If it's Limerock... you're probably panning.

[John Thawley]

For the most part anyway. I have a love hate relationship with Limerock. I like the scenery. I like the short lap times, I like the overall ambiance of the track. I don't like the (new) fences. I don't like SOME of the corner workers. I don't like the lack of room to back up and work. But... you do what you gotta do.

Here are a few of the catch.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94480&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94484&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94450&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94456&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94436&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94424&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94476&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=94448&g2_serialNumber=1

[Chris Woolman]

Considering all that, I think you did great job. The pics look great! #2 is pretty cool.

Chris

[Jeff Boerio]

Really like the Acura/Lowe's shot. I don't think Johnny O'Connell likes Lime Rock either. Here's what is posted on his web site:

Lime Rock
Added 07/05/07

Well here we go again. Back to the American Le Mans Series. And back to Lime Rock. It’s funny but about 3 years ago we were promised that the track would be paved, all new amenities for the teams would be added… and safety improvements made to the track. Then we were told that unless the track did the improvements needed, that we would not be coming back to it. But here we are.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are some positive things to be said for the place. For fans it’s great in that they get to see so much of the action. It’s one of the most beautiful areas in the country and we have usually had nice weather there. But as a place to show case the worlds greatest sportscars, well in that area it does come up on the short side.

Last year Ron and I almost won, with my finishing about a fender behind one of the Astons. It was a good race. But we should have won. With about 20 laps to go I was pushed off by a prototype in the very dangerous downhill turn. In gathering it up, and cleaning my tires off, I lost about 8 very valuable seconds. I think that the downhill corner is alone a very good corner, but in racing situations one of the worst. It’s far too bumpy to go two wide through it, but in our type of racing that is going to happen, and the outside guy is going to lose big every time. And run-off room does not exist there.

Personally, I think that the standards for the circuits at which we compete should be higher than what is presented to us at Lime Rock. And honestly there are really no other tracks that we go to that are at that level. Virtually every other track we compete at, the folks that run the track make the investment to do all that they can to ensure the safest racing they can provide. All of us want to be speedy, and show what we can do, but safety is something that should not be disregarded.

Three years ago I bought a bumper sticker that said, “ I helped pave Lime Rock”. Needless to say that money must have been spent somewhere else…and I want my money back.

Johnny O


Jeff

[Chris Clark]

Hey John.

I like the bridge shot. It's different. And I really like #3. The Mazda LMP with the tall grass showing some foreground blur. Good stuff. The shot of the Highcroft Acura is really nice too. Good Job.

-chris

[Mark Scheuern]

#2 and #3 are my favorites, too. Great results for your efforts there.

[Jamie Holladay]

Great work JT. I really like the Bridge shot. Very creative.

[Dennis Murray]

#2 like everyone else...one of the things McNish mentioned on the ALMS podcast was how much of a high speed circuit LR is, and this shot gives the feeling. I'd be interested to see some variations on this concept with more of a pan to see if it would work.

#7 I'm struck on several fronts with. The first being the use of the shadow and light and the second the natural framing the fencing provides. The fencing also seems to maintain and accentuate the curve (while the fence is reduced with the panning only to the elemental level).

[John Thawley]

#2 like everyone else...one of the things McNish mentioned on the ALMS podcast was how much of a high speed circuit LR is, and this shot gives the feeling. I'd be interested to see some variations on this concept with more of a pan to see if it would work.

Well, I think if you panned, you'd just end up with a bad pan. And... you'd lose the detail to the lettering on the bridge. I think the idea of this image is the sensation of standing there and the cars rate of travel going by you. A pan is exactly the opposing story... the blur that the car witnesses as it travels the circuit.

Similar to a discussion on another thread.... to me, this picture is EXACTLY the sensation you get standing where we were standing. You're somewhat left feeling like your in a vacuum.

#7 I'm struck on several fronts with. The first being the use of the shadow and light and the second the natural framing the fencing provides. The fencing also seems to maintain and accentuate the curve (while the fence is reduced with the panning only to the elemental level).

Hmmm... I think you might be guilty of over-thinking this one. What you are perceiving as curvature of the fence isn't curvature at all. The fence is running straight behind the car... but it is bending up hill. This is the uphill section of the track where the cars used to blow over. For ALMS, the force the cars into a chicane right at the crest of the hill. So the as the fence keeps going, the car is turning away and to the driver's right.

What I saw that I like was the graceful roll of the car coming into this odd combination of a corner apex and uphill crest. And, I could pan it fairly parallel with a slow shutter while keeping things pretty sharp... and yes, the light was pretty nice late in the race. Oddly, another 20 feet further and the cars may as well been running in the Baja... it was a very rough transition into the chicane. Jimmy may have some shots from where he was shooting... the cars appeared to be yanking the wheels 16"+ of the ground.

JT

[Daniel Buck]

nice mix of motion blurred shots and crisp shots! Sounds like a hard place to shoot!

[David Lister]

Nice selection John..

The countryside setting makes this place look a little like Oulton Park, here in the UK.. I like Oulton as it's my local track, is situated in a country parkland setting and has lots of variety (even from the spectator areas).. It certainly is a good antidote to the Herman Tilke like tracks that seem to be the staple of where we get to go these days.. all tarmac run-off and fances.. (albeit that WTCC is more interesting now that we go to more street circuits.. Porto last week..)..

DL

[Dustin Finn]

Inspiring as always.. love the idea for #2