Cambrian Rally, North Wales 2009

Well I went to my first rally with my camera today and really enjoyed it. I walked about 6 miles in total, and the sun was shining!

I used a 70-200mm f/4 that I had hired for the week and was impressed with the results and the range.

Before I post the pics, just to let you know, I have never ever attempted panning before, so the shots ain't perfect. Also, the position and area I was in, was at a hay bale chicane area, and the cars were slowing to almost stop as they passed around the chicane! (Some of them actually stalled!)

I had fun and games with the sun light thru the trees, but it made for the enjoyable challenge! I will definately do it again soon.

Anyway, have a look at the pics and let me know what you think!

Many thanks

Don
1 (My fave shot)

Anyone?

Patience, Grasshopper. Weekends are bad times to post motorsport photos on here. Most of us have better things to do than browse forums, like going out and photographing bits of tin whizzing round.

As far as these go, you've done a good job coping with the difficult light and you've caught some good action.

Criticisms would be that a couple of them (#2 and #6) are a little too tight, give the car a bit of room to breathe and move into. Shutter speed is also too high in most. If I can see the tread on a tyre of a moving car that's my guide for "too quick". You should never need faster than 1/320th for any form of motorsport at any angle and lower is often appropriate.

Good first try, though

Many thanks Cadwell, much appreciated! I tried a few with the lower shutter speed and struggled a little with the sharpness, so I was just glad to get the cars in focus! (excuse the pun)

I took over 400 pics and experimented with the lower shutter speeds, I will post some more later.

Thanks again

Don

Here are a few more, slight more movement with them, Mikko Hirvonen's WRC focus was shot at 1/180 so a bit more movement!
1. Mikko Hirvonen flying along!

Anyone else want to comment? thanks

Hey Don,

As Cadwell said.."Patience, Grasshopper".
I like 'em but agree with Cadwell on the one's that are a bit tight.
I hate working in dappled light like that and I reckon you've done well considering.

Thanks for that! The reason for the tight crop on those shots was due to some ignorant spectator deciding to walk in to my way as I was taking the shots, Im sure he was doing it on purpose! I had to crop him out of the pics!

Thanks again for your comments though,

Don