The increasing war against the Motorsports Snapper
Discussion
Motorsport photography has long been my 'thing'. Even had some published, sold prints and managed to blag press passes in the past but mainly shot from the public enclosures for my own pleasure. My speciality was/is hunting out unique vantage points through which to stick a lens.
Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
Rallying is where it's at! (national and lower levels at least, I'm sure WRC controls access more tightly). I haven't shot circuit racing in years.
_DSC3740 by Ben, on Flickr
_DSC8743 by Ben, on Flickr
To be fair, I've still had the odd occasion with blue 'media' vest wearers thinking they're special and blatantly standing in front of other photographers, or trying to tell someone that they aren't allowed in a certain spot and then taking it themself if the person moves...
_DSC3740 by Ben, on Flickr_DSC8743 by Ben, on FlickrTo be fair, I've still had the odd occasion with blue 'media' vest wearers thinking they're special and blatantly standing in front of other photographers, or trying to tell someone that they aren't allowed in a certain spot and then taking it themself if the person moves...
StevieBee said:
Motorsport photography has long been my 'thing'. Even had some published, sold prints and managed to blag press passes in the past but mainly shot from the public enclosures for my own pleasure. My speciality was/is hunting out unique vantage points through which to stick a lens.
Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
Er. Perhaps they don't want you there?Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
Le Mans is interesting. Every year, things are slightly different. I have a mental collection of little nooks and crannies in my head of good shooting locations but so often they're closed off. Sometimes grandstand security disappears at night, sometimes it doesn't etc. It feels like a game!
But yeah, as above, it does make rallying feel rather liberating!
But yeah, as above, it does make rallying feel rather liberating!
The Mad Monk said:
StevieBee said:
Motorsport photography has long been my 'thing'. Even had some published, sold prints and managed to blag press passes in the past but mainly shot from the public enclosures for my own pleasure. My speciality was/is hunting out unique vantage points through which to stick a lens.
Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
Er. Perhaps they don't want you there?Visited the British GP this year and took my gear. I found out after that Silverstone has a limit on lenses of no more than 400mm and no tripods or monopods. This is isn't obviously stated anywhere but in ignorance of the rule, I had no trouble bringing in my 400mm, 600mm and a meaty monopod. My guess is that the people checking bags wouldn't know a telephoto from a telescope. Nor would they know what a teleconverter is!
Either way, was pleased to find that on the Friday, the perimeter of The Loop offered a terrific vantage point - even giving some access to the 'pro-holes' avoiding the need to shoot through fencing. But within a minute of me getting the camera out, there was someone in a blue bib saying I can't shoot from there. Exactly the same at all the other good vantage points around the circuit. By the end of the day, black netting had gone up restricting the view at all the good viewing points.
Got chatting to a pro-snapper from Canada at Silverstone who was stood next to me by the Loop - on the public side of the fence. He said that even track side access is limited these days - all the pros are kept in tightly marked areas so everyone ends up getting the same shots. If you want to get something different it's sometime better to shoot from public enclosures!
This is the same at LeMans, Brands Hatch, and most other circuits I've been to... photographers seem no longer welcome.
Still, did manage to bag a couple of decent shots:
I can sort of understand the restrictions around The Loop because if a car goes off there you're going to carpet bombed with gravel. The issue is more other benign areas that are deliberately obscured to prevent photography.
My guess - and it's only that - is that they don't want decent armatures capturing better shots than the pros or shots over which the powers that be have no control over.
You're going to the wrong circuits and in all honesty, the wrong events. Oulton Park as mentioned above is great for photography, Cadwell Park as well. The problem with the big circuits, Silverstone, Donington and Brands to an extent is the safety requirements for the World Championship events such as F1, Moto GP, World Superbikes. Silverstone is crap for spectating, yet alone photography.
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