Motorsport -- panning, SS & motion

[TheGiant]

First post! A few from past years at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. I have my tickets ready for next week. Anyone else going?

 

[midgeman]

Nice shots. Really digging #1. You should post up an intro thread with your gear, experience, etc...

I've never been to the 24 at Daytona, but it's on my bucket list. Do you live near there?

 

[pdq5oh]

Too busy panning to hit the damned brakes....


on Flickr

That's good. The front brake is locked up but not the rear. Note to driver: Put more brake bias to the rear.

 

[TheGiant]

Nice shots. Really digging #1. You should post up an intro thread with your gear, experience, etc...

I've never been to the 24 at Daytona, but it's on my bucket list. Do you live near there?

Thanks! I will post an intro, just saw this thread first and had to share

I live near Daytona. Looking forward to the (former) LMP2 cars tearing up the track this year!

 

[lambertpix]

Nice shots. Really digging #1. You should post up an intro thread with your gear, experience, etc...

I've never been to the 24 at Daytona, but it's on my bucket list. Do you live near there?

Thanks! I will post an intro, just saw this thread first and had to share

I live near Daytona. Looking forward to the (former) LMP2 cars tearing up the track this year!

Agreed -- those are some sweet shots. I really want to get to an eduro and get some of those day-into-night shots. Daytona always seems to have a marvelous sunset for the 24, too.

 

[lambertpix]

Too busy panning to hit the damned brakes....


on Flickr

That's good. The front brake is locked up but not the rear. Note to driver: Put more brake bias to the rear.

Thanks -- I'm slightly out of my element here, as I don't know what sort of setup / proportioning valve / etc., they were running, but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't set up to optimize for a higher-speed braking zone. This is right after the cars came off Hullman Blvd - the 2nd-highest speed area of the track, I believe, so even if they were fiddling with the bias for different parts of the track, I doubt the driver would have had a chance to make a change by this turn. Again, I'm not 100% certain of this, but if they were getting any amount of front downforce, it would have given them more front grip in those high-speed braking areas, I believe.

He also got caught out a little by action 2-3 cars further ahead of this shot (notice all the dust that's been kicked up), so he just got accordioned a little bit. Fun shot, though!

 

[eRoD]

One of my favorite shots... Formula D at Palm Beach International Raceway


Canon 7D w/ 70-200 2.8L
ISO 160
200mm
f/16
1/60sec

Here's another I did at Homestead-Miami Speedway


ISO 500
98m
f/4
1/100sec

After reading through some of the comments, it looks like I have speed up the shutter speed just a little. Majority of my panning shots are blurred on the back side of my subjects. But I'm also not using any tripod or monopod.

I too will be at Rolex 24, can't wait!

 

[TheGiant]

cool! Will you be credentialed or shooting from the stands?

 

[midgeman]

...I really want to get to an eduro and get some of those day-into-night shots. Daytona always seems to have a marvelous sunset for the 24, too.

This is the main reason I want to go to Petit. Glowing brakes, exhaust backfire, beautiful twilight tones... Maybe they'll run to sunset at the Mitty. One can hope.

After reading through some of the comments, it looks like I have speed up the shutter speed just a little. Majority of my panning shots are blurred on the back side of my subjects. But I'm also not using any tripod or monopod.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your SS. That is just what happens with panning combined with SS and the angle at which you're shooting the car. Those are good just the way they are. It is possible to get the entire car "crisp" even at very slow SS from a side on profile. A monopod won't really change that.

 

[eRoD]

cool! Will you be credentialed or shooting from the stands?

I wish I had press access/passes... Unfortunately I'll be shooting from the stands, I also have garage access and something called FANZONE. Since I've never been to a Rolex 24 event I have no idea how the access works.

When I worked for the Sprint Car series #30 race team at Homestead I had "hot" passes, I had access to everything except press areas, even during the race. Hopefully the infield will be open to walk around as the race is going on. Then I'll be able to hunt for a good spot.

