Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Spent the whole week down in Southern Colorado shooting the practice days, decided to pass on race day due to the weather forecast and some personal issues with the race organizers.

Comments, suggestions ? ? ?

What is the car in pictures 5 and 6, it looks awesome??

bara03 wrote in post #10485830
What is the car in pictures 5 and 6, it looks awesome??

Its Rhys Millens Hyundai Genesis PM580

Too bad no one broke the 10 minute mark.

The porsche had a great video of the practice day

Last photo gets my vote!

Very nice set. Looks like you were able to get around as well. How much "freedom" are you allowed to move around the course? Do you need credentials like a normal road race event held at a track?

I would love to get out there next year.

Thanks for sharing these! #3 is my fav!

Loving 3 Kevin ,great set ,and the location is incredible,as is the climb.

Pons

Jimil wrote in post #10486943
Very nice set. Looks like you were able to get around as well. How much "freedom" are you allowed to move around the course? Do you need credentials like a normal road race event held at a track?

I would love to get out there next year.

Thanks for sharing these! #3 is my fav!

You don't need a credential really at all.

You can pay your admission fee and get in, all the credential does is get you on the media bus on race day that will get you past the area known as Devil's Playground.

For practice days there are no media credential advantages.

I recommend the practice days over race day for a variety of reasons, least of which is that credentials and race day tickets subject you to a very draconian media policy.

Awesome work.
i will get to this event one day

Monster's Suzuki is my favorite, but i love the view in #6 too.


Love the username too - Left 5 into Right 5 over crest

Love #1&3 nice stuff!

How difficult is it photograph this event? you mentioned something with the organisers, Always fancied it!

Regards,
Jon.S

Echo63 wrote in post #10491434
Awesome work.
i will get to this event one day

Monster's Suzuki is my favorite, but i love the view in #6 too.


Love the username too - Left 5 into Right 5 over crest

This was the last year (barring unforseeable circumstances) for any dirt above tree line.

They have been paving for some years and the last mile to two miles above treeline that were dirt will now be paved leaving just a two miles or so stretch below treeline.

jon.s wrote in post #10491501
Love #1&3 nice stuff!

How difficult is it photograph this event? you mentioned something with the organisers, Always fancied it!

Regards,
Jon.S

The event is very easy and very difficult to shoot.

Practice week is a huge grind at 12,000 feet plus above sea level. The cars start running at 5 am, meaning as a shooter you have to be on the mountain around 4 am, practice ends then around 9 am. The physical toll is noticable on the body between the weird hours and the altitude it can kick your butt.

The problem with the organizers is that some years ago a competitor sold a complete run worth of incar to a video game developer. Ever since then the organizers have been trying to make money off of the photographers and videographers that work the mountain. They try to force out a very draconian image use policy where the event controls everything 100%. They also want 20% of any revenue generated, so if you sell $200.00 worth of prints to participants, the organizers expect you to pay them $40.00 for the priveledge of being able to have shot the participants in their event.

A couple of years ago I sold an image to Volkswagen when they were the title sponsor. It was a nice sale but no walk off home run kind of deal. I got a letter from their lawyer wanting their fee. As part of the title sponsorship VW had permission to utilize the events name, likeness, or images in their own participation of their involvement (they paid thousands to put their name on it, they get to use it). Once I pointed this out the lawyer crawled back into the respective hole, had I not been as well informed of the situation I likely would have shelled out 20% of my commission and that would have been uncool.

This is in addition to the fact that over the years the organizers have re sold and re-liscensed images to teams, sponsors, and anyone they damn well please from their photographers outside of the scope of the working agreement without compensation (single end user, editorial distribution and use only kind of agreements). Nothing like opening up a magazine and seeing a full page ad with one of your images being used by a client you didn't authorize or receive compensation for.

The organization is a joke at this point. It is all misguided money grabbing and mis-management for an event that is on the brink of obscurity.

The beautiful thing however is that on practice days you simply pay the Pikes Peak Highway toll road fees to be on the mountain. You can park anywhere that is safe and as long as you stay out of the road for the main part, and do not try to move your car, you can freely move about the mountain. There is no image use form or other terms and conditions for them to try to utilize.

The other thing you have to factor in here, is that unless you live in Co Springs shooting PPIHC is a $500-$1,000.00 proposition. You will get no support, guidance, or value from the organization other than a ride on a shuttle to the summit on race day. As a credentialed member of the media you will not receive a media guide on the competitors, you will not receive a media guide on the event, you will not receive a content generation guide for best locations to work from, you will however be on their radar and acknowledge their money grab.

I love this event (been going to it and then shooting it ever since I could drive my self down from Denver, CO) but I have no love lost for the organizers of said event, that is for sure.

Great stuff! Havent they slowly been paving the road all the way to the top?

Pic 1 for me love the back ground colours

I like the light in #2

L5, thanks for posting your insight and info on shooting Pikes Peak. Very interesting on the challenges you have while trying to cover that event. It's a shame that they are running their show like that.

My company has an office in Louisville and I'm up there about 2x a quarter.

I'll have to time next years races with a trip up there.