In case you weren't at Mid Ohio...

[John Thawley]

Man... I think half the population was in Lexington this week. What a mob scene. Good to see on several counts. Great for sports car racing and excellent for the Mid-Ohio. I think they took a bold step hosting this multi-series undertaking and I think they'll be rewarded for years to come. Other than Indianapolis 500, I can't imagine the IRL has ever seen a crowd like this. And, it was another all-out weekend for the ALMS. It was great.

Here's a mixed bag of things .... I didn't shoot any open wheel as I had enough to do keeping up with my World Challenge and ALMS assignments... that and keeping Jimmy out of trouble. LOL

1. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96413&g2_serialNumber=1

2. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96403&g2_serialNumber=1

3. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96389&g2_serialNumber=1

4. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96371&g2_serialNumber=1

5. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96365&g2_serialNumber=1

6. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96387&g2_serialNumber=1

7. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96401&g2_serialNumber=1

8. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96409&g2_serialNumber=1

[Chris Clark]

Great stuff...

#3 is spectacular.... so good in fact that I am sitting here staring at it, racking my brain, trying to figure out where in the heck it was shot.:confused: I can't see that angle....

I really like the Cadillac shot and the Acuras heading under the Honda (or is it Acura, oh wait it's Honda again) bridge. Good stuff, always an inspiration.

-chris

[Dennis Murray]

Excellent light in #1. So much to set the subjects off from the backgrounds...I could see that one in an advertisement (and maybe I will!)

I don't think I've seen the color on the nose of the Takata Acura look that brilliant before (with so much variation in the shades of blue)...something different with the car, was the light better for catching the color, or something different in the way you shot it?

[Dustin Finn]

Wonderful work... Agree about the Takata... lovely colors.

Were you using the Cicular Pol. with the 500 and if so what does the Circ. pol do that you don't like ? (you mentioned that in another post but I never remembered to ask till now)

[Jamie Holladay]

Stunning is what comes to mind when I see #3.
I really like #6 it just pops for me.
Great work as always.

[Doug DeVetter]

Looks like your Cadillac customers should be very happy. #3 and #6 are especially great.

(But I think someone should talk to the Acura folks about that ORANGE....yuk)

[John Thawley]

Looks like your Cadillac customers should be very happy. #3 and #6 are especially great.


They'd be happier if they had a budget to work with. So would I. :)

(But I think someone should talk to the Acura folks about that ORANGE....yuk)

Actually, they LOVE their orange and I LOVE their budget. LOL

JT

[Nick Koske]

I'm a big fan of #5. The Head on of the Caddy is nice as well. Looks like the light was nice for some of the Speed GT sessions.

[Mark Scheuern]

My favorites are numbers 3 and 4. Great colors in 4. And #3 is--ready, Jimmy?--outside the box! Seriously, all very nice.

[Jake Miller]

i love #5.

[Mark Delbrueck]

Number 2 is very refreshing, great concept, way to break away from the telephoto shots, and perfect exposure! You've managed to capture everything from the darkest black fabric to the sky.

[Alexius M Deters]

What were you going for in #8? Out of all the shots, this one feels not so much like the infamous John Thawley style. All of the other shots are fantastic. Not that I'm an expert by any means. Just curious as to why you chose this one to show.

[John Thawley]

What were you going for in #8? Out of all the shots, this one feels not so much like the infamous John Thawley style. All of the other shots are fantastic. Not that I'm an expert by any means. Just curious as to why you chose this one to show.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=96409&g2_serialNumber=1

I think I was probably recalling the $3000 Acura paid me for this image they used in full page ads celebrating their 2005 Touring Car Championship. Sorry... couldn't resist. But it's true. LOL

[Jeff Boerio]

Man... I think half the population was in Lexington this week. What a mob scene. Good to see on several counts. Great for sports car racing and excellent for the Mid-Ohio. I think they took a bold step hosting this multi-series undertaking and I think they'll be rewarded for years to come. Other than Indianapolis 500, I can't imagine the IRL has ever seen a crowd like this. And, it was another all-out weekend for the ALMS. It was great.


Part of the reason the crowd was so huge is that one of the title sponsors gave 15,000 tickets to their employees.

Jeff

[Alexius M Deters]

LOL Well thats a very good reason. I was just curious because it really doesnt seem like a shot you'd take, with the branches in the way. I would expect it to be on either side of the cars. Not trying to be an ass btw ;) Just trying to crack your head open. We're you specifically trying for that shot?

That brings me to another question. Did Acura pick that one before other photos that were similar?

Edit* I'm a dumbass, I just read your last post over again...

[John Thawley]

LOL Well thats a very good reason. I was just curious because it really doesnt seem like a shot you'd take, with the branches in the way. I would expect it to be on either side of the cars. Not trying to be an ass btw ;) Just trying to crack your head open. We're you specifically trying for that shot?


Nope... actually moved around specifically to bring the branch into the shot. Slicing the two power lines was the real trick.

The 2005 shot was with a 400mm further down the hill... kind of shooting up. This year I shot with the 500mm from a different angle. I wanted the distance... I also wanted to branches to play down the HONDA on the bridge... since Mazda is customer too! ;) But I wanted the countryside feel of the natural terrain track. I like to get a balance and not come home with just "car" shots. I want race shots, track shots... and I need to work more on getting my head around "event" shots.

The shot I really wanted was not attainable due to some grandstands they erected for this race. Though I think Chris Clark came up with one that was close.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=93768&g2_serialNumber=1

[Alexius M Deters]

Do you personally think that shot would have turned out better had you been standing a few more feet to the right to push the branches to the left side of the frame? Thanks for the insight... :)

I need to get back into getting a balance of shots... I used to do it all the time, but the repetitiveness of the stuff I shoot slowly wears away creativity unfortunately.

Alex

[John Thawley]

Do you personally think that shot would have turned out better had you been standing a few more feet to the right to push the branches to the left side of the frame? Thanks for the insight... :)

I need to get back into getting a balance of shots... I used to do it all the time, but the repetitiveness of the stuff I shoot slowly wears away creativity unfortunately.

Alex

Thought I answered that:

Nope... actually moved around specifically to bring the branch into the shot. Slicing the two power lines was the real trick.

I'm not sure what you don't like about the shot... but, let's consider that fact I shot over 5000 frames at Mid-Ohio. I chose 8 to post here. Do you really think I'd have chosen one I didn't REALLY like?

I wish the wires weren't there... but they were. I wanted the shot I got. Honest. :)

JT

[Alexius M Deters]

You did; I just went into a mindless typing sequence. I was actually focusing on what you said about the bleachers/stands rather than your actual directed answer.

Maybe for some reason in my mind it seems the tree is the subject and not the cars. Anyways... now I can rest peacefully at night. Hahaa...