Drag Strip Shots

[PNWSGM]

I have another thread "You have the green light" with two pictures from this event in it, but these are the others.

First time EVER shooting drag racing, so bare with me. All except 7&8 were shot with a 50mm 1.8, 7&8 being shot with a 70-200 2.8. My ears were definitely ringing after this event. C&C is welcomed! I know the watermarks are big in some of them... :/

1.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


2.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


3.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


4.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


5.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


6.

Untitled by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


7.

Jet Car by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr


8.

Pretty quick by M.Larsonphotography, on Flickr

 

[SCraig]

You think those are loud try Top Fuel some time! Better be quick though since in less than a second after the green they are about 100' down track

You've got good exposures and good focus. I personally think #4 is your best one because of the slight blur in the background.

Drag racing is somewhat difficult to photograph because if you aren't careful the energy and noise and power doesn't come through in the photographs. Move a little bit down the track and catch them as they come by (but don't go too far or they are very hard to catch!). Shoot a little bit slower so you get some motion blur in the background and wheels. Closeups from the front with the front end reaching for the sky are also interesting, something like #3 or #6 from the front. The trick is to try and emphasize that energy with your photos, and it isn't always easy to do.

 

[PNWSGM]

You think those are loud try Top Fuel some time! Better be quick though since in less than a second after the green they are about 100' down track

I think that jet car was a bit louder than Top Fuel cars!

You've got good exposures and good focus. I personally think #4 is your best one because of the slight blur in the background.

I was trying to do more shots like that but with the 50mm and the placement of people aroud me, it didn't happen. I was lucky to get that one.

Drag racing is somewhat difficult to photograph because if you aren't careful the energy and noise and power doesn't come through in the photographs. Move a little bit down the track and catch them as they come by (but don't go too far or they are very hard to catch!). Shoot a little bit slower so you get some motion blur in the background and wheels. Closeups from the front with the front end reaching for the sky are also interesting, something like #3 or #6 from the front. The trick is to try and emphasize that energy with your photos, and it isn't always easy to do.

Unfortunately at that track they don't want you going past the driver, just incase the car was to pop and wheelie and come over the barrier. I don't think I'll be getting any shots like that anytime soon :/

 

[Mach0]

You think those are loud try Top Fuel some time! Better be quick though since in less than a second after the green they are about 100' down track

I had a trans am today pull up on the side of me...... Car was so loud it shook my car.

 

[SCraig]

I had a trans am today pull up on the side of me...... Car was so loud it shook my car.

He ain't got nuthin ...



This one was so loud that it should the ground, the bleachers, the buildings, me, and everything else in the vicinity. Luckily in less than 4 seconds he was done and shut it off Even with Hearos Extreme Protection foam plugs the volume of sound was painful. It's not so much heard as felt, and something you have to experience to understand.

(I posted a thumbnail that links to the full-size image because I didn't want to post it in the OP's thread).

 

[SCraig]

Unfortunately at that track they don't want you going past the driver, just incase the car was to pop and wheelie and come over the barrier. I don't think I'll be getting any shots like that anytime soon :/

All tracks are that way. As I Recall, even the "Official" NHRA photographers are required to kneel behind the wall during the launch. However you can go sit in the bleachers and shoot over the wall. As empty as those grandstands are you would have had plenty of seating choices. It does require more than a 50mm lens though

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

GET LOWER!

Few good shots there, try some panning.

Just don't do what I did and try to shoot the above photo at F1.8, I only got part of the car in focus ha.

 

[PNWSGM]

Video of said jet car..... It's unfortunate you can't actually hear the "backfires" from this thing. They were like explosions.



You can actually see me in this video. Two cars in from the left of screen in the beginning there is a track with two bodies on it. I am the one on the right.

 

[PNWSGM]

Unfortunately at that track they don't want you going past the driver, just incase the car was to pop and wheelie and come over the barrier. I don't think I'll be getting any shots like that anytime soon :/

All tracks are that way. As I Recall, even the "Official" NHRA photographers are required to kneel behind the wall during the launch. However you can go sit in the bleachers and shoot over the wall. As empty as those grandstands are you would have had plenty of seating choices. It does require more than a 50mm lens though

That is true, I did do that for part of the day however my 70-200 was having issues focusing at 200mm. Not sure if it was the lens or the body causing the issue though.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

Most tracks relax their policies during test and tune events or track rental events (as this one appears to be)

 

[Ernicus]

Really cool thread, thanks for sharing.

 

[PNWSGM]

Most tracks relax their policies during test and tune events or track rental events (as this one appears to be)

Half of the day was TNT, which I would have been fine with shooting from farther down the track as most of the cars were not popping wheelies off the start line (most were 11+ second cars). However, when I got the media pass was when they started doing WCSA stuff and were very strict on where you could go. They made us stand 20-30 back from the barrier for the jet car.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

The Jet car - understandable, it'll burn the hair off your arms that close.

I was at the Hot Rod power tour event out here and took shots of cars from 2ft away. The Thursday night TNTs I shoot right up at the burnout box when I'm not running the street car class.

 

[imagemaker46]

You guys might like to have a look at this link to my web site. I shot most of this when shooting for National Dragster magazine back in the 90's
Motor Sports - Images | IMAGE Communications

 

[SCraig]

I think that jet car was a bit louder than Top Fuel cars!

Maybe, maybe not. When jet cars run they normally run solo. When top fuel or funny car run they do it two-up (or four-up at Charlotte!).

They are cool, and unbelievably loud, no question of that. I've seen several run, the latest was last month at an air show. I'm not sure which is more painful on the head though