Monaco Grand Prix

Wider-angle shots taken with K-7 and Pentax 17-70mm f4, close-ups with K-5 and Sigma 100-300mm f4.

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/Alonso1-40.jpg[/IMG] 1

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/Senna2-11.jpg[/IMG] 2

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/VMMreflection2.jpg[/IMG] 3

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/JEV1.jpg[/IMG] 4

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/Massa3-1.jpg[/IMG] 5

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/KK2-7.jpg[/IMG] 6

[IMG]http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/pp41/simonarron/Simon%20Arron%20-%20F1/PdlR1-4.jpg[/IMG] 7

Very nice, not any easy thing to photograph.

How did you find the Sigma 100-300mm focus speed??? Thinking this may be my next purchase.

Focus speed is fine, but sometimes it tends to hunt with brisk-moving objects (and ends up locking on the wrong area). At quick corners - the chicane in #6, for instance - I usually pre-focus on a set point, switch to MF and keep my fingers crossed...

Good luck finding a Sigma 100-300mm f4. They come up on eBay occasionally, but only occasionally.

Thanks for that, so maybe it won't hunt so much on a k-5. Will start saving up

Where these all taken during the race? I was wondering how much time/opportunity you have to move between locations.

It does hunt on a K-5! I had one of those mated to the Sigma all weekend, while the 17-70 was glued to a loaned K-7 (part of SRS's wonderful customer service when your other K-5 has camera flu).

All practice shots - work keeps me elsewhere during the race, sadly. On a short circuit such as Monaco, one can easily cover several corners during a 60- or 90-minute practice session.

These are great! I really like the first and the last. Great colours too.

Another great set

Simon, have you anything to do with the new "Images of McLaren" book? I noticed a piece on it in the May 2012 Motorsport magazine, and there's a photo virtually identical to #2 above.

Nothing to do with me, Mike. I think Darren Heath was responsible for most of the modern shots therein. When I rediscovered my interest in photography in 2008, after 24 years of not bothering, Darren very kindly gave me guidance on some of the better places to stand (or, in the case of the Monaco chicane, sit).

He also suggested I buy a C***n body, so that I could borrow lenses from the pros, but I ignored that bit...

Yes, that's the name they quote on the article. I guess it would be hard not to take that shot if it was available, it's very effective.