Hi Glen
If you look on my website you'll see wsmc and I have several shots that I used a slow shutter speed. The blured back ground and the rider in focus. It's pretty hard to do. I also have pictures using a fast shutter speed and them comming around the turn. Everything is in sharp focus. Maybe somewhere in between.
I have riders coming around the turn in groups. and I have single riders as well where they seem to be touching the ground.
Timing is everything when it comes to races.
My one suggestion to you is that you practice, practice, practice.
I hope this has helped.
Sharna
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Sharna,
I looked at your web site and it looks like a good percentage of your pictures are of motorcycles. I hope I get some at least a few as good as yours.
I looked at your web site and it looks like a good percentage of your pictures are of motorcycles. I hope I get some at least a few as good as yours.
Glen,
They are going to be there both days. Do we only go on Sunday? UGH football is on Sunday. LOL
And of course you'll get as good if not better photo's than me. I'm only an amature.
I will be present. I can drive my car now so I'll be participating as much as I can in LPA. I wont be able to stay the whole day but I'll stay a couple of hours anyway.
Thanks for the compliments. Means a lot to me.
Sharna
edited to inclued: Hey I forgot to mention bringing along a monopod if you have one, along with a long focusing lens.
For most of these shots I used my 100-400 but at times it was too long on the longest end.
They are going to be there both days. Do we only go on Sunday? UGH football is on Sunday. LOL
And of course you'll get as good if not better photo's than me. I'm only an amature.
I will be present. I can drive my car now so I'll be participating as much as I can in LPA. I wont be able to stay the whole day but I'll stay a couple of hours anyway.
Thanks for the compliments. Means a lot to me.
Sharna
edited to inclued: Hey I forgot to mention bringing along a monopod if you have one, along with a long focusing lens.
For most of these shots I used my 100-400 but at times it was too long on the longest end.
Thanks for the advice on the lenses and pod.
This is not one of the official LPA field trips. It came out of a few of us Friday Night regulars who wanted an excuse to get out on weekends so we picked a place, this time Willow Springs because of their activities, then picked a day and time when we were available. Most of the time it will be Saturday mornings because Lee likes to sleep in on Sundays but December 6th they're going to be busy so we picked Sunday.
So far it looks like Terri and Lee, my grandaughter and me, and possibly Jo and Steve but we're inviting everyone to join us. And if anyone else has a place they want to go, local or distant, we'll be more than happy to entertain the idea of joining them.
This particular event does go both Saturday and Sunday. If not with the group then it's just $10 to get in.
This is not one of the official LPA field trips. It came out of a few of us Friday Night regulars who wanted an excuse to get out on weekends so we picked a place, this time Willow Springs because of their activities, then picked a day and time when we were available. Most of the time it will be Saturday mornings because Lee likes to sleep in on Sundays but December 6th they're going to be busy so we picked Sunday.
So far it looks like Terri and Lee, my grandaughter and me, and possibly Jo and Steve but we're inviting everyone to join us. And if anyone else has a place they want to go, local or distant, we'll be more than happy to entertain the idea of joining them.
This particular event does go both Saturday and Sunday. If not with the group then it's just $10 to get in.
Glenn,
Also on both days is the POC (Porche Owners Club) They will be on the main track. I hope I'm up to going both days but I probably wont be so put my name down on Sunday. I'll roll in around 730. And hope I can stay until 9:30 without too much trouble. I may ask my husband to bring me because it may be too hard for me to drive all the way back to Palmdale after being out on me feet for a couple of hours. But I will be there.
Thanks for the invite.
Sharna
Also on both days is the POC (Porche Owners Club) They will be on the main track. I hope I'm up to going both days but I probably wont be so put my name down on Sunday. I'll roll in around 730. And hope I can stay until 9:30 without too much trouble. I may ask my husband to bring me because it may be too hard for me to drive all the way back to Palmdale after being out on me feet for a couple of hours. But I will be there.
Thanks for the invite.
Sharna
Hi Glen, We would love to go. Please add us to your list.
