Some speedway shots from Poland

Davidf.Poland · Jun 4, 2013

ŻKS ROW Rybnik - Speedway Wanda Instal Kraków (50:40)
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R3d · Jun 4, 2013

Nice captures!

My personal opinion: don't crop so tightly on the riders. Giving them more space in the frame provides a better sense of movement and direction.

KmH · Jun 4, 2013

Not to many Americans know what Speedway racing is. They don't know the bikes have just a single gear, up to 500 cc single cylinder engines, and that having brakes on the bike is not allowed.
Some Americans have competed in European Speedway. American Greg Hancock was the 2011 Wold Champion. Billy Hamill is another recent American racing Speedway in Europe.

Here in the USA Speedway has only been popular in and around Los Angeles, and then on tracks shorter than the tracks used in Europe.

Your photos are well focused and it looks that you have good panning technique.

I agree a bit more frame in the direction of movement would make the photos somewhat more dynamic.

rokstomper · Jun 4, 2013

They are all really good. My only complaint is #3 with the focus being on the second guy but overall I like them all.

Gavjenks · Jun 4, 2013

The highlights are majorly blown out in the first couple of shots.

Are you shooting RAW (or setting your camera to minimum possible contrast if not)?

If so, I'm not sure what else you could do, really to get the higher dynamic range you need. Flash would be ineffective (if even allowed or close enough), because the problem is high contrast suits and bikes, not subject vs. background. Neutral density gradients won't help for the same reason (local not global contrast). Can't do HDR because they're fast moving subjects.

My only remaining suggestion (if you're already using RAW and still getting too much contrast) would be going back and shooting again on a more overcast day if possible, since this seems to be a facility that has races at it on a regular basis.

Davidf.Poland · Jun 5, 2013

Thanks

Gavjenks said:
The highlights are majorly blown out in the first couple of shots.

Are you shooting RAW (or setting your camera to minimum possible contrast if not)?

If so, I'm not sure what else you could do, really to get the higher dynamic range you need. Flash would be ineffective (if even allowed or close enough), because the problem is high contrast suits and bikes, not subject vs. background. Neutral density gradients won't help for the same reason (local not global contrast). Can't do HDR because they're fast moving subjects.

My only remaining suggestion (if you're already using RAW and still getting too much contrast) would be going back and shooting again on a more overcast day if possible, since this seems to be a facility that has races at it on a regular basis.

I'm shooting in JPG without flash. I didn't know so far what was the reason that the highlights were so blown out on my photos, but after Your post I know what it is, I had bad contrast settings in my camera. I took some shots with different contrast settings I think I know how to use it correctly. Thanks very much for Your advices.