2008 LBGP without the blue vest

[Bruce Ehrlich]

A few from the wrong side of the fence.

[Chris Kelly]

Nice set. The first 2 give an excellent feel for speed.

[John Thawley]

Good job.

Some EXIF data on the pans along with some location information on the tight shots would be a big help to those shooting without credentials.

Can you share?

JT

[Bruce Ehrlich]

Happy to share.

Long Beach is a challenge with all of the chain link. I did have a Super Photo Pass which gets you on a couple of towers and in the pit area, but the towers are in the same location every year, so it is difficult to come up with something different.

The first shot is from the tower at turn 11 and was shot with a Nikon D200 and a Sigma 120 - 300 zoom set at 300mm and 1/15.

Shot 2 was taken from the tower at turn 6, again at 1/15 @ 200mm with the Nikon 70 to 200 zoom, on a Fuji S2 (not the best camera for auto racing, more than a bit too slow).

Shot 3 was taken through the chain link, and then the trackside photo hole down at the hairpin. 300mm at 2.8.

Shot 4 was taken from the photo tower at turn 1 with the 70 to 200 at 1/80 at f11.

Shot 5 was also taken from the turn 6 tower @ 1/15 at 200mm.

Shot 6 was taken from the turn 1 tower @ 1/30 at 130mm with the 70 to 200.

Shot 7, again down at turn 1 @ 1/160 at 116mm, again the 70 to 200.

Finally shot 8 was again through the fence and photo hole down at the hairpin, 1/2000 at 420mm (the Sigma with the dedicated teleconverter) @ 2.8.

It always surprises me that more folks don't try these head on shots, you need to shoot at 2.8 to get the fence to go away, and you very much have to have patience to wait for the pros to momentarily not block the photo hole (a long lens helps in threading the needle) but the results are usually a couple of dramatic shots. They block off this area on Sunday, so Friday morning is the best time, fewest competing photographers and the right light.

Hope this might be of interest to someone.

Bruce

[Bruce Ehrlich]

I should also mention that I am using ND filters to slow things down, including a Vari-ND Singh Ray on the 70/200.

[Mark Delbrueck]

Nice Shots! Some of these look underexposed or pretty flat (lots of middle Grey)... I think the best thing would be to process these in LAB with some curves and see if you can get some nice color separation as well as an increase in tonal range.

[Nick Koske]

Nice Shots! Some of these look underexposed or pretty flat (lots of middle Grey)...

That's what happens when you have to shoot through the fence;) .