Auto race at night

Going to an endurance race tomorrow... yeah it's freezing cold here -3°C during the day and they go on till night brrrrr.

Okay cold is not a problem have some but shooting an auto race at dark is, I've never done that before and would like some tips and gear suggestions.

Will probably only take the DA*50-135 with me if not suggested differently.
I've a monopod and a tripod, normally I only take the mono with me but I'm now thinking of taking the tripod with me instead, is this wise or is the mono better?

Do you know if they will be using flood lights during the race? If so you may be better off hand holding to pan with the cars.

I don't believe so, and even during the day I use a monopod so it's a question now if I need to extra stability of the tripod.

The shutterspeeds need to remain the same but with a tripod I can try some longer shutterspeed to get some light trials (wrong word I believe) but that's only for fun.

Yours is not a technique I've tried before. For motorsport I've always panned freehand. Could you take some test shots with the camera on Auto for a base line - check the results and settings then adjust the camera settings to obtain the desired effect.

Barrie I'm no not a total rookie with auto sport photography I've done it before but never at dark, it probably means that I would need to open the lens what more and use some higher ISO to keep the correct exposure with the best shutterspeed.

The light trials are some creative shots like this, just for fun:



I use a monopod because I found that I can pan better with that and get sharper photos since I move the camera less.
I've never tried to pan with my tripod, I've a 3 way head on that and I believe that's the best one for sport so could try it out.

Rookie by no stretch of the imagination.

Indeed Barrie, hopefully I get some good shots tomorrow.

Great photo! Which circuit is this Stefan? The camber going into the bend as it comes downhill looks almost like something you'd see at Bathurst, but I'm guessing it's not there.

Not Bathurst Hefty, but similar, I think you are refering too the "Dipper", just before "Forrest Elbow" which is a little steeper and the left hand turn at the end is tighter.

Great shot Stefan.

I don't know the names of all the corners at Bathurst but yes, that's the one I mean Clarky

Quite a long trek for Stefan if it was Bathurst though...

It's not my photo but I got it from the Zandvoort circuit site and that's where I'm going.
It's most likely Zandvoort therefore, I don't know which corner though.

I'm going to meet another Dutch Pentaxian there so will link you to our photos on the Dutch forum when they are up.

Stefan,

I believe the word you are looking for is trails, not trials

yes thank you Terry, that was the word I just couldn't see it.

Well I'm back and it was fun and it lasted two hours longer then expected.

Used a tripod and that worked quite well with lower shutter speeds and later even used a flash which worked great.

Will post some photos when they are ready.

I look forward to seeing them Stefan!