Champ Car @ San Jose (Photos)

[Todd Corzett]

Champ Car has returned to San Jose again this year. The track is changed, bumps reduced, and just overall a better feel (the cars made it on track as schedule). Here are some photos from Friday, enjoy:


http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060728_20028.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/640th, f/10)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060728_30076.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/320th, f/9)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060728_10372.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO50, 1/12th, f/32)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060728_10310.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS + 1.4xTC, ISO200, 1/1000th, f/8 )


More to come throughout the weekend.

-Todd...

[Jason Jenkins]

Maybe it's the wine tonight, maybe something else but I have to say...

I breezed over your shots that you have posted so far and I didn't give them a second of thought. Yes, they are good but it's just typical motorsports shots. A shot that I would expect anyone to pull off that is worth their merit.

Please don't take this the wrong way Todd, they are all excellent shots and I would expect nothing less from you.

BUT...

But ... then there is #3. I absolutely love #3.

It's not the shining example of a perfect panning shot. It's not the tack sharp image that every motorsports photographer on FM hopes to achieve. but you know what, good for you!

Keep up the good work Todd!

[John Thawley]

Todd...

Put the 500 away. Get a line level... and start taking photographs. LOL - dude... you're stuck. Step back and try something different... go the other way. Jason pretty well nailed. it.... you know I love you... but these are just too tight... half car crops... I don't know if it's San Jose or San Juan. Tell me something, bro!!!!

JT

[Jessica Germiller]

I am a great admirer of your work...everything you have always posted (on AUTOPHOTO as well)
I have really enjoyed. These seem a little different than what you normally post...and I think it's good to change it up now and then.

I really can't give any critique or anything...because I don't shoot motorsports, and I am just a student. However, I do want to tell you that I LOVE the second one. I don't know what it is...i think because it is such a close crop you are really in on the drivers 'face' and in on the excitement...i love it. It has a fast and exciting feel to me. Keep up the good work...I always get excited when I see that you have posted something new.

-Jessica

[Todd Corzett]

Put the 500 away. Get a line level... and start taking photographs.
Something taken today just for John:


http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0177.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS + 1.4xTC, ISO200, 1/1000th, f/8 - full frame )


John - only playing :)

-Todd...

[Todd Corzett]

Some more photos from today's action on and off the track:


http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0161.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 145mm, ISO100, 1/85th, f/16)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0202.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO200, 1/250th, f/6.5)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0179.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO50, 1/15th, f/32)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0167.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO100, 1/1000th, f/5.6)


Tomorrow is race day, so more to come!

-Todd...

[Thomas Maranda]

I always like your shots Todd. I won't dogpile on with the others. :D

I'm bummed I didn't get to go this year, Touring Cars aren't racing. :(

[Todd Corzett]

Some from today's warm-up and race, enjoy!


http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060730_30196.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/800th, f/10)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060730_50182.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS + 1.4xTC, ISO400, 1/1000th, f/7)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060730_50096.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/800th, f/10)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060730_40103.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/800th, f/10)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060730_10159.JPG
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO400, 1/800th, f5.6)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/LG4Y0048.jpg
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 24-70mm f/2.8L, ISO200, 1/500th, f/9)

http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/LG4Y0153.jpg
(Canon EOS-1D MkII, 500mm f/4L IS, ISO200, 1/500th, f/6.5)



-Todd...

[Drew Phillips]

I love the look on Miss San Jose's face.

[Jacob Leveton]

the first set - not a fan.
second set - the 1st one really is the only one that I like. The driver shot is good, but nothing special
your last set - now THIS is what I would come to expect! these photos are MUCH more impactful! I feel like each one has a great story behind it.

I think a lot of starting photographers get caught up in the 'super tight crop' and 'jdm angle', and as a fellow photographer, I would feel as though i was letting them down if I complimented them on it. I feel that many of your shots in these first 2 categories fall into one or both of these categories.

[Todd Corzett]

your last set - now THIS is what I would come to expect! these photos are MUCH more impactful! I feel like each one has a great story behind it.
Thank you. Ok, but why?

One thing I came to really notice this weekend was the lack of "environmental" shots, short of lots of fencing (but personally, fences don't make for good shots IMO). As I was posting shots form each day, and not the whole weekend, there were quite a few wider shots that I wanted to post on Friday/Saturday... but just couldn't because of the lack of atmosphere associated with non-race day activities.

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/champcar/2006/sj/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0230.jpg

Basically the same shot as the one I posted earlier... but does it have the same impact? To me, no! No one is in fire suits... so it's just a deal breaker.

