Favourite place to take photos

[Reynard]

If you, like me, spend most of a race meeting behind a camera, where do you like taking good motor racing pictures from? Does anyone have any particular favourite spots and why?

Here's mine for starters (not in any particular order):

1) Druids, Brands Hatch: Good place to get front 3/4 photos and rear shots of overtaking, can change the angle without having to move around too much. 300mm lens will focus through the fence. Plenty of incidents! Tends to be less crowded than Paddock Hill Bend.

2) Hawthorn, Brands Hatch: Great place to get pan shots. Choice of standing at or above track level and no distracting background.

3) Russell, Snetterton: Again, good choice of angles without having to move around. Also a good place for incidents - things can and do go wrong here as I've caught time and again on film.

4) Garage roof, Rockingham: Probably the best place to get candid driver portraits as they can't see you and camera. Works wonders on camera-shy drivers. Good variety of pit & paddock shots possible as well as pan shots on start-finish straight.

5) Turns 2 & 3, Rockingham: OK, this is out of reach for people without a press pass, but it is an awesome place to take head on or rear view shots of cars using the oval if you can get out there. You point the camera through a 1.5 foot by 0.5 foot slot in the up-and-over fencing and with cars whizzing past at 170 mph, you certainly need nerves of steel... But great photos, you bet! :)

[Kelvin]

One of my fave places is Thruxton, the wiggly bit in front of the grandstand/control tower. I've had some great shots here, lots of action and incidents. Sometimes difficult to pick your position even with a press pass. I dont just mean BTCC pictures, some great club racing action to be seen here too!!

Kelvin (not Burt :D)

[John]

Dont usually have much luck as dont have a press pass but did find a good place at the hairpin at croft (although wasnt strictly supposed to be there mind!)

Other than that the pit lane is usually good for some nice close ups of the cars and/or drivers

[Claw]

The only place I have taken photos is at Thruxton. At the chicane, complex and in the paddock. Paddocks the best place, cos you get close up to the cars!

[Claire]

I took up photography last season and really enjoyed in, there is a definate improvement from Brands to Donington.
Favourtite places where:
On the roof at Rockingham, Russell at Snetterton and the inside of Redgate at Donington. I also enjoy the paddock and pit lane walkabouts, being tall means I can miss out everyone's heads and just get the drivers instead.
Already stocked with film for this year and also thinking of getting a bigger lens for those real close up photos
:D

[Reynard]

Claire: bigger lenses = *ouchie* as I'm finding out. I'm looking for something bigger than what I have too.

For some circuits, a 300mm just isn't long enough, particularly if you want to fill the frame with a car on some corners, if you want to concentrate on a specific detail or if you want to take a candid shot without being noticed *too* much... I'm looking at a minimum of 400mm, possibly 500mm, but they're a minimum of £550 depending on where you buy and whether you buy new or secondhand. Dream lens = Canon 100-400L IS :)

I'm not so keen on pit lane walkabouts (particularly BTCC) as they tend to be very crowded and people inevitably walk infront of the lens as you are taking a shot. Also, I'm short so I don't have that advantage of being able to see over people. That's why I prefer hanging around in the paddock as it can be very productive...

I have photos of Jason Plato smoking, Derek Warwick on the phone, Darren Turner making dubious gestures, Kelvin Burt fixing a puncture on his road car etc. I love those kind of photos as they show a side of motor racing that you don't tend to see in magazines! :)

[Ann]

Agree with Witty & Claire that the top of the garages at Rockingham is a cracking place for candid shots. I wonder if we'll be allowed up there for BTCC this year?

I got myself a 170-500 mm lense in Dec 01 (much cheaper in the States!) and it got a huge amount of use all season. Its amazing how you can overcome a lot of the disadvantages of no press pass with one of those things attached to the front of your camera. I'll have to work on my muscles again before the start of the new season though!

[Reynard]

Ooops, I forgot - another good place to take photos is at the Esses at Snetterton, either on the inside or on the outside of the circuit:

I got some pretty good pan shots from the infield of cars coming from under the bridge into the braking zone during last year's F3-GT meet. On the outside of the Esses, I got a lovely photo of a TVR Tuscan Challenge car bouncing over the kerbs and kicking up the dust - that took patience because you have to see which cars are doing that and then wait until they come round again...


As for a long lens, I'm still looking for the right one. Ann, you got the Sigma 170-500 if I'm right? That is one of the ones that I'm thinking of, though I'd prefer to go Canon L glass if I can justify the cost...

