ALMS @ Utah 2008

[John Thawley]

I've shot Miller four times now... once in July 2006, May 2007, August 2007 and May 2008. It's been a different experience each time.. since three of the dates provided completely different light.

This trip we were presented with a new abbreviated track layout. There was no real infield racing... only the outer perimeter. While I did go inside for one practice session, we were trapped for a full session.. so there was no returning during the race.

All-in-all a pretty good weekend, but the short course does take away a few opportunities.

1. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112910&g2_serialNumber=1

2. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112896&g2_serialNumber=1

3. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112890&g2_serialNumber=1

4. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112888&g2_serialNumber=1

5. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112870&g2_serialNumber=1

6. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112856&g2_serialNumber=1

7. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112849&g2_serialNumber=1

8. http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112916&g2_serialNumber=1

[Chris Kelly]

I really enjoy the elements of the 2nd shot, everything but that damned chain-link fence... Nice photo!

[Chris Clark]

2,3, and 4...... Spectacular.

Everything else: pretty darn good too.

My only issue, if you could call it that.... is that there is something odd going on around the rear wheel of #8, a yellowish spot/haze.. A sunspot maybe? Not really a big deal, still a damn nice pan.

Nice job JT.

-chris

[Dany Flageole]

Very nice set.

For #2 it was impossible to knee lower and get the top of the moutain in the frame I guess?

Love #3

#5 is crisp and sharp, it's excellent!

[John Thawley]

2,3, and 4...... Spectacular.

Everything else: pretty darn good too.

My only issue, if you could call it that.... is that there is something odd going on around the rear wheel of #8, a yellowish spot/haze.. A sunspot maybe? Not really a big deal, still a damn nice pan.

Nice job JT.

-chris

It is a yellow pylon that Miller uses to keep the drivers off the gator strips / curbs. The panning ghosts it out.

Thanks,

JT

[John Thawley]

Very nice set.

For #2 it was impossible to knee lower and get the top of the moutain in the frame I guess?

Love #3

#5 is crisp and sharp, it's excellent!

:) I was kneeling for #2 - It was shot with my 500mm and the car is pretty well back. The only way to get the top of the mountain would have been to shoot loser... which if you look at the car now, it would have been too loose to be interesting. It's one of my favorites as is, though.

Thanks,

JT

[Mark Delbrueck]

Nice set!! Looks like harsh lighting conditions! Number 8 is super nice, great color palate.

[Todd Corzett]

I always like the wide-open shots from Miller... seems like such an empty place... and a huge contrast to a place like Long Beach where there is always something 'man made' in your background. Very well done, as always. I like the last one most... very clean. Pitty about the yellow cone thing, but such is the racing environment. The wide shot of the Audi works very well... while getting the whole mountain in the frame would have been nice, I see your point about the car getting too small to be interesting. I also like #5... just a classic panning shot, only wish the car was more towards the left of the frame (you know, the whole 'room to move into'). It is hard to find something to comment negatively about, so good job!

-Todd...

[John Thawley]

I also like #5... just a classic panning shot, only wish the car was more towards the left of the frame (you know, the whole 'room to move into').
-Todd...
See.. I beg to differ. (And I think I've gone down this road before) - If the car were to the left of the frame it would actually be further down track and looser. To me, if the car is coming at you... which this car is, you're allowing it to come into the frame and closer to the FRONT. To me it's more of a head-on than a "classic" pan. I find there is more tension in this composition than what you're suggesting.

These are going away... but, clear your mind of the "room to move" logic and consider viewer impact in these two images. You have to forget the 'room to move' argument, because in going away, it's built in in with the car closer to you. My point a BIGGER car in the frame is going to outweigh your logic. Side-to-side pan, you'd get no argument from me. But, this (the original posted image) is a close up... and with the direction its traveling, the right side of the frame is closer.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112928&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112922&g2_serialNumber=1

[Jeff Boerio]

JT

Nice stuff of the cars/drivers. Where are the photos of YOU?!: D

Jeff

[Keith Schoeler]

Have to admit, I thought the exact same thing as Todd when I saw the Aston. It just doesn't look right to me.

Like #2 the best, great atmosphere.