Thanks
Jerry and Helen Henry
Thanks
Jerry and Helen Henry
I'm thinking of going, too.
Don
Don
Don,
that would be great. Shooting Motocycles and Porches aren't that hard really.
But they are a lot of fun and the tracks aren't usually crowded at all.
that would be great. Shooting Motocycles and Porches aren't that hard really.
But they are a lot of fun and the tracks aren't usually crowded at all.
Glenn,
I'd like to go too! Please put me on the list.
Sue Craft
I'd like to go too! Please put me on the list.
Sue Craft
The July/August 08 issue of PC Photo Magazine had a nice article on "Must Know Techniques for Capturing Fast-Paced Action", motorcyles in particular.
http://www.pcphotomag.com/how-to/digital-photography-techniques/the-need-for-speed.html
http://www.pcphotomag.com/how-to/digital-photography-techniques/the-need-for-speed.html
Lee, Sharna, Deborah, Julia and I went this last Saturday and I learned a few things that might help this coming Sunday.
We joined up a little after 7:30 but nothing happened until about 9:00. Then some motorcycles started around the track. These were not professional drivers and so did not push very hard around the turns. This made them easier to photograph but they were less exciting. The best place we found to take photos was near the East end of the balcony building (green and white) bleachers.
I found that 1/1600 at F-6.3, 300 mm, ISO 200, gave me a sharp image of the rider with a slight blurring at the back end of the bike and definite blurring of the riders ahead and behind. 1/125 at F13, 270 mm, gave me a sharp image of the bike and rider with definite blurring of the background when shot tracking the rider sideways. 1/60 and 1/30 gave more blurring of the background but made it hard to get a clear image of the bikes.
I took some at 1/4000 at F5.6, 220 mm, ISO 800, and they were sharp but slightly grainy.
This was on the main track. Sunday the motorcycle race will be on the go kart track so there will be very few straight sections to track them on. They will be much slower than on the main track though. I expect to use the tripod and take lots of pictures, hoping that they're in the view. We should also be much closer to the riders so I'll start with my 70-210 lens.
Once inside the Willow Springs complex you should be able to go see other types of racing activities on the other tracks. Saturday we took photos of the Drift Club (street cars spinning tires and sliding around corners and having fun) and an assortment of hot rods on a dirt track. There were other activities with cars also. It's kind of a smorgasboard. Most of the people were very casual, happy to be photographed, and did not mind us walking among the vehicles in the pits taking photos.
There was no need to go in all together, just tell the gate guard that you're with the photo club and they'll check that list for your name. I plan to go in about 8:30 and go directly to the parking area for the go kart track, which is ahead and to the left of the guard gate, about 100 yards. If it's anything like the events Saturday then spectators and racers will be intermixed with no rhyme or reason.
Glenn
816-8278
We joined up a little after 7:30 but nothing happened until about 9:00. Then some motorcycles started around the track. These were not professional drivers and so did not push very hard around the turns. This made them easier to photograph but they were less exciting. The best place we found to take photos was near the East end of the balcony building (green and white) bleachers.
I found that 1/1600 at F-6.3, 300 mm, ISO 200, gave me a sharp image of the rider with a slight blurring at the back end of the bike and definite blurring of the riders ahead and behind. 1/125 at F13, 270 mm, gave me a sharp image of the bike and rider with definite blurring of the background when shot tracking the rider sideways. 1/60 and 1/30 gave more blurring of the background but made it hard to get a clear image of the bikes.
I took some at 1/4000 at F5.6, 220 mm, ISO 800, and they were sharp but slightly grainy.
This was on the main track. Sunday the motorcycle race will be on the go kart track so there will be very few straight sections to track them on. They will be much slower than on the main track though. I expect to use the tripod and take lots of pictures, hoping that they're in the view. We should also be much closer to the riders so I'll start with my 70-210 lens.
Once inside the Willow Springs complex you should be able to go see other types of racing activities on the other tracks. Saturday we took photos of the Drift Club (street cars spinning tires and sliding around corners and having fun) and an assortment of hot rods on a dirt track. There were other activities with cars also. It's kind of a smorgasboard. Most of the people were very casual, happy to be photographed, and did not mind us walking among the vehicles in the pits taking photos.