And yes - I hope they make the top of the garages accessible for the BTCC meet. Rockingham let us go up there on the first day of the CART meet in Spetember, but unfortunately not for race day. It IS one of the best places to take candid photos though! :)

[Les]

agree with all those plus Knockhill as there are only a few fences and you are really close but my favorite is the Melbourne loop at Donington.

Have to say I am getting fed up of hundreds of car shots so I am also watching people. Got some I am really pleased with last year.

and this year I have a digital to play with....

[Ann]

Originally posted by Reynard
As for a long lens, I'm still looking for the right one. Ann, you got the Sigma 170-500 if I'm right? That is one of the ones that I'm thinking of, though I'd prefer to go Canon L glass if I can justify the cost...

That's the lens - pretty good quality too for the "cheaper" end of the market (and I use that term loosly!) :p I'd prefer a Canon lens too but then we can all dream can't we?!!

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Inspired by Anns great pics, i've got myself a new digital camera this year with a huge zoom. Have have a memory like a hole in the road so I don't remember the exact specs but alledgedly you can take a pic of a guy standing on top of a mountain from 2 miles away and still see his face. Not sure if thats right but i'll still be out there happy snaping this year regardless. ;)

[Kelvin]

Many people get caught out having a huge zoom lens by the fact that its minimum focusing distance is limited, so when something happens right in from of you, u cant get it!!

How many have been caught out by this?


Kelvin

[Reynard]

Originally posted by Kelvin
Many people get caught out having a huge zoom lens by the fact that its minimum focusing distance is limited, so when something happens right in from of you, u cant get it!!

How many have been caught out by this?


Kelvin

I've not been caught out by that, but I know what you mean. For instance, my Sigma 28-105mm lens has a minimum focusing distance of about 18 inches at the wide end and it goes up a little bit more at the long end. In contrast, my Canon 75-300mm has a minimum focusing distance of about four and a half feet even at the short end. That's one of the reasons why it is useful to have a nice overlap between lens focal lengths as it gives you more leeway...

The lens I'm looking to buy for the new season (if I can justify the cost) i.e. Canon 100-400L IS has a minimum focusing distance of 1.8 meters i.e. approximately six feet.

While that's not bad for trackside action as you're kept behind fences, tyre walls etc, it's useless in pit and paddock situations when you want to get up close and personal to your subject, though when you are looking to take candids, then that doesn't come into play much. That's why I value my 28-105mm so much.

The bottom line is when looking for camera equipment to take motor racing, you really need to think carefully about the benefits and limitations of each item - particularly given the expensive nature of the stuff.

It is quite scary when someone labels a lens that cost the best part of 500 quid as "cheap end of the market"! ;)

[Ann]

Originally posted by Kelvin
Many people get caught out having a huge zoom lens by the fact that its minimum focusing distance is limited, so when something happens right in from of you, u cant get it!!

How many have been caught out by this?


Kelvin

Oh yes! Take Paul O'Neill buried in the barrier at Brands at the start of last year. He was so close to me I could only get his headlamp in frame with the big lens & by the time I swapped there were lots of people in orange in the way & the moment had passed!

[Ann]

Originally posted by Sim_Da_BTCC_Man
Inspired by Anns great pics, i've got myself a new digital camera this year with a huge zoom.

You charmer! Does this mean I'm redundant then? :p

[touringlegend]

Not necessarily, Ann. I will give you a job anytime you need one. :)


Sorry Sim, couldn't resist..;) :D

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Ann
You charmer! Does this mean I'm redundant then? :p

No your most definatly not! Couldn't lose your tallent Ann ;) :)

[Kelvin]

I taught Ann all she knows, about photography I mean!!!


Kelvin
BTCC photographer (retired)

[Claire]

Originally posted by Kelvin
[
Kelvin
BTCC photographer (retired) [/B]

Kelvin I'm gutted that you have decided to retire who is going to supply me with all my great BTCC photos? :(

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Claire
Kelvin I'm gutted that you have decided to retire who is going to supply me with all my great BTCC photos? :(

Ann ;) :)

[Reynard]

Hmmm, Claire & Ann, you could always go bother Bill Bothwell for photos as Amanda suggest I do. OK, I'm looking for specific pics by Bill, so that's a little beside the point.