How was it last time you went? Anyone else have any idea how it works at Daytona?

I don't think there is anything wrong with your SS. That is just what happens with panning combined with SS and the angle at which you're shooting the car. Those are good just the way they are. It is possible to get the entire car "crisp" even at very slow SS from a side on profile. A monopod won't really change that.

Thanks! Those crisp pictures made my jaw dropped!

 

[brian_f2.8]

I'll be shooting the Rolex 24 and Daytona 500. Looking forward to it. Never shot a 24 hour race. Longest I ever shot was Sebring.

The Daytona 500 is well, THE DAYTONA 500!

 

[TheGiant]

cool! Will you be credentialed or shooting from the stands?

I wish I had press access/passes... Unfortunately I'll be shooting from the stands, I also have garage access and something called FANZONE. Since I've never been to a Rolex 24 event I have no idea how the access works.

When I worked for the Sprint Car series #30 race team at Homestead I had "hot" passes, I had access to everything except press areas, even during the race. Hopefully the infield will be open to walk around as the race is going on. Then I'll be able to hunt for a good spot.

How was it last time you went? Anyone else have any idea how it works at Daytona?

Thats the same pass I have as well. You will be able to go almost anywhere in the infield. Garage passes will put you right next to the crews when they bring broken cars to the garage to repair. Fanzone is basically just outdoor tables and a bar/restaurant. Overpriced as expected... They do have a huge jumbotron of the race though which is nice.

There is a 6' chain-link fence between turn 4 & 5 that is a great place to shoot from. There are many holes that have been bent open to stick a lens through, or you can do like most people do and bring a ladder. I usually bring a 4' stepladder and shoot right over the fence. It's totally allowed.

Turn 6 is a great spot with a few bleachers and more fencing. I usually find an RV spot and shoot from there at night. For banking shots, I recommend looking between turns 8 & 9. Love this spot at night especially with a low power flash to illuminate the reflective car stickers.

Im on an iPad and can't figure out how to post pics, but here's a link to the track map: Imageaytona.jpg - Trackpedia

I look forward to seeing your shots

 

[TheGiant]

Also, sometime around 10 or so on Saturday night they will shoot fireworks near turn 10. I have yet to get a good angle to pan a car and get a pyro burst but I will definitely be trying again this year.

 

[eRoD]

I'll be shooting the Rolex 24 and Daytona 500. Looking forward to it. Never shot a 24 hour race. Longest I ever shot was Sebring.

The Daytona 500 is well, THE DAYTONA 500!

This will be my first 24hr race.

For the Daytona 500 I'll be working for the same team again and they even added another car... so I'll be running around shooting for both teams. All access! I'm really excited.

Thats the same pass I have as well. You will be able to go almost anywhere in the infield. Garage passes will put you right next to the crews when they bring broken cars to the garage to repair. Fanzone is basically just outdoor tables and a bar/restaurant. Overpriced as expected... They do have a huge jumbotron of the race though which is nice.

There is a 6' chain-link fence between turn 4 & 5 that is a great place to shoot from. There are many holes that have been bent open to stick a lens through, or you can do like most people do and bring a ladder. I usually bring a 4' stepladder and shoot right over the fence. It's totally allowed.

Turn 6 is a great spot with a few bleachers and more fencing. I usually find an RV spot and shoot from there at night. For banking shots, I recommend looking between turns 8 & 9. Love this spot at night especially with a low power flash to illuminate the reflective car stickers.

Im on an iPad and can't figure out how to post pics, but here's a link to the track map: Imageaytona.jpg - Trackpedia

I look forward to seeing your shots

Also, sometime around 10 or so on Saturday night they will shoot fireworks near turn 10. I have yet to get a good angle to pan a car and get a pyro burst but I will definitely be trying again this year.[/

Thanks man! This will be a fun few days!

 

[brian_f2.8]

Nice, which teams are you shooting for?