There was no need to go in all together, just tell the gate guard that you're with the photo club and they'll check that list for your name. I plan to go in about 8:30 and go directly to the parking area for the go kart track, which is ahead and to the left of the guard gate, about 100 yards. If it's anything like the events Saturday then spectators and racers will be intermixed with no rhyme or reason.
Glenn
816-8278
I stepped outside this morning to head out for the WSR photo op - it's sprinkling. Will they race in this weather?
Don
Don
Lee and I were wondering the same thing. Just left Glenn a voicemail message. Just spoke with Willow Springs, it's damp but not raining there. So the race is on. 
I decided, to heck with it - I went anyway, rain or not.
I got there and the race was on. No motorcycles, all of it Porche association type racing. I spent the whole day there and took a half a jillion pics. As soon as I can get them uploaded, reviewed, and over to Flickr, I'll post a few in the critique section.
Don
I got there and the race was on. No motorcycles, all of it Porche association type racing. I spent the whole day there and took a half a jillion pics. As soon as I can get them uploaded, reviewed, and over to Flickr, I'll post a few in the critique section.
Don
I had left my phone at home and gone to breakfast so I didn't get Terri's message until almost 9 and by that time the weather was clearing a little. One of the culverts under my dirt road had partially collapsed and I had to barricade that section but got to Willow Springs about 10. I took about 700 photos of the Porsches (I love the machine-gun sound of the shutter in the morning). I also took a few shots of the motorcycles but they were very slow at getting started. I haven't processed any of those photos yet because of road repair and other plausible excuses. But I'll get to them, eventually.
From the lesson's learned department, both weekends it seemed all the races started late. Some, like the Drift club, started hours late. The Walt James Classic, which is a big yearly event, started about an hour late. Also, the races, once they do start, begin with warm-up laps so the real action may not start for another hour.
The folks in the Willow Springs office say that races start about 8 AM but that's more like when the tracks are supposed to be ready for the groups. I don't think they actually know when the action starts. That said, I want to thank Jim Hutchings and the office folks for getting us in for free and having the list at the gate and the gate people for being so professional at getting us through without a hitch. I'm very impressed with their friendliness and courtesy. I'll be conveying my appreciation to Jim today or tomorrow, assuming he's back from vacation.
As for photography, the cloudy skies reduced the light level and slowed down my shutter speed. It also reduced the shadows and evened out the light. At the Friday discussion group we had talked about how we're supposed to reset our cameras after a shoot. Well, my first few shots didn't focus, until I turned the lens focus back on.
While we were there a professional photographer came by and started taking shots with his three-foot long lens. Terri said something about lens envy. I spoke with him briefly and he has a web site where he posts his photos and anyone can buy individual shots or groups of shots. The site is aimed at selling to the racers and their crews so he just takes shots of every car from different locations hoping to make sales.
From the lesson's learned department, both weekends it seemed all the races started late. Some, like the Drift club, started hours late. The Walt James Classic, which is a big yearly event, started about an hour late. Also, the races, once they do start, begin with warm-up laps so the real action may not start for another hour.
The folks in the Willow Springs office say that races start about 8 AM but that's more like when the tracks are supposed to be ready for the groups. I don't think they actually know when the action starts. That said, I want to thank Jim Hutchings and the office folks for getting us in for free and having the list at the gate and the gate people for being so professional at getting us through without a hitch. I'm very impressed with their friendliness and courtesy. I'll be conveying my appreciation to Jim today or tomorrow, assuming he's back from vacation.
As for photography, the cloudy skies reduced the light level and slowed down my shutter speed. It also reduced the shadows and evened out the light. At the Friday discussion group we had talked about how we're supposed to reset our cameras after a shoot. Well, my first few shots didn't focus, until I turned the lens focus back on.
