Silverstone

I'll be going to Silverstone this weekend for the British Touring Car Championship races, and would be grateful for any recommendations for the best places for some good shots.

They will be using the National circuit.

I'm planning on taking my Sigma 70-200 F2.8 and the DA* 300 lenses (and probably the DA40, as it doesn't take up much space).

See this thread

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/motorsport-advice-44748

Looks like the basis for a PUF meeting to me.

Thanks for that, but unfortunately that link/thread is for Snetterton, not Silverstone

My first piece of advice, Percy, would be to go to Snetterton instead, or else the vintage bike racing at Cadwell Park. or perhaps the Historic Sports Car Club event at Brands Hatch.

I am friendly with lots of pros and they find Silverstone uninspiring, because it's difficult to conjure anything interesting even with the privilege of media accreditation. The backgrounds are cluttered and the run-offs so large that a 500mm sometimes falls short. And if you're on the terraces there's wall to wall debris fencing...

From the outside of Luffield it should be possible to shoot through the fences - there's a medium speed right-hander ahead, plus a wider-angle shot with the BRDC pavilion in the background. It's mostly a matter of finding the clearest sight lines you can and shooting at the lowest possible speeds to blur the surroundings.

Silverstone is a wonderful theatre at which to appreciate the art of a racing car, but I'm afraid it's not much cop for photography.

In terms of UK circuits, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Anglesey, Lydden Hill and the Brands Hatch GP circuit offer decent photo access from the spectator enclosures.

I think you could be right - I generally prefer somewhere like Mallory Park, Brands Hatch . . . . I've been to Silverstone before and not found any great places there for photography - Luffield, as you suggest is the best I have found there - hence the question. But on this occasion I've been given some tickets for the weekend, and Silverstone is much closer for me than Snetterton, which is about a 400 mile round trip.

Sorry, Percy, but I accidentally posted that first response before it was finished.

I have seen some nice snaps from Silverstone, usually taken with the aid of a 600mm and a converter, The best shot used to be the crest at the exit of Abbey, approaching Bridge Corner, but that no longer exists...

As I said, it';s a great place to enjoy racing but it's one of the venues where my cameras tend to get least use. The shot below was taken at 1/100 earlier this year (on the GP circuit, rather than National) and shows that the messy grandstands can add a sense of speed, but I was unfairly advantaged because I was standing in front of the mesh.

Luffield. Above the fencing best so a stand ticket ideal.

Thanks for your comments, all. Looks as though it's back to Luffield then!

I may try my 1.4 teleconverter on the 300 as well, and see how that goes, but I'll probably need to manually pre-focus with that combination.

And as usual, another nice panning shot from you Simon. I think my panning shots are improving as I get more practice, but I've still got a way to go

Hi Percy, have to agree that Luffield is probably best for the BTCC. Copse is ok for the start photo with all the cars heading towards you but this will need cropping with a 300. The main problem at Silverstone is the high fencing and clear shots generally only being from the stands if you don't have a press pass (I don't like shooting through the fence although some people do).

Don't forget to go infield and wander round the back of the garages to have a nosey, plenty of opportunities and driver autograph/photo ops.

I will be there as well on Sunday if you want to say hello drop me a pm.

Some pics from last year in this thread.

link

Regards

George

Some nice sample pictures there George. I'll give Copse a try as well.

I've got tickets for both days, and am planning to be there Sat & Sun, but that may change. I'll pm you once I know for sure what I'll be doing on Sunday.

I'll be working at silverstone this weekend, with the relatively poor photo oportunities & my time restrictions I'll probably only bring my Micro 4/3s camera rather than the K7.

From what I've seen of the timetable I should have a fair bit of free time on the saturday morning, and should get some time around lunch/church breaks too.
(I not involved in Formula Renault or the GT3s, but will have to work at the end of the qualifying/race sessions for all the others)

I'll drop Percy a PM with my mobile as it would be nice to meet up with other Pentax Users. I should be able to get you a coffee/soft drink, and maybe even some behind the scenes access