NASA at Road Atlanta, 8/12/2006

[Dennis Murray]

I finally made my way back to the track, after a 5 month absence that was a combination of Road Atlanta's calendar and the birth of my second son.

I had several goals this trip:
1. Knock the rust off before Petit Le Mans next month
2. Test out and become accustomed to new gear (30D supplementing my 10D, and a switch from the 100-400L to a 300/2.8L IS with a 1.4x TC)
3. And of course, sell some photos

I also wanted to apply everything I've learned since the inception of this site and get some new life into what I shot.

Critiques, feedback are welcome and appreciated.

1. Does this shot work? (I think it would be better with open cockpit car).
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/2838_0330w.jpg

2.
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/2838_0824w.jpg

3.
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/2838_0905w.jpg

4. The next three I was trying to show the size and scale of Road Atlanta.
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/5935_8231w.jpg

5.
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/5935_8257w.jpg

6. Thought this one worked better as 16:9 versus standard 3:2.
http://www.dmurrayphoto.com/images/apn081406/5935_8416w.jpg

[Bob Chapman]

OK, Dennis, I'll give it a shot:

1) A shot like that isn't necessarily dependent on the car having an open cockpit. It's more important for a shot like that to have exceptional/dramatic lighting. A low-sun, cross-lit or back-lit situation that really pops the colors and gives the car (which dominates the frame - indeed, extends beyond it) some dimension is needed. It's an early-morning, sunny day shot, IMHO.

2) That looks vaguely familiar. Try it in the dark at 1/15th of a second. I'll meet you there on Sep 30 at 7:30pm. ;)

http://www.autosportimage.com/misc_photography/2005_petit_le_mans/20051001_i_4985.jpg (pardon the over-saturation, but I like the freaky colors)

Anyway, not bad, but you're a bit too soft for your shutter speed. Also, 1/4 second earlier with the cars slightly lower in the frame, would've appealed more to my eyes.

3) Actually, that's a pretty nice look at 10b. The lack of trees and horizon lend a good opportunity to play with the angle of the camera, and you found a pretty nice one, IMHO. FWIW, it's a nice early-morning shot when it's cross-lit from driver's right (see #1). In the past, I've shot the morning warm-up there.

4) Doesn't do anything for me. I generally like shots that back off to show the context of the track, but there's nothing interesting in the middle one-half of the frame, so this one is lost on me. Perhaps if there had been a couple other cars descending through 11...

5) Despite all the cars, it just doesn't look like much exciting is happening. Maybe try a slower shutter speed? Maybe include some dramatic clouds in the sky (might not be possible given the trees and hill behind)?

6) So-so, but I'd rather see it tighter and at a significantly slower shutter speed. I bet you could get the same angle with a less cluttered background by shooting right at the exit of 7.

[Dennis Murray]

Bob, Thanks for the feedback. A couple of the shots (4 and 5) the rain was quite hard and the track quite wet, and all of the drivers had backed off to speeds like 35-40 mph and I was looking for anything that would work. (Nothing like a 35 mph "High Performance Drivers Ed" event).

All of the sessions were so short I was also looking to get something down for all of the cars as well. I tend to get more experimental at the longer races.

Thanks for taking the time to look and for the feedback....I'll definitely put it to use next month.

PS....always enjoyed your work put out with Flying Lizard, especially the slow shutter stuff.

[Chris Clark]

Dennis,

Bob is right about number one. I like the theory, but it needs more color IMO.

I love #2, it reminds me of the Keyhole shots at MidOhio. I like #4 as well, but it got me thinking, that would be a cool spot for some dusk/night shots at Petit, maybe even some longer exposures so you can see the headlight trails shooting down the hill along the racing line. I've never been to R.A. so I don't know how the setting sun would affect that location, but it's just something to keep in mind. I'm a sucker for light trails.:)

Nice shots.