While we were there a professional photographer came by and started taking shots with his three-foot long lens. Terri said something about lens envy. I spoke with him briefly and he has a web site where he posts his photos and anyone can buy individual shots or groups of shots. The site is aimed at selling to the racers and their crews so he just takes shots of every car from different locations hoping to make sales.
Glenn,
I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Last trip out killed me. I should have wore my brace and I didn't so I suffered painfully all week. I wanted to go out. I had planned it and Sunday morning came and I just couldn't swing it.
I'm going to wait a month until the bikes start picking up again and hit the tracks again. But only once a month and maybe not even that frequently.
Thanks for taking time to put these together. I really appreciated it.
Sharna
I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Last trip out killed me. I should have wore my brace and I didn't so I suffered painfully all week. I wanted to go out. I had planned it and Sunday morning came and I just couldn't swing it.
I'm going to wait a month until the bikes start picking up again and hit the tracks again. But only once a month and maybe not even that frequently.
Thanks for taking time to put these together. I really appreciated it.
Sharna
Glenn,
I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Last trip out killed me. I should have wore my brace and I didn't so I suffered painfully all week. I wanted to go out. I had planned it and Sunday morning came and I just couldn't swing it.
I'm going to wait a month until the bikes start picking up again and hit the tracks again. But only once a month and maybe not even that frequently.
Thanks for taking time to put these together. I really appreciated it.
Sharna
Sharna
Once you start feeling a little better you may want to take a look at the Feline Conservation Center in Rosmand.
http://www.cathouse-fcc.org/
It's easy to walk around in, close by and cost very little. Unlike the zoo, you can get pretty close to the animals they have there. There is usually not many people/kids and it's very easy to get around. Its a nice relaxing day and you can take all the time in the world to take your shots. I think you would come out of there with some great pictures, plus the center would love to have some nice photos if you were willing.
This is someting you just cant do at the zoo.
Arley,
Thanks. That sounds very nice. And I'm always willing to help out with pictures if they'd like some.
I do photography more for fun right now but I aspire to be a professional. Anything to get my work out there and seen would be great.
Sharna
Thanks. That sounds very nice. And I'm always willing to help out with pictures if they'd like some.
I do photography more for fun right now but I aspire to be a professional. Anything to get my work out there and seen would be great.
Sharna
19 posts :: Page 1 of 1
I spoke to the Assistant Manager, Jim Hutchings, and he said that there will be two races that should be good for
photography this year. I think I must have gotten confused on his descriptions, and I'm still trying to confirm the
details, but it looks like the 7th is the California Motorcycle Road Racing Association (CMRRA) which seems to be small motorcycles on the Kart Track. As soon as I contact Mr Hutchings again I'll try to confirm everything but here is the CMRRA website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.racecmrra.com/">http://www.racecmrra.com/</a><;!-- m -->. They list two photo galleries, one with stills and one showing Google videos.
The receptionist at Willow Springs said that the gates open at 6:30 AM and that most racing starts by 8:00 AM. I'll post more details as I get them. Earlier, Mr Hutchings had said that, if we send him the names of those wishing to attend then he can get us in free, something they do for lots of groups. He didn't say when he needs the names by but I hope to get them to him by December 4th. Worst case for anyone who doesn't sign up is that they may have to pay a $10 entry fee.
Between now and then I intend to do some web searching for motorcycle racing and make a list of the types of pictures I want to take. I can think of four styles:
- Everything in stop motion, which requires a fast shutter speed.
- The motorcycle in sharp focus with the background in motion, which requires following the motorcycle with the camera.
- The background in focus and the motorcycle in motion, which requires holding the camera steady.
- Everything a little blurred from the motion as an abstract. I'll probably get lots of these until I get my techniques
down.
As far as composition I think that the following would be nice to get:
- A tight shot of the rider.
- Just one motorcycle from different angles, especially laying down through a turn.
- Two or more motorcycles.
- The whole race track.
- The crowd.
- The pits, if they'll let me in.
- The Winner's Circle.
If anyone has any more information or suggestions then please post them here or e-mail me at <!-- e --><a href="mailto
I'll post more info as I get it. See also: "Local to Willow Springs November 29, 08"