Monaco GP 2008

[Jamey Price]

This was my first time shooting motorsport, with any kind of "decent" equipment. Anyway, I hear you all are rough, but honest on the critiques, so have at it. I'm here to learn more about the trade, and learn what I can do better next time out. No credentials here. Just shooting from the grandstands. It was a spectacular weekend that I shall never ever forget. Loved every minute.

1.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu55/Scuderiafan87/DSC_0131_2.jpg

2.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu55/Scuderiafan87/DSC_0390-1.jpg

3.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu55/Scuderiafan87/DSC_0392.jpg

4.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu55/Scuderiafan87/RedKimiCropped.jpg

5.
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu55/Scuderiafan87/MonacoMarshals_2.jpg

[Dany Flageole]

Interesting for a spectator point of view!
you got potential for sure, 5 not bad, 4 is the best, 3 is a bit tight

[Bill Jurasz]

Would help if you would number your pics. :) I like the last two quite a bit.

[Jeff Kapic]

I think the cars are too close to the edges in the first 3 shots.
Not really a fan of selective coloring. I like the idea, but this one doesn't do much for me.
The last one I do like. I think the 3 heads make the shot. The only crit on this is the cut off car.

Jeff

[Jamey Price]

Re-numbered for ease. Thanks for the comments.

The problem with the one where Vettel is cut in half with the three marshals is that if I bring it too far to the left, then the marshals weigh the picture to the right, throwing the balance off, at least thats what my eye is seeing. I cut it down pretty good. Its a much wider angle shot in the original, but the pits (off to the right) are very busy and distract from the focus of the racing action. Thats what my (inexperienced) eye is seeing anyway. But the other plus with the photo of the cars rounding the bend with the marshals watching was that it was a burst mode photo, so I have nearly the entire field running through the frame during the sequence. If I was better at photoshop, I might be able to make something really cool of it. But alas, I am not.

Thanks again for the comments. I'm doing my best to soak in everything people tell me, for good and bad. Hopefully, when F1 comes back to the USA, I'll have another crack at it.

[Brent Smith]

Just thinking here, but if you didn't take the last photo as a burst and instead timed your shot with the field then Vettel's car probably would not be cut off.

[Jeff Kapic]

Re-numbered for ease. Thanks for the comments.

The problem with the one where Vettel is cut in half with the three marshals is that if I bring it too far to the left, then the marshals weigh the picture to the right, throwing the balance off, at least thats what my eye is seeing. I cut it down pretty good. Its a much wider angle shot in the original, but the pits (off to the right) are very busy and distract from the focus of the racing action. Thats what my (inexperienced) eye is seeing anyway. But the other plus with the photo of the cars rounding the bend with the marshals watching was that it was a burst mode photo, so I have nearly the entire field running through the frame during the sequence. If I was better at photoshop, I might be able to make something really cool of it. But alas, I am not.

Thanks again for the comments. I'm doing my best to soak in everything people tell me, for good and bad. Hopefully, when F1 comes back to the USA, I'll have another crack at it.


The framing is fine, it's the timing that's off. If you shot a split second later, the car would have been fully in the frame.

[Jamey Price]

Youre right. I was too inexperienced at the time to understand the basics of photography. I wont make excuses but this is the first non point and shoot Ive owned and had had it for about a week prior to the GP. In hindsight, I would have loved to have the experience and knowledge I have no. Still, not all bad pictures out of the set. Certainly not award winning though.

Thanks for the comments.

[Steve Stein]

I want to know how you got to Monaco from Charlotte? :)

These really aren't too bad your first time out with new gear. I noticed you were shooting with a mid-range zoom on your Nikon, did you crop these this tight or were you this close to the track?

[Jamey Price]

Well, the trip to Monaco was a combination of my dad's 50th birthday, my parents 25th anniversary, and my 21st birthday. So we kind of went all out to celebrate the three at once with two weeks in Europe, with the culmination (for me at least) being the GP.

And yes, you are that close. Most of those shots were not at full 200mm zoom. Most were between 120-170mm and they are not too cropped in.

If you want to see what I was actually seeing, check out these youtube videos of the weekend :)

Formula Renault Sound Capture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGLVklITF6Q

Weekend Video Recap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_f2MoM7kQ

Some of the shots were ok. Again, totally inexperienced. I am really really quite eager to try my hand again at it with a better lens on the same Nikon D80. I'm looking into a few tracks to visit this summer to try and shoot a little. Just dreams at this point.

[Daniel Lo]

The last picture totally does it for me. Not that I'm an expert on this but I don't really mind the cut-off car since it's at least driving into the frame as opposed to on it's way out. Who knows, maybe a split second later and the lead car will be partially lost around the corner. Getting the 3 heads in the shot is money.