I like this shot because I caught the sun reflecting the car's color onto the owner as he polished his car. Notice his face tone, how it changes from that of his neck and the slight gold ripples in the white stripe of his jacket.
He's trying like heck to kick the engine over for run up prior to the afternoon race.
I don't know what it is but I love this shot.
This is my favorite shot of the day. He gave me a big thumbs up after I took the shot. Look at the intensity of his eyes and what they might have to say.
The pace car for the day's races. Taken right outside the cafe as cars were lining up for another race.
Sadly, most of my other shots were throw aways. Being so close to the track, I picked up tiny bits of tire rubber worn away by high speed wear. I counted six tiny flakes in all. Them are the breaks. Dagnabitt. Next time we all head out there, someone don't forget to bring along a spray can of "Rubber B-Gone."
Don
The day started off with an odd twist. From the decision to hit up Willow Springs for the day, I planned to pay the usual $10.00 buck entry fee. At the main gate, I think the troop pulling entry/exit control remembered me from last weekend as he handed me the sign-in board. I told him that I was here on my own to take pictures and that there wasn't the usual entry list this time. Nonetheless, he said that we are considered vendors and to check in at the office. I did.
I spoke to a guy, Mike, I think was his name, and relayed what the gate troop told me. I went on to say that our contact person, Glenn, hadn't called in a gate list as this was last minute and I would probably be the only one out here today. I ended by saying that without that list, I wanted to pay the usual entry fee as so not to abuse the otherwise free gate pass. Without a word, he reached into a drawer, pulled out a free vendor wristband and said to have a great day at W-S.
Truth and politeness paid off. I got in for free.
My third trip to Willow since becoming an LPA member, this time I wanted to give more attention to shooting in shutter priority. While my first time was hit and miss, I ended up centering on shooting at 1/500 to get the results I wanted. Basically, I want the car frozen in mid air, a blurry fore and background, blurry tire lettering and wheels while the car's graphics stand out. My next trip had me running the dial up to 1/4000 sec. If you were to ask me, 1/4000 is speed overkill unless you're shooting a track crash or similar activity, anything but pan motion shooting a particular car as it passes by. This time I went the other way from 1/25 to 1/250 sec.
As 1/4000 sec is speed overkill, shooting at and below 1/100 sec is stuck in the mud slow. I bumped it up to 1/125 before I started to get any good results and even then, none are any good now that they have been loaded into PSE 7's Organizer and I see them at full screen.
All track shots were taken using my Nikkor 70-300 VR zoom with VR Active activated.
At 1/250, I had results similar to those when I first started shooting at 1/500 sec. While most of today's shots are worthy of the cyber trash can, a few will make the pass grade, but only a few.
My favorite spot is at the far end of the retaining wall just past the chute merge with the main straightaway. Looking to my left, I am near the east end of the straightaway bleachers near the first turn. At this loc, I get the cars at top speed before they pass the bleachers and down shift before hitting the first turn.
What I might do to help with camera shake at 1/250 is to use my tripod where I can bag a steadied pan shot. I thought about using a mono but there's too much side to side motion as I turn while panning. I'll extend the rear legs to full and prop them near the retaining wall while extending the front leg at extreme angle to steady the front as the retaining wall is more of a “planter†in its design. I can use the dirt in the center of that “planter†as a front leg brace. I'm also thinking that I might use my external trigger so all I have to do is pan the camera at the tripod handle and further reduce shake by not having to physically hit the release button.
I would really like to get out and pump up the volume by trying out the tripod idea at Willow but this week looks kind of weak. In fact, nothing really pulls my trigger until April 17-18-19 when lots of bike racing on the main track pulls into town with most of the hot stuff over the 18-19 weekend. Sharna, let me know what days you want to attend.
Even so, in an open invite to LPA members, should any of you want to meet at Willow for some simple practice, chat and fun times – not a regular field trip, then let me know. I would like to get a few things down pat with my tripod before bike racing gets here where I'll need to be on my toes and you, too, should you decide to attend bike weekend.
Glenn, this weekend looks lite at Willow but still worth a try. Are you (and anyone else) up for an easy Saturday photo op?
I have yet to go through today's pictures but I will get that done directly. While I was there, I used my Nikkor 18-135 DX for some pit work. Those shots came out pretty good. A couple of them, I really like – a lot. I'll try to get some posted so my fellow novices and those who have yet to visit Willow can get an idea.
Yo, peace out.
Don