather pleased with the amount of keepers I was getting. I was getting able to keep the center point on one point of the car instead of it going everywhere. Here's a few that I liked. Some minor PP done. Exif should be intact. I was very happy with number one. I tried some slow shutter speed long distance stuff too. 50th of a second at 400mm. No cropping has been done.
1

Exige shot is great! Keep up.

loving the Exige and Aston images.

a question if i may......how easy is it to get into Snetterton (i didn't even realse there was racing there yesterday!?!?!) I live about 20 minutes away and would really like to try out some panning once my 55-250 arrives.

How free are you to roam around the track/pits?

thanks and keep up the good work

Thanks for the compliments.

Getting in and around the raceway is easy. Race days apparently you have to pay to get in, however, track days are free to come and go as you please. Also, practice days for the race days are free as well. Those are usually the Friday before the weekend. On these days, you're free to go wherever you wan on most parts of the infield to take pictures, including the pits. The only place I haven't ventured out to is turns 2 and 3. 250 is enough to reach almost everywhere. Along the back straight I was shooting at 100mm on my 1-4.

sweet. are there any dates around for the next track days?

Have a look on the Snetterton circuit website Big A, they are all listed under the track day section. I think they have a bike track day next Sunday. Cars there again Saturday I believe.

Richard S

yep, thanks. just looking on their website now (prob should have checked there first ) seems there is an event next saturday

http://www.motorsportv​ision.co.uk …etails.asp?Prod​uctID=4543

can't make sundays unfortunately

would you recommend taking a tripod? i haven't got one yet and not sure if its worthwhile for motorsport (panning)

Love the last one of the Aston Martin.

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Forget taking a tripod to shoot motorsport it becomes a pain in the a$$.
Pay particular attention to the pros - ever seen any of them with a tripod at the track - if they don't use one, why should you.
The only support you should be using is a monopod, even then that can tend to get in the way.
I take mine off when panning
Regards,
Phil

Thanks Lost!

I brought my monopod with me, however, I had the wrong thread showing. It was setup for my ballhead instead of my collar on the lens. I will not be making that mistake next time. However, I didn't think I would have used it much. The 100-400 isn't all that heavy and neither is the 70-200. If I had any of the brown boxed canon lenses I would probably want to have one just cause the thing is so heavy. However, to my surprise I was relatively sore at the end of the day. 5 hours of shooting holding a 1d/100-400 combo can get heavy I guess.

Big A wrote in post #7184827
loving the Exige and Aston images.

took the words out of my mouth

well done

Here's a few more to include a different Lotus.
1.

Big A wrote in post #7185830
would you recommend taking a tripod? i haven't got one yet and not sure if its worthwhile for motorsport (panning)

Don't go anywhere near a track with a tripod unless -

a). You're shooting video for broadcast. (Note, this does not include £50 toytown cameras & Youtube)

b). You enjoy being pointed & laughed at.

noted