Long Beach Grand Prix 2008

[Aaron Kupferman]

This was a great weekend for me. My second pro race weekend with credentials and I feel I am really finding a good look and feeling to my motorsports photography.

I was credentialed to cover the Fast Lap/Time Attack group and found that I wasn't shooting as well when the pressure was on to perform. The fact that they were only on the track for 15 minutes on Friday and 20 minutes on Saturday did not help. I was not as happy with those images but hope my editor is not as critical as I am. None of those images made this post. During the other sessions I had time to learn the track and explore the angles. I guess performing under pressure comes with experience.

It was very hard sorting my selects down to eight for this post as I had lots of great shots from many unique angles. I chose a few shots from some of the more standard locations and a few shots from some very low keeper angles I found (3 & 8). I am, as always, interested in hearing everybody's feedback.

Thanks!

Aaron


1
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0001.jpg

2
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0002.jpg

3
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0003.jpg

4
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0004.jpg

5
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0005.jpg

6
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0006.jpg

7
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0007.jpg

8
http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0008.jpg

[Dany Flageole]

3 and 8 are great, really low speeds, I like it!

[John Thawley]

#5 Is outstanding. Tough shot and well done.

I'd like to have seen #6 a half hour later or earlier (not sure) to see what the shadow geometry looked like. It's a very cool shot... would have just liked to have seen the distribution of the shadow less and more light/car. Very cool, though.

Nice going away of the Lizards Porsche. I shot that angle last year (the only elevation change in Long Beach LOL ) but didn't get to it this year. Nice.

While #1 is a nice pan.. needs to be slower with that truck in back. But it's tough, I know.

#2 is nice side lighting... I would rotate the horizon a bit... I think it will make the shot stronger.

#3 just doesn't do it for me. I'm just not finding anything to hang on to.

#4.... well... I know the look.. this is an "almost." :)

Good work.

JT

[Daniel Buck]

I don't know much about panning, but I do enjoy #5 quite a bit, like John! That one has blasts of energy! #7 I enjoy alot as well, I think because I can see the traffic lights just on the top of frame! How cool is that :D

[Chris Woolman]

Hi Aaron,

#5 is my favorite too, as well as #7 and #8. Glad to hear you had a great experience. I shot for a local track day photographer this past weekend and also found it hard to get the shots I wanted under pressure. I'm sure practice and more experience can only help. Your shots look great!

Chris

[Aaron Kupferman]

Thanks everybody for the good feedback.

John, would you mind expanding a little bit on your comment about #4 being "almost". I'd like to know where you would take this shot or what would have made it a winner in your eye.


And again, John, about #6 do you mean something like this?

http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0010.jpg



When I saw this shot, I had to shoot it - just for you guys and cuz it's the popular thing to do... :D

http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0009.jpg

[Aaron Kupferman]

Oh, and I have posted a gallery on my site of my 42 favorites from the weekend.

www.motorsportlens.com/lbgp/

[John Thawley]

Thanks everybody for the good feedback.

John, would you mind expanding a little bit on your comment about #4 being "almost". I'd like to know where you would take this shot or what would have made it a winner in your eye.


And again, John, about #6 do you mean something like this?

http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0010.jpg



When I saw this shot, I had to shoot it - just for you guys and cuz it's the popular thing to do... :D

http://www.motorsportlens.com/promo/MSL_LBGP_0009.jpg

What I mean by "almost" is, that type of shot, in all honesty, is blind luck. I mean, you can shoot for it... but getting it just right is pretty low odds. What makes it just right? Well, that's just it... you know it when you see it. I would say balance comes to mind first. And, we're talking about selective focus, so I'd probably want to see that car (in focus) taking up the center. In this shot, I think if all three cars were moved more toward the upper right corner, you'd have a bit better balance to the composition.

The Vette is what I was talking about... though this particular shot seems over processed and over sharpened.

JT