Or else, anything I take will be made available to you as well you know. I seem to remember supplying Ann (I think) with photos of Dan Eaves last year that I took at Snetterton, including an in-car grid shot. Anyway, I'll be covering at least one and possibly two rounds on a press pass (depending how things pan out - but no pun intended) so just give me a shout if you want anything specific. I'll then go be rude and get the shots needed! :)

Back to the photography - we've been talking about telephoto zooms, but who's a fan of ultra-wide angle lenses? I've been toying with the idea of getting a 19-35mm as well, so that I can get in real close to cars in the garages and/or do some interesting special effects.

Opinions anyone?

[Kelvin]

I've used a 17mm on a Nikon, it was great!
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cambs.mgoc/brooklands98/brooklands-10.jpg

I was right close to the front bumper, looks as if I have stood back!!

[Reynard]

Kel - looks pretty good to me. You'd be hard pressed to say that photo was taken standing right next to the car. One thing though - looks like you've used a pretty wide aperture on that lens so you just pick out the one car. That's quite interesting.

One of the features I like about wideish angles (the widest I've got currently is a 28mm) is the focal depth / depth of field and you usually tend to see people exploiting that when they use that kind of a lens...

[Amanda]

Originally posted by Kelvin



Kelvin
BTCC photographer (retired) [/B]

Kelvin ~ it won't be the same without you!

[Kelvin]

Reynard,
the background has been blured with photoshop, so its not a straight print in that respect!! Its quite spooky looking thru such a wide angle lens, when u apparently see so much more that u do with you own eyes!!

I borrowed the lens for just a few minutes.
I have envied my friend who owns its for some years.

[Ann]

Reynard - one step ahead of you - already good friends with the great Mr Bothwell!

I have a 19-35 mm lens which I have to admit didn't get a lot of use last year (too much time spent playing with new mega lens!) but I do find it a useful part of my kit.

And I suspect it was Claire you were supplying - I've never had any of your photos - although if you're offering! :p

Kelvin you can't retire - I shan't allow it!! ;)

[Reynard]

Ann: the creaking noise you hear is me putting my foot in my mouth. I'd forgotten that you're friends with Bill... And it must have been Claire that wanted those Dan Eaves photos - all I can remember is sending the high-quality scans to Alan. Shows you what state my brain is in.

About your wide-angle zoom - is that a Canon AF fit? If so, any chance of borrowing it for a while if we cross paths during the summer?

Kelvin: Cheat! ;) Only thing I use Paintshop Pro for(photoshop gives me a software conflict on my laptop which is why I don't use it) is to crop, remove colour casts and adjust contrast/saturation. Occasionally I turn some stuff to black & white as I shoot colour all the time. Other than that, my prints are WYSIWYG...

Looking through a 17mm lens must be weird - that's so wide it is ALMOST a fisheye!!! :) Actually, it sounds like a really nice bit of glass...

[Kelvin]

the use of blur was a little excessive, but i was just learning how to use graphic packages, my cheats are more subtle these days!

[Ann]

Originally posted by Reynard
About your wide-angle zoom - is that a Canon AF fit? If so, any chance of borrowing it for a while if we cross paths during the summer?

It is Canon AF although the lens is a Cosina. Try & remind me before ASCAR or something as I don't always carry it (esp now I have to find space for the digital too!)

[thommo_fan]

my dad and me take photos from russel and druids, both are really good places, but i wouldn't say the esses at snetterton are that good for photography

[Kelvin]

Depends on what angle you can get, and if you get in the right spot, you dont have to be trackside. 300mm lens, on that concrete base is good!!

K

[Reynard]

Originally posted by thommo_fan
I wouldn't say the Esses at Snetterton are that good for photography

thommo-fan: The Esses at Snetterton are a good place to take photos, both on the inside and outside of the track. As Kelvin says, a 300mm lens (I use a 75-300mm zoom lens for track work) means you donÃ*t have to be trackside to get shots and he is right in saying that you have to pick your place and angle of view carefully. Here are some of my favourite viewpoints and some of the techniques and tips I keep in mind when I am taking photographs at the Esses.

PAN SHOTS
The inside of the Esses i.e. on the infield is a fantastic place to get pan shots ñ especially of cars coming out from under the bridge and into the braking zone. By varying the point at which you release the shutter as you track the car with your camera, you can change the background as well as the view of the car i.e. front three-quarter, side-on or rear three-quarter. It takes a bit of practice to track the cars coming into the Esses, particularly as they are coming out from under the bridge at a fair rate of knots, but getting a good shot here gives me a really satisfying feeling.

