F1 Testing Silverstone
Discussion
Popped off to Silverstone yesterday for the start of F1 testing there. As ever at Silverstone this time of year it was a grey old day, and a bit wet to start with, which seemed to cause a bit of trouble with Red Bull and BMW both of whom had incidents.
Anyway here's a few I took. My first play with a teleconverter, 1.4 in this case attached to 70-200mm f2.8, still got lots to learn about this, most of my shots were focussed someway behind the cars on the head on shots. As alway comments much appreciated.
1: Renault leaving the pits
2: McLaren - Pedro De La Rosa returning to the Pits
3: Juan Pablo Montoya exiting Luffield
4: Pedro De La Rosa on the way to Maggots
5: Pedro De La Rosa in the Pitlane. I found that I liked this picture but the background is just too busy, so after attemoting gaussian blut and motion blur (which failed miserably) I desaturate the background. Not really sure if it works or not. Also doesn't halp that the McLaren is now shiny and reflects everything
6: Williams on the Pit Straight
7: Red Bull getting out of shape a bit at Luffield, they seemed to struggle loads with this car, although not as much as the Midland F1 drivers
8: Juan Pablo Montoya making it look much simpler
9: Montoya arriving back at the pits
10: Button on the way to Maggots
11: Renault at the same point
12: Button having some attention in the pits
13: Detail of the Renault
>> Edited by rhubarb on Wednesday 26th April 22:11
Anyway here's a few I took. My first play with a teleconverter, 1.4 in this case attached to 70-200mm f2.8, still got lots to learn about this, most of my shots were focussed someway behind the cars on the head on shots. As alway comments much appreciated.
1: Renault leaving the pits
2: McLaren - Pedro De La Rosa returning to the Pits
3: Juan Pablo Montoya exiting Luffield
4: Pedro De La Rosa on the way to Maggots
5: Pedro De La Rosa in the Pitlane. I found that I liked this picture but the background is just too busy, so after attemoting gaussian blut and motion blur (which failed miserably) I desaturate the background. Not really sure if it works or not. Also doesn't halp that the McLaren is now shiny and reflects everything
6: Williams on the Pit Straight
7: Red Bull getting out of shape a bit at Luffield, they seemed to struggle loads with this car, although not as much as the Midland F1 drivers
8: Juan Pablo Montoya making it look much simpler
9: Montoya arriving back at the pits
10: Button on the way to Maggots
11: Renault at the same point
12: Button having some attention in the pits
13: Detail of the Renault
>> Edited by rhubarb on Wednesday 26th April 22:11
speedychrissie said:
one thng that i noticed: with the desaturated background there are a few spots where you can see through the gaps in the car to the fosters sign in the back that still have colour. personally i think it looks a bit odd.
Ooops hadn't noticed that at all, you're right it is very annoying - especially now I've seen it, will get it corrected
shadytree said:
What camera have you got and sort of shutter speeds were you using ?
They were all taken with a Nikon D70 with a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lens. The ones on the track (rather than the pits) also had a 1.4 teleconverter on them. As for focal lengths, shutter speeds etc, they varied throughout the day, the light changed constantly, and I was experimenting. If you do a save as on the pics, then when you've copied them down look at the properties I think the exif should be intact.
Nice photos! 
I got some too. Not quite as impressive as that, though, because I didn't get pit access.
I was using my Nikkor 70-300mm ED lens - once the rain had stopped, anyway!
(I haven't cropped these, so please forgive that big head in the last one!)
More pics here: www.sqirl.co.uk/f1gallery
This was my first proper motorsport outing with the D70s, so if anyone has any tips on what I could be doing better, I'd be pleased to hear them. But be gentle, please, I can't take too much criticism in one go.
I got some too. Not quite as impressive as that, though, because I didn't get pit access.
I was using my Nikkor 70-300mm ED lens - once the rain had stopped, anyway! (I haven't cropped these, so please forgive that big head in the last one!)
More pics here: www.sqirl.co.uk/f1gallery
This was my first proper motorsport outing with the D70s, so if anyone has any tips on what I could be doing better, I'd be pleased to hear them. But be gentle, please, I can't take too much criticism in one go.
rhubarb said:
What camera have you got and sort of shutter speeds were you using ?
They were all taken with a Nikon D70 with a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lens. The ones on the track (rather than the pits) also had a 1.4 teleconverter on them. As for focal lengths, shutter speeds etc, they varied throughout the day, the light changed constantly, and I was experimenting. If you do a save as on the pics, then when you've copied them down look at the properties I think the exif should be intact.
How do you find the Sigma lens, I'm temted to get a Canon or Sigma f2.8 at some stage.
shadytree said:
What camera have you got and sort of shutter speeds were you using ?
They were all taken with a Nikon D70 with a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lens. The ones on the track (rather than the pits) also had a 1.4 teleconverter on them. As for focal lengths, shutter speeds etc, they varied throughout the day, the light changed constantly, and I was experimenting. If you do a save as on the pics, then when you've copied them down look at the properties I think the exif should be intact.
How do you find the Sigma lens, I'm temted to get a Canon or Sigma f2.8 at some stage.
I found it to be a great lens. sharp and contrasty. ony reason to buy the canon would be for IS IMHO
As with matrs, guest of McLaren. However last September I went and managed to blag my way into the paddock. When it was quiet just went to the guy on the bridge, and asked him if he knew where GPR was, he didn't, I said I thought they were infield and I needed to buy a helmet, he looked around and said go on then over you go. So I think it's quite easy, as long as you ask at a quiet time with no one else around in earshot.
I think the Sigma f2.8 is fantastic, as poah says, always sharp, great in low light, in fact it's pretty much on my camera all the time now. I went for this based on reviews here and on fredmiranda/dpreview/nikonians, and I really couldn't afford double the cost for the Nikon version, but very very pleased with it.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff