Help with motorsport pictures please

maddog.mark

maddog.mark

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Mark
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Hi,

I'm off to Donnigton on Saturday and hope to get some pictures of the action. I've not had any experience in this area of photography so would welcome any advice for getting good action shots. I'll post some of my efforts when I return for that all important crtical advice.

Thanks in advance.:thankyou:
 
From the point of view of where to position yourself, I'd go for one or all of these;
Inside of Redgate for outbraking action.
Outside of Old Hairpin (but its a long walk from the action)
Depending on whether they're doing the National Circuit or GP Circuit, either Fogarty's Esses or Goddards for more braking shots.
Possibly the inside of Coppice for panning shots, or inside near Starkeys Bridge.

Map of circuit here.

I prefer using aperture priority but I guess most would go for shutter priority. Make sure shutter speed is less than 1/125th for good panning shots (and expect to bin a few ;))

Take plenty of memory (cards) and above all else, have a good time :D
 
Thanks for the advice Rickmezza. I'll do my best to put it into practice.

It should be a good day and I'm sure I'll bin a lot :lol:
 
Same here I am new to motorsport photography and only have a 200mm lens, is this going to be a problem... probably going to be near the tunnel as that's where we will be parking the car due to being on the parade lap... However I'm looking for something a little different to normal motorsport photos and with the cropping of my camera my lens is the equivelant of 320mm in a 35mm camera so hoping I should be able to get some good photo's

Edit: Just checked the map and that means I'm likely to be near Schwarz
 
200mm is plenty long enough providing you can get close to the track. Otherwise no, it won't be without you having to do some cropping.

Anything under 1/160th will give good wheel blur, down to 1/60th or thereabouts for good background blur as well - but as above, your hit rate on crisp shots in focus will drop significantly and you'll end up binning a lot of shots the slower shutter speed you use.
 
Sounds like theres going to be lots of us there then. I have been before but not with an DSLR and usually go to the Starkeys Bridge, but I may try for a change this year. Will be balancing my desire to take lots of pictures with keeping the family happy...

I've managed to balg a 300mm lens so will be able to have a play with that over the weekend too. :)

Xynamic I'm from North Norfolk, just outside Holt if that helps.
 
Thanks for the link ps2user, I've only had a quick look but there appears to be lots of good info in there, just what I was looking for.
I've just been looking at monopods and think I might have to make an investment before I go.
 
Just been and purchased a cheap and cheerful one to practice with...
 
Good places to view/take photos at Donington (can people please spell it correctly!! ;) :p )

Inside of redgate, inside of Craner Curves (providing you have the right camera with lots of zoom), outside of the old hairpin (again with the right equipment).

Not sure about the inside of mcleans and coppice, haven't really been up there much (apart from driving around the circuit myself)..

Theres not that many places without the fencing in the way, but if your camera makes the fence all blurry and the cars in focus then you'll have no problems

:)
 
surrealillusions said:
Donington (can people please spell it correctly!! ;) :p )
Click to expand...
:thumbs:
On my forum I've used the filter to add 5-6 extra 'n's if they spell it wrong and most of them still don't notice that they appear to have typed 'Donnnnnnnington'. :cuckoo:
Did likewise with Castle Coooooooooooombe.:lol:


I've always thought Donington was tricky for pics because of the amount of fencing.
I did find one place this week that has no such problem. Getting to it on raceday would be expensive though.
 
andrewc said:
I'm not going to the Renault World Series - too many crowds. I'm heading off to Brands Hatch for the SEMSEC races and sprints.

I'm from Norwich, and I know Gary's dad.
Click to expand...

Hi Mate!
Good too see you on here. Its much more friendly than you know where ;) And I've not even been banned from this one!! Suckers!!!! :)
 
Ratty said:
:thumbs:
On my forum I've used the filter to add 5-6 extra 'n's if they spell it wrong and most of them still don't notice that they appear to have typed 'Donnnnnnnington'. :cuckoo:
Did likewise with Castle Coooooooooooombe.:lol:


I've always thought Donington was tricky for pics because of the amount of fencing.
I did find one place this week that has no such problem. Getting to it on raceday would be expensive though.
Click to expand...

hehe, i emphasis stuff like that occasionally, such as cooooooooooombe, silverstoooooooooooooooone, brands haaaaaaaaaaatch etc etc..

what is that place you've found? is it standing in the middle of the craner curves on the track with cars hurtling towards you at 100+mph?? That would make for some great photos..although i dont think the health and safety people would be too please ;)

:)
 
Rest assured all future posts will be proof read first, although I do like to make at least one mistake, I'd hate to be perfect.... How many n's was it?:D

www.flickr.com/photos/w99/
 
surrealillusions said:
what is that place you've found? is it standing in the middle of the craner curves on the track with cars hurtling towards you at 100+mph??
Click to expand...
:lol: It's up in the stands but it's only good 'cos there's no fence at all.
I'll see if any of the pics I took from there are worth showing. (my focus ring screwed up on my lens that day)

TBH I think I'll stick to video footage for the on-track stuff ;)
 
pork1.jpg
 
That was taken at 200mm ish.

And I did say: "Getting to it on raceday would be expensive though." ;-)
Leave it for the rich kids :lol:
 
a note about the renault world series at donny, it'll be hella busy it was last year (one of the busiest motorsport events of the year apparently) so it might not be that easy to find the best vantage point!


im going to kirkbride airfield instead to watch the tractor pulling!
 
whitewash said:
a note about the renault world series at donny, it'll be hella busy it was last year (one of the busiest motorsport events of the year apparently) so it might not be that easy to find the best vantage point!


im going to kirkbride airfield instead to watch the tractor pulling!
Click to expand...

yeah..thats true. I heard it was Donington's biggest event..even bigger than motogp!?! if it is then thats impressive.

As for the tractor pullling..more chances of getting in focus shots ;) :p well..unless the tractors have about 3,000bhp or something silly..
 
It's quite possibly because there are a hell of a lot of free tickets to the Renail event.
 
Busy would be an understatement really it was heaving and getting any good shots was difficult, well for me anyway:bang:.

Will post some of the better ones for comment, as I've already said this is my first attempt at motorsport and this panning lark is trickier than it seems:shake:

Positive comments \ criticisms will be greatly appreciated.

Have posted the only one I liked in the Motosport Thread.
 
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