Brands Hatch advice needed

[Jester77]

Hi All,
I was thinking of going to Brands this friday for the superbike practice and for camera practice
and was wondering how good the spectator viewing is for photography?

Because it's a pratice day would I be able to go anywhere on the circuit
and would my most powerful lens (150mm) be good enough.

Cheers

Edited by Jester77 on Wednesday 5th August 11:09

[Scott330ci]

All my stuff is from Brands - A really good circuit.

Not really a shamless plug but have a look at my site ....

www.trackphotography.co.uk

See which angles you like and I can tell you the viewing points.

[Jester77]

Hi,
Great pictures, I like this angle
http://www.trackphotography.co.uk/photo_3583730.ht...

How will I fair with 150mm though?

Thanks

[Scott330ci]

I believe this is around and abouts 250mm to give you an idea on the same corner, same shot and angle ...

http://www.trackphotography.co.uk/photo_3583761.ht...

Should have no trouble!

[grumpy bear]

Jester77 said:

Hi All,
I was thinking of going to Brands this friday for the superbike practice and for camera practice
and was wondering how good the spectator viewing is for photography?

Because it's a pratice day would I be able to go anywhere on the circuit
and would my most powerful lens (150mm) be good enough.

Cheers

Edited by Jester77 on Wednesday 5th August 11:09

Inside of druids is a lot less, than 150. If it is the Indy circuit with 150 you will be limited as there is catch fence all around except the inside of druids and a bit the outside of clearways/macleans. The GP circuit is better out in the woods around westfiled and sheene and 150 should be OK.

Practice days dont increase your access as the fence stops you unless you have a media pass. It will be a lot less crowded though. some goods shots can be had through the fence but it limits panning, try arond 1/250 to 1/350 for cars coming towards you and turning. You still need to follow the bike slightly.

If your trying panning, coming out of a bend is easier than into one, acceleration is mostly smooth and constant braking isnt, but lock ups are great shots. It takes practice so dont be too dissapointed with the amount of good shots from a bunch of blurred ones.

[jon-]

When talking about MM it's useful to know if you're FF or a cropped sensor.

150mm on a 1.6 crop will be very similar to 250mm on a full frame (only 10mm under)

[nre]

The inside of Surtees is also fence free, at the end of the straight behind the pits, though you need to be better at the panning for the indy circuit as its more of a left right flick than a propper corner. Other than that as already said infield at druids and multiple places on the GP circuit all accessible without need for artillary piece style lens.

enjoy

[Jester77]

Thanks everyone for the advice, it's well appreciated.
I use a d300 so it would be a bit more that 150mm with a 1.5 magnification.
Will I be able to try a few different places or do you have to enter the circuit and
stay where you are?

[Scott330ci]

Jester77 said:

Thanks everyone for the advice, it's well appreciated.
I use a d300 so it would be a bit more that 150mm with a 1.5 magnification.
Will I be able to try a few different places or do you have to enter the circuit and
stay where you are?

You can walk around where ever you like. When you cross the bridge to get to "druids??????" it may look closed due to a gate on the bridge, it usually isn't, just open it!

[rhubarb]

Also have a look for holes in the catch fences, they're usually filled with TV cameras, but when I've been there for Friday practice sessions for WSB and BSB there were no cameras there and so you could easily point your lens through uninpeded, the one I usually use (although haven't been down there for a year now) is at the end of clearways (just after the media centre), although there's usually a queue of people to get there.

Some old shots here http://www.kantryla.net

[Simon K]

As others have said you will mainly be limited to panning shots if you want to fill the frame. The inside of druids is good as you haven't got any catch fencing in the way but it is well worth walking the GP loop. At Hawthorn you are looking down on to the bikes at close range and I've used my 24 - 70 lens here. Westfield is good for them hitting the apex and again you're close to the action as is Sheene curve. There is no problem going anywhere around the circuit with the obvious exception of trackside if you don't have credentials.

All the motorsport pictures on my website with the exception of the Lydden Rallycross were taken at Brands.

www.simonkavanagh.co.uk

Good luck it's a great circuit.

[Don]

Inside of Druids - definitely. Close to the action.

With a longer Zoom lens you can catch the cars/bikes sliding around on the exit of Paddock Hill from there.

Now that's a photo op!

Brands is the most "beautiful" circuit I've been to and is well worth a walk around the infield and the GP circuit infield areas.

Oddest combination of calm secluded woodland and cracking motor racing circuit.

I love visiting Brands more than any other circuit. To be honest I'd even enjoy going there on a day when there was nothing on just to walk the perimeter and enjoy the ambiance.

[tim-b]

Don said:

Brands is the most "beautiful" circuit I've been to and is well worth a walk around the infield and the GP circuit infield areas.

Oddest combination of calm secluded woodland and cracking motor racing circuit.

Agreed, the GP circuit is well worth the walk, you can get good photos at virtually the whole way round. Here's a few of mine - at a cicuit as picturesque as this you can really afford to shoot a bit wider and soak up the view as well!

ETA; i have a few sets at brands on my flickr, which show th variety of places to shoot from. http://www.flickr.com/photos/motion-captured/

Edited by tim-b on Friday 7th August 11:48

[Jester77]

Hi again,
I thought I would give you a short update on how my day went after all help I had..
As you say Brands Hatch is a really stunning circuit and I was lucky that the British Superbikes were running on the
full GP circuit so I was able to watch the racing and take photographs from many different places.
I did take a few inside druids but I soon got bored with that although I can see you could get a really good shot there.
90% of my shots will hit the bin but I did get a few half decent ones that I'm quite pleased with.
The main thing is I had a good day out, really enjoyed the bikes and learned some more about photography which is what it's all about.
Thanks everyone.

[jon-]

Great result! I'm meant to be there tomorrow but as I'm riding down no camera for me