Going to Santa Pod tomorrow. Advice needed.

Prophet · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:44

I'm off to watch a 'Run What You've Brung' day tomorrow at Santa Pod. There will be a collection of cars there from standard slow as you like to highly tuned drag cars.

I've been several times before but would like advice on what settings I should use. I'll have the following lens to use:

Tamron 17-50 f2.8
Nifty Fifty f1.8
Canon 100-300 f4.5-5.6
Canon IS 300 F4

Using a 350D.

I'll either be on the higher bank or right next to the track on the other side.

I'm thinking of using the 50mm when next to the track then using the 300 F4 from the top of the bank.

Usually I use my 100-300 as 100 usually seems enough when close to the track but I'm thinking the 50mm as I can crop if needed plus I'll get better image quality.

Any tips and advice no matter how basic are greatly appreciated.

ChroniC · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:56

I've been several times before but would like advice on what settings I should use

Can i pitch for the following info to help you.

What shot do you want to create?
How far away will you be?
What time of day will it be or what will be the assumed available light?
Do you have a external flash?

I'm thinking of using the 50mm when next to the track then using the 300 F4 from the top of the bank.

Seems the obvious choice.

rpstewart · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:04

ChroniC said:
Do you have a external flash?

Do not under any circumstances use a flash at a motorsport event. There are a lot of places where you will be thrown out for using a flash.

It's a human reflex action to react to bright lights and it's fair to say that distracting the drivers, regardless of the level of competition is a) unfair and b) potentially very dangerous.

Prophet · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:08

ChroniC said:
Can i pitch for the following info to help you.

What shot do you want to create?
How far away will you be?
What time of day will it be or what will be the assumed available light?
Do you have a external flash?

I'd like to capture the speed of the cars passing but I'm open to other ideas.
I'll be between 35-60 feet away at ground level and anwhere from 100 feet to 1/4 mile when on the bank as I get a full view of the 1/4 mile track.
No external flash.

Prophet · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:09

rpstewart said:
Do not under any circumstances use a flash at a motorsport event. There are a lot of places where you will be thrown out for using a flash.

It's a human reflex action to react to bright lights and it's fair to say that distracting the drivers, regardless of the level of competition is a) unfair and b) potentially very dangerous.

I've never used an flash at these events. I've seen pictures which a flash and besides what you've said above I don't really like the effect it gives.

ChroniC · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:20

rpstewart said:
Do not under any circumstances use a flash at a motorsport event. There are a lot of places where you will be thrown out for using a flash.

It's a human reflex action to react to bright lights and it's fair to say that distracting the drivers, regardless of the level of competition is a) unfair and b) potentially very dangerous.

I was assuming there wold be show cars and women!

ChroniC · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:21

Orange Peel said:
I'd like to capture the speed of the cars passing but I'm open to other ideas.
I'll be between 35-60 feet away at ground level and anwhere from 100 feet to 1/4 mile when on the bank as I get a full view of the 1/4 mile track.
No external flash.

So ou want to know how to pan? During the day, possible. What time you going to be there.

Prophet · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:25

ChroniC said:
I was assuming there wold be show cars and women!

Its not really a show however there will be some nice cars there but no women!

Prophet · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:29

ChroniC said:
So ou want to know how to pan? During the day, possible. What time you going to be there.

I'll be there from 10am till around 5pm.

I have basic panning under my belt. I'm more interested in advice on settings. For example, when using the 50mm should I try f1.8 or stick to f4 etc.

These are some shots I took earlier this year on a cold morning.

ChroniC · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:40

Like i said it really depends on what type of shot you want. With such low f-stops you will get problems with panning shots because of over exposing, considering bright daylight. Of course do so if you want still low depth of field captures, however those f-stops will become more useful the darker it gets.

The f-stop really depends on the image your after, because with panning as you know, you are more concerned with the shutter speed, which will be dependant on light. Id say the darker it gets the less panning you'll be able to do, and you should concentrate on closer shots.

The images above are good, but would look more dramatic if they had more dramatic panning. So a tripod and lots of practice at higher fstop would be better, but of course more difficult to get sharp.
Make sense.

rpstewart · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:46

ChroniC said:
I was assuming there wold be show cars and women!

In which case flash away although doing so excessively may still lead to you being asked to leave

samcat · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:49

Dont forget your earplugs... If there's any serious cars running (fuelers) you WILL need them.

Sam C

ChroniC · 21 Sep 2007 at 16:55

I personally feel that if your going to do panning to create speed then the background has to be fairly blurred, the more the better. Otherwise it looks nearly still but annoyingly blurry.
I alo think you should try composing your image like the 3rd one. Appeal to the minds perception of speed, not tightly cropped as this doesnt show where the cars going, and have the car either in the far left or right of the frame if your able. Like your 3rd photo, making the car seem gone, or going somewhere.
Then the later on in the night it get (is 5 dark now??) try seeing if you capture reflection of track lighting?
If your not panning the closer shots would work better, as the background is unecessary, and distracting. Also if you can avoid the track wall although you should, it ruins the base of the shot. Maybe shoot at an angle, say 45degree to your left or right, not level on.
Tripod 110% essential for most shots.

Off topic, do you know that he has under the hood of the astra? Calibra turbo engine, as it has a FMIC?

V-Spec · 21 Sep 2007 at 17:10

I've posted quite a bit of stuff from the pod recently, the best position is at the back of the last stadium which is about halfway down the track on the shop side, you can get right in close, I usually stand on the pub tables or stand on my lens case or something, the banking is pretty good but shots look a little odd if your too high above the car. The Stadium itself is pretty good if you get the last seat on the end right at the front.. In terms of kit use I try for diagonal panning with 300mm as opposed to just getting the side of the car as it goes past as those shots end up getting a bit boring, and as Chronic says you need to be getting the background nice and blurred otherwise it just looks wrong.. I generally shoot at ISO 100/160 and use shutter speeds ranging from 60th/160th. I shoot all my stuff handheld or on a monopod.