All Forum Comments
Comment by simonarron posted on BTCC @ Silverstone at 04/10/2013 - 08:04
Love #10... and #5 is a very rare shot of Jason Plato not hitting someone...
Comment by simonarron posted on BTCC @ Silverstone at 03/10/2013 - 16:58
Comment by simonarron posted on 2013 Trackrod Rally at 01/10/2013 - 21:02
I hope he drove fast enough to escape the monster in #2
Thanks to all for the kind words.
Comment by simonarron posted on Motorsport: Snetterton VSCC, Sept 29 at 01/10/2013 - 06:51
Comment by simonarron posted on Motorsport: Snetterton VSCC, Sept 29 at 30/09/2013 - 20:20
Comment by simonarron posted on Motorsport: Snetterton VSCC, Sept 29 at 30/09/2013 - 15:31
I have just arisen at stupid o'clock and am about to set off for the Blackwall Tunnel, thence the M11 and several points east. Meeting colleagues for a Snetterton paddock fry-up circa 8.15.
Some very nice shots here. I'd have cropped the first more tightly and the second a little less so, so that there was a touch more space to the left of the Aston. I love the XK shot (#6), but would probably cut out some of the vacant area from behind, above and below the car. I'm rubbish at C&C, though, so will leave it to those better qualified.
If this was a first attempt at motor sport, I'd say it's a very solid start.
And yes, it's quite normal to take hundreds of pictures without ever laying a finger on continuous shooting mode. In the mid 1970s, my dad used to lend me his Spotmatic with a single roll of Tri-X, which left me 36 frames to cover a whole day at Oulton Park. Time change...
Comment by simonarron posted on Motorsport advice at 29/09/2013 - 05:30
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.

Comment by simonarron posted on Silverstone at 26/09/2013 - 13:32
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.
Comment by simonarron posted on Silverstone at 26/09/2013 - 12:43
Saturday's Aston Martin OC meeting takes place on the '300' circuit - the longest of the three at the venue - and there is an elevated grass bank in the centre of the track, just behind the paddock. This provides views over the pit straight/first corner (Riches) on one side and most of the infield on the other. You can aim head-on at the cars as they come through Palmer, a quick left-hander, although it might be a bit of a stretch with a 250mm. There's also a pan shot from there as they head towards the next left-hander.
Few bother with the Bombhole nowadays - it used to be a classic Snetterton shot, but the run-off area now stretches most of the way to Great Yarmouth, so you'd need a 600mm with 27 times converter (approximately).
Murrays - a slow left-hander before the pit straight - should be OK with the 60-250. The spectator banks are reasonably close and AMOC meetings feature some softly sprung 1950s-1970s cars that are likely to kick up an inside front wheel when they hit the kerb.
Generally, I'd recommend sticking to the areas around the paddock, because you can explore several angles (and besides, it takes eons to venture to the outside because there's no pedestrian footbridge). Snetterton has a fantastic range of angles for those with a media tabard - you can get a range of shots from the hedgerows adjacent to the old A11, for instance - but it's pretty good, if a little limited, from the public areas. It isn't wholly surrounded by debris wire, either.
As for settings, if you are unused to panning I'd start at about 1/250 and work your way down to 1/80 or 1/60 as you become more comfortable. Cars won't be travelling at too high a speed, with the exception of the modern Aston GT4s, so 1/100 or 1/125 should be about right most of the time. For the head-on stuff, shoot as quickly as you like - 1/640 or faster. If you are standing at Murrays on the opening lap of a race, you could attempt a wide-angle shot with cars stretching back through Coram Curve. The only downside is that the field is often spread quite thinly by then due to the lap's length.
Enjoy the weekend - and best of luck.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to drop me a PM.
Comment by simonarron posted on Motorsport advice at 26/09/2013 - 07:20