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/champcar/2006/sj/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0282.jpg

What about this one... good atmosphere? (this is the grandstand behind the donut shot) I guess it shows that no one wants to come to Sunday morning warm-ups, but the same shot a few hours later tells a story.

I'm really not trying to make excuses for why I shot tight on Friday... and I'm not trying to put Jacob on the spot either (this is directed to others as well). There are certain shots that only really work on Sunday (ie. pits, anything to do with fans, etc.). If you have empty stands, lots of chain-link fences, etc... why not shoot tight? Why not get those shots, then move-on to other shots later in the weekend when they will be impact-full?

I'll post a link to my weekend gallery (15 shots) when I get it together. It would be interesting to hear how people take the weekend as a whole, compared to each day independently.

-Todd...

[John Thawley]

Actually, the "not tilted" IS tilted. And probably just enough. The composition is a bit week.... but it's all the tilt that is necessary. The second one appears "forced" and is not .... well, it's just not.

Todd, I know we can "argue" the point... but honestly, I think you're defending it to a fault. There are many types of "tricks" in composing an image... and I can't argue the "get more subject in the frame" defense, it really is laughable. If you want more image in the frame... use a wider lens or backup. :)

Angle shots are a "spice." Like cooking up a dish.... you use it sparingly and to enhance the meal. Using it to "cover up" a bad meal is a crutch.

I think Jacob's assessment was spot on.

Your atmosphere shot of the car going away is weak for two reasons (beyond the empty stands.} The car should have been in the forground... and shot with less depth of field. That wasy, the car would have been the focus... not the empty grandstand.

Love the pit shot... great stuff. Perfect perspective.... nice lens compression... it really shows the heat of the battle.

[Todd Corzett]

Actually, the "not tilted" IS tilted. And probably just enough. The composition is a bit week.... but it's all the tilt that is necessary. The second one appears "forced" and is not .... well, it's just not.

Todd, I know we can "argue" the point... but honestly, I think you're defending it to a fault. There are many types of "tricks" in composing an image... and I can't argue the "get more subject in the frame" defense, it really is laughable. If you want more image in the frame... use a wider lens or backup. :)

Angle shots are a "spice." Like cooking up a dish.... you use it sparingly and to enhance the meal. Using it to "cover up" a bad meal is a crutch.
OOPS, didn't see your post before I deleted the reply. I was going to make a proper example tonight and start a new thread on this.

Love the pit shot... great stuff. Perfect perspective.... nice lens compression... it really shows the heat of the battle.
The first pit shot? or the second? The first one (from the race) does show "the heat of the battle", but the second (from warm-up) doesn't show anything... there is no battle... but the point I was trying to make is that you can't shoot some shots any time other than the race.

-Todd...

[Ryan Smith]

I didn't go this year, but the problem I found last year was that even 70mm was to long. The shooting areas were very cramped and put you about 5-7 feet away from the action.

[Todd Corzett]

I updated my website to include the San Jose Grand Prix, just thought I'd share: Gallery (http://www.unitonestudios.com/gallery/motorsports/2006/06_SJGP/06_ChampCar_SJGP_index.html)

-Todd...

[Jacob Leveton]

I think there is a happy medium between this shot:
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/champcar/2006/sj/champcar-2006-sj-tc-0282.jpg

and this shot:
http://www.unitonestudios.com/_Other/06_SJGP/060728_10310.JPG

I understand what you are trying to convey, and I completely agree. i think that the framing you did in some of your friday / saturday shots is still good (060728_20028.JPG for example). I'm not a champ car / ALMS fan or shooter. My photographic eye for these motorsports is from an outside perspective (although i'd argue that I have a slightly better understanding of composition and exposure than the average spectator). I like to see tight crops, but I think there is such a thing as too tight.

i shoot a lot of drifting. It's a new motorsport, and the majority of people shooting it outside of SoCal have a very minimal level of exposure to drifting on a regular basis. I shoot more drifting than probably 99% of the photographers at the events (outside of D1's paid photographers, Formula D's paid photographers, and 2 other photographers who are personal friends, there's no doubt I shoot more). I run a drifting-oriented website. I believe i have a good understanding of the difference between a 'good' and 'not-as-good' drifting shot probably just like you do for ALMS / Champ Car. BUT.... sometimes, I get stuck in a rut, and don't look at other possibilities. Posting my images on message boards like this will yield a lot of "nice shots" critiques. But I post them for the one person who questions my composition, because that's the person who helps me develop as a photographer.

feel me?

[Alexius M Deters]

Todd, wonderful shots! It's great to see some more of your work....