Calling Avation and Motorsport Photographers. What are these venues/events like?

Can't say anything about the motorsport, but I can comment on Southport and Cosford. Southport is pretty good as it's a bit differnt to the standard airshow, and becuase it's a beach they use a fair amount of pyros. So if you get lucky you can get some nice shots. Cosford is as good as any other similar sized airshow, the only problem is becasue of the time the flying starts you are going to spend a lot of time shooting into the sun so not ideal.
 
If you are going to Anglesey Circuit then it also might be worth taking a two second drive up the road to RAF Valley to get some pictures, there are plenty of photo opportunities there on weekdays with hawks always coming in and out and almost always some visitors.
 
Matt,

From your list I have only shot the following: -

Donington BTCC
Goodwood FOS (Friday)
Cholmondley Pageant of Power

All three of these are fantastic events, Donington is obviously under threat at the minute so if you were definately wanting to shoot a BTCC meet then I would try Snetterton.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a fantastic event, but one hell of a way to go, it took me about 6 hours there and about 7 hours back last year. However once you've been you'll want to go back again and again. I shot from the spectators area as press passes are very few and far between at Goodwood so I didn't even apply.

http://www.dunlopix.com/Goodwood.html

http://www.dunlopix.com/Supercar Run.html

As for Cholmondely, I cannot see how they can say photography is banned. It was the first event last year and I thought it was superb. I did have a media pass for this last year and will be applying again this year, especially as the theme for 2009 is Bugatti (should be a few Veyrons i reckon).

http://www.dunlopix.com/Pageant of Power.html

Also why not try the Rally Show at Chatsworth, not to far for you to come and a chance to see a real mix of machines in action

http://www.dunlopix.com/Rally Show 2008.html

Sorry for the inclusion of links, but it may give you a heads up for locations etc

Regards

Tim
 
Matt Sayle said:
Just spent an hour doing my calender for the year and wonedered what the following events/tracks/air shows were like for photography.

If you can only say about one thing than is better than nothing. The type of reply I am after isnt a 'where to shoot' but a 'is it worth going and is it photographer friendly' etc.

Motorsport events and tracks​

  • Olivers Mount Scarbourgh (bikes)
  • Cadwell Park (cars)
  • Croft
  • BSB MAllory (friday)
  • BTCC Snetterton (Race Day)
  • Supermoto @ Cadwell

Thanks
Matt
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Hi Matt,

All of the above would be worthy of Photography in my view. The others may be but I don't have first hand knowledge of the tracks/venues in order to guide you.

Cadwell is great photographically cos of it's changes in elevation and abundance of "nice" (aka photogenically adding) trees. It's also tights and twisty so although I know bikes look good around there, I guess cars will be pretty good too.

Olivers Mount is fantastic and you get VERY VERY close to the subject too.

Croft is good with media access. It has limitations without unless you have big glass.

Mallory is "ok" as non-media. Media access gets you the best locations. Without it, you're limited to the hairpin for better shots. There's better (non-media, non-big glass) options in your list to be honest though Matt.

Snetterton is pretty good for non-media. The Russell's chicane will see some "interesting" moves in a BTCC race I'm sure.

  • Thruxton ( TRucks)
  • Moto GP Donington (Friday)

Thruxton is a difficult one Matt. There's hardly any difference here if you're media or non-media. 80% percent of the circuit is out of bounds to everyone due to the speeds attained out the back of the circuit and the fact there's a live airfield slap bang in the centre of the circuit. It's a long way there to only get shots at 20% of the circuit and that 20% is mainly made up of 2 slow chicanes, hardly inspiring for truck shots.

MotoGP at Donny. Why would this be on my "not Sure" side of the fence?? Simple really. It's a Grand Prix circuit and as such has huge run-off areas. That means without the help of a huge lens or media access, you stand the risk of getting little bikes in the middle of a wide expanse photo or a ******-load of fencing in your way. The closest you'll get to them is probably at the Melbourne hairpin (access from inside the paddock behind the petrol pumps)but that has fences there and about 300 people trying to get the same shots as you so you have to be early and don't move or you'll lose your spot. The only other real option without big glass is the inside of Redgate. There's no fencing there and the bikes are leant over towards you so you can get clear shots of "ok" action.

Even with my experience at Bike racing I wouldn't take my camera to MotoGP at Donny without media access. Great racing spectacles like that deserve stunning shots in my view and I just wouldn't feel confident of getting them from the public side if I didn't have very big glass.

Have a good year Matt. Sounds like you have some good plans afoot.

Gc
 
THank you very much for all your great replys :)

I am wondereing wether to strike FoS and Moto GP off the list TBH. DO goodwood next year and do all three days me thinks.

Also thruxton has now gone off the list to!!
 
Matt, as far as I know the MotoGP have scrapped Fri practice sessions so it may only be Sat and raceday.
 
You've probably already got a lot of answers but here are mine anyway:

Cadwell Park - Probably my favourite circuit for photography, loads of shots on my blog.

Goodwood FOS - A 3 day trip is a much better option, I did the ful 3 days last year (and only when I got there found out I could have got free tickets through work, which they have stopped this year) and I think it took the best part of the 3 days to see everything. I wouldn't bank on taking too many shots on the hillclimb, but the rally stage is great (I think there is a Subaru shot on my blog), you will be in badge shot heaven. Just watch out for the crowds.

Mallory - I'm not 100% convinced you need a media pass there, I've never had one, there are no high fences etc and the only place it seems to open up is the island at the start of the pit lane. I've even been able to get decent shots on my 17-40 at the hairpin (cars not bikes though).

Snetterton is good for photography, most the angles I used were close to the public area, although I can image that BTCC day will be busy and it is a PITA to get to.

Hope that helps.
 
mountains said:
castle combe is great tower corner is good cars are quite close usually a lot of prangs fat approach to a cambered right hander thn short straight to a chicane
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Just before Tower is a decent straight with low fencing so easy to get great panning shots as well. Usually at Tower the Bristol TVR mob hold court (picnic tables, wine, tvr flags & union jacks flying).

Coombe's very good for trackdays too. There's one at the end of May I'm looking at. If you're stuck for accomodation I'm approx 30mins away
 
Craikeybaby said:
Snetterton is good for photography, most the angles I used were close to the public area, although I can image that BTCC day will be busy and it is a PITA to get to.
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Not sure if you've not been there for a while, but getting there is about as easy as it gets.
Drive up A11 (Dual carraigeway), turn off. Sorted.
 
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