Photos at track days, what style, showing movement or detail
Discussion
Whilst there is lots that can be done in the digital dark room in essence its best to capture the photo right first time,
On Saturday I was at Bedford in the rain, and rattled some out (they are all freely available) but as a photographer I was unsure what would be wanted by the drivers,
so.. Can you take a glance to look at these four pictures and tell me which one you think looks the best i.e. to be framed if it was yours, do you like movement or detail ? also have you paid for pictures and been pleased with the results.
http://picasaweb.google.com/claireron
the whole set of photos for the day are here and free.
http://picasaweb.google.com/claireron
On Saturday I was at Bedford in the rain, and rattled some out (they are all freely available) but as a photographer I was unsure what would be wanted by the drivers,
so.. Can you take a glance to look at these four pictures and tell me which one you think looks the best i.e. to be framed if it was yours, do you like movement or detail ? also have you paid for pictures and been pleased with the results.
http://picasaweb.google.com/claireron
the whole set of photos for the day are here and free.
http://picasaweb.google.com/claireron
I would say that movement is better in general but pans need to keep the car sharp, most on there seem a bit soft. Shots taken with a faster shutter speed, to freeze the action, work better head on and usually at a corner when a car being banked over gives the image the sense of speed without relying on any blurring.
I'm glad you've asked this question: I seem to have an ever-increasing collection of photos of me, in my car, apparently static (or with minimal impression of action) in the middle of a variety of (anonymous) circuits - which got me thinking. 
What I would like most from track day photos is something that captures the essence of that particular day for me, rather than a picture of my car on some tarmac. This could be pictures that include landmarks to identify the circuit (famous corners, parts of the pits etc.), shots that include other (interesting or contrasting) cars there alongside my own or maybe even static shots from the pits/garages between sessions.
Action shots are good, but they need to be interesting action, not simply a side shot with wheel blur.
Of the examples you posted, the RS2000 getting sideways is the most interesting to me.
What I would like most from track day photos is something that captures the essence of that particular day for me, rather than a picture of my car on some tarmac. This could be pictures that include landmarks to identify the circuit (famous corners, parts of the pits etc.), shots that include other (interesting or contrasting) cars there alongside my own or maybe even static shots from the pits/garages between sessions.
Action shots are good, but they need to be interesting action, not simply a side shot with wheel blur.
Of the examples you posted, the RS2000 getting sideways is the most interesting to me. I like Movement; with the car in sharp focus and the background really streaked, not easy I know.
It was raining, so I'd also like to see lots of spray!
Back grounds; I know it can be tricky to get access to good angles, but I don't like to see hangers, sheds or other mundane stuff. I Prefer open space, crash barrier or grass etc (i.e. nothing to distract the eye from the car)
I like to see other cars in the images, especially if they are behind! I also love to see the car out of shape, lots of body roll, sliding, or a wheel off the ground that sort of thing.
M.
PS. Will you be at Bedford again any time soon?
It was raining, so I'd also like to see lots of spray!
Back grounds; I know it can be tricky to get access to good angles, but I don't like to see hangers, sheds or other mundane stuff. I Prefer open space, crash barrier or grass etc (i.e. nothing to distract the eye from the car)
I like to see other cars in the images, especially if they are behind! I also love to see the car out of shape, lots of body roll, sliding, or a wheel off the ground that sort of thing.
M.
PS. Will you be at Bedford again any time soon?
How about some of these? (OK - not a trackday, but this is I like photographs of cars )
[url]www.pbase.com/smarjoram/lmclassic2006[/url]
) [url]www.pbase.com/smarjoram/lmclassic2006[/url]
Agree with what Jeremy has said, but I think also its luck of the weather & car colour etc, & just luck in general, ive equally had tons of mine taken, even with epic back drops like Eau Rouge etc but for some reasons these stick in my mind as my faves
This as glorously sunny & its the right amount of blur & focus, car may not be very exotic or indeed interesting I know, but I just love the pic.
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=72754938
This as glorously sunny & its the right amount of blur & focus, car may not be very exotic or indeed interesting I know, but I just love the pic.
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=72754938
Edited by iguana on Wednesday 29th November 23:15
edh said:
How about some of these? (OK - not a trackday, but this is I like photographs of cars )
[url]www.pbase.com/smarjoram/lmclassic2006[/url]
) [url]www.pbase.com/smarjoram/lmclassic2006[/url]
Some of those pics are glorious.
Wow-
www.pbase.com/smarjoram/image/63294125
Edited by iguana on Wednesday 29th November 23:09
Edited by iguana on Wednesday 29th November 23:09
jbl930 said:
edh, those are simply stunning pictures, i assume that you do this for a living, this one is my favorite
Edited by jbl930 on Thursday 30th November 08:54
Stefan is a very talented photographer as well as having an interesting day job. The image above we used for a feature in the Lotus Club Magazine about the poor Elite's misadventure at the Le Mans Classic owned by a friend and a car we worked on until 0300 on the Sat morning only for the 2nd driver to go out with the red mist down and go in too hot into the reprofiled Dunlop Chicane - the end result is there for all to see. Stefan also took the individual shots which he then stitched together into the montage.
Have a look at the shots of the Piper LM on his pbase page, stunning.
My $.02
I think pic #3 best shows the dynamics of speed because of the way the shutter speed has allowed the wheels to really blur, but the car itself is in fairly sharp focus. However, I think pic #3 is too widely framed in this instance (maybe not if other cars or elements were in the pic).
Pic #4 is like Touching Cloth described above. I have taken photos like this that were so sharp that it almost look like someone parked the car on the track. In your pic, there is a bit of body roll to convey a little bit of motion. But overall, I would say #4 is the worst of the bunch.
For a solitary subject, I think pics #1 and #4 are the best framed. To me they sort of bound the proper framing of this specific photo.
I think pic #3 best shows the dynamics of speed because of the way the shutter speed has allowed the wheels to really blur, but the car itself is in fairly sharp focus. However, I think pic #3 is too widely framed in this instance (maybe not if other cars or elements were in the pic).
Pic #4 is like Touching Cloth described above. I have taken photos like this that were so sharp that it almost look like someone parked the car on the track. In your pic, there is a bit of body roll to convey a little bit of motion. But overall, I would say #4 is the worst of the bunch.
For a solitary subject, I think pics #1 and #4 are the best framed. To me they sort of bound the proper framing of this specific photo.
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