[Todd Corzett]

See.. I beg to differ.
I had to find something to comment on... it was the only 'negative' that I could find :p

Personally, I agree with the keeping the subject the main thing in the frame... and bigger is better in this aspect. I find that with most pans having more room behind the car makes my eyes move in that direction (maybe it's because I'm conditioned to move my eyes in that direction from all the sire-to-side shots). In this case, I wouldn't have shot it any differently... but probably would have cropped the image to have the same amount of space behind the car as in front. It's just splitting hairs... doesn't lessen the quality of the pan or anything.

The two examples you post I think work either way because the car is positioned in the 1/3rd one way or the other... the shot of the Aston isn't extreme enough... like it's almost in the center, but not really... does that make sense? It just looks unbalanced and not in the direction the car is traveling. If you had more room behind the car it probably wouldn't 'stick out' in my mind as much. But it's still a great shot.

-Todd...

[Jacob Leveton]

I dig 2 and 6.

question about 6 - i see that you shot it at 1/100. Out of curiosity, how much did you play with shutter speed and similar framing? i tried a shot like this 2 weeks ago at an event and got a good shot, but i'm curious to see how much versatility there is in a shot like this.

[John Thawley]

I dig 2 and 6.

question about 6 - i see that you shot it at 1/100. Out of curiosity, how much did you play with shutter speed and similar framing? i tried a shot like this 2 weeks ago at an event and got a good shot, but i'm curious to see how much versatility there is in a shot like this.

Versatility? Well... quite a bit. You can wear it casual to a barbeque or company outing... mix it up with jeans and a sweater. Or, just throw it on over a pair of shorts... I could even see it with a blazer and slacks. It's just one of those shots that works with everything! LOL

I think I know what you mean... it's probably more of an interesting editorial shot than anything. But I like the look. I did shoot it tighter too. You don't want to shoot it too slow of a shutter though, or you'll lose the background.

For me, the big thing is the sky... the mountains and Miller Motorsport. It's not a shot you can pull off many places. Horseshoe at Daytona is another.. and I suppose a tri-oval might work. I do it for the sky.

JT

[John Thawley]

I had to find something to comment on... it was the only 'negative' that I could find :p

Personally, I agree with the keeping the subject the main thing in the frame... and bigger is better in this aspect. I find that with most pans having more room behind the car makes my eyes move in that direction (maybe it's because I'm conditioned to move my eyes in that direction from all the sire-to-side shots). In this case, I wouldn't have shot it any differently... but probably would have cropped the image to have the same amount of space behind the car as in front. It's just splitting hairs... doesn't lessen the quality of the pan or anything.

The two examples you post I think work either way because the car is positioned in the 1/3rd one way or the other... the shot of the Aston isn't extreme enough... like it's almost in the center, but not really... does that make sense? It just looks unbalanced and not in the direction the car is traveling. If you had more room behind the car it probably wouldn't 'stick out' in my mind as much. But it's still a great shot.

-Todd...
Here are a few more to chew on. LOL - The Risi Ferarri is by far my favorite.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112954&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112952&g2_serialNumber=1

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=112950&g2_serialNumber=1

[Matt Mead]

i see some sensor dust in number 8

[Jamie Holladay]

For me, the big thing is the sky... the mountains and Miller Motorsport. It's not a shot you can pull off many places. Horseshoe at Daytona is another.. and I suppose a tri-oval might work. I do it for the sky.

JT
What about 14 at Barber, could you shoot a shot like #6 there?

[John Thawley]

What about 14 at Barber, could you shoot a shot like #6 there?

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=49742&g2_serialNumber=2

I don't know if you can get trackside for this one. I shot it from a motorhome parking lot way up at the back of the track.

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=49640&g2_serialNumber=2

I've only shot Barber the one time... I would like to shoot it again... just wish they'd run 'real' sports cars there. :(

[Jamie Holladay]

I don't know if you can get trackside for this one. I shot it from a motorhome parking lot way up at the back of the track.

I've only shot Barber the one time... I would like to shoot it again... just wish they'd run 'real' sports cars there. :(
Thanks for posting those JT. They are considering Open Wheel. I'd like to see more there as well.

[Chris Woolman]

i see some sensor dust in number 8

I believe Miller Motorsports Park is one of the dustiest around. I lived in Utah prior to the track being built, and the weather changes very fast and the wind can really pick up, especially in that part of town.

Chris

[Mike Doran]

Great images. My favorites are 2 and 8 because of the very clear and wide open spaces. One of these days I am going to photograph that race as it is so different than most of the other events that I cover. Nice work on the subsequent shots as well.

Mike Doran
D&W Images
www.dandwimages.com