A typical shutter speed you would use at the entrance to the Esses is about 1/125 to 1/180 depending on how much blur to the background (and the car) that you want to introduce and the sort of car you are photographing. If you move away from the braking zone and right into the middle of the corner, you can use the same panning technique, but as the cars are going considerably slower youÃ*d need to reduce the shutter speed to somewhere in the 1/60 to 1/90 range to give the same feel of movement. Camera shake at slow shutter speeds can become a problem so using a monopod is a good idea.

I wouldnÃ*t really recommend pan shots from the outside of the Esses, if purely for the reason that the background provided by the infield has a tendency to be very cluttered (crowds, parked cars etc) and as a result will give you a print with a somewhat confusing and distracting background. Well, thatÃ*s my personal view on it anyway.


CAPTURING THE ACTION
On the other hand, the area around the Esses also gives you a completely different set of possibilities. You can stand on the inside of the circuit, look back towards the bridge and take head-on shots of the cars coming out from underneath and lining up for the corner, choosing your focal length according to whether you want to include the bridge and Revett Straight in the background or whether you want to just concentrate on the cars. Either way, you want to be using shutter speeds of a minimum of 1/500 in order to freeze the action as it comes towards you ñ this is a place where you get a lot of outbraking manoeuvres, so youÃ*re in the right place if you want to catch the action.

You can also do this from the outside of the circuit as well ñ it just gives you a different angle and is down to a matter of personal preference as to what view you want. If you move further along and away from the bridge, you can catch the action in mid-corner and are more prepared to take pictures if cars skate off into the gravel and over the grass.

A nice thing to try from the banking on the outside of the Esses is to take rear-view shots of cars leaving the complex. These can be interesting to do, as cars tend to bounce over the kerb on the exit and lift at least one wheel off the ground. Added to that, if cars take too much kerb, they kick up a cloud of dust and stones, which is nice to capture on film and if they get sideways, then thatÃ*s an added bonus. Again, you need to use a pretty high shutter speed to freeze the action i.e. at least 1/500.

PICTURES
I hope this helps you out a little ñ a lot of the time it is down to observing what happens on particular sections of the circuit and thinking how that can be translated into a good photograph. IÃ*ve attached a picture of a TVR that I took at the Esses during last yearÃ*s F3-GT meet so you can see what can be achieved. Hopefully it will put you in the picture! :) (Yes, the pun was intentionalÖ)

[Les]

thanks for the lesson - I'll try that in a couple of weeks

[Reynard]

No probs, Les - glad to be of help :)

The bottom line is practice, practice, practice and use that very professional technique called "lots of film", or in the case of digital users "lots of batteries".

Not every shot will end up perfect; more than one will end up in the bin as a result of duff focusing, camera shake, chopped car etc, but if you get a good one that merits blowing up to 9x6 and putting on the wall, then it makes it all worthwhile! :)

And remember, the more times you try something, the better at it you will get...

[Les]

that's what I am hoping with the digital - no film so I can just take picture after picture...


mind you I have no walls left.... ;)

[Reynard]

Heh - that will go *chomp* *chomp* *chomp* on the batteries, so make sure you've got plenty of spares (or rechargeables) to hand. An extra memory card or two would not go amiss either...

As for walls - ever wondered why my house is sinking? It's not just all my Autosport back issues you know! ;)

I don't plan on going digital just yet, as ideally I'd want a digital SLR (Canon of course so I can use all my lenses with it) but I am waiting for the technology to plateau and the prices to come down before I take the plunge. I don't want a point and shoot as they are not as flexible, but the main problem is the shutter lag - even more so with digital than a standard film P&S. By the time the shutter has operated, the shot is long gone...

At the moment, I'll stick to my trusty EOS 5. As for long lenses, I've made up my mind as to what I want - I am going to take the plunge and get the Canon 100-400L IS despite the fact I wince each time I think about it... The extreme wide angle zoom will just have to wait.

In the mean time, I've attached one of the photos from my portfolio - taken at Brands Hatch during the Powertour meeting in September of 2001. The shot was taken while standing at the exit of Druids looking back at the apex of the corner. I'm using 300mm focal length at f8 with 1/500 shutter speed and have pre-focused manually on the apex.

This picture lives on my wall, and also on the wall of the Porsche driver! :)

[Les]

nice one!

I had forgotten about the time lag when trying to catch Gareth on a go-cart at the Autosport show. Thankfully my camera has a sports mode and with a bit of pre-focusing it worked fine.

Sunday I shall try it out for real and see....