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[Chris Kelly]

A few from St Pete.

I didn't make it out to the track on Fri. Sat warmup was 2 laps, so the vast majority is race action. Even though the track is small, I still found it a challenge to get around to all the spots I wanted to shoot during the race. It would help if the track had more access gates, and if I was in better shape...

Let me have 'em (critical comments that is):

[Jeff Kapic]

Nice shots Chris. Not much I would change. Except maybe some of the sensor dust on two of the Mazda shots.

Jeff

[Ken Neher]

I am liking #7

[John Thawley]

Nice take on #1... people always seem afraid to shoot loose. Nice.

I like what you did with #3 also. Considering the botched the harbor/boat shot with the jumbotron, this is a nice way to bring the bay back into play.

[Perry Bennett]

I gotta say, I like #7 with the two red Porsches in the frame at once.

#6 would have been nice(r) [to me] without the pesky photographer there shooting back at you.

I also like #2, but I am a sucker for the Mazdas and good panning shots.

[Chris Kelly]

Nice take on #1... people always seem afraid to shoot loose. Nice.

I like what you did with #3 also. Considering the botched the harbor/boat shot with the jumbotron, this is a nice way to bring the bay back into play.

Thanks for the kind words John.

I looked for some way to try and get the pier and/or boats in the BG. The course layout made it difficult with fencing, banners and jumbotrons. I missed the opportunity last year, and salvaged as much as I could with what we had to work with.

[Chris Kelly]

I gotta say, I like #7 better than I like Thawley's version.

#6 would have been nice without the pesky photographer there shooting back at you.

I also like #2, but I am a sucker for the Mazdas and good panning shots.

Thanks Perry.

I have a different take on other photographers. I look at them as a part of the course, kinda like signage, banners, flags, etc. I've seen some classic B&W photos of racecars with the photogs right next to the track, without any protection at all. I've never thought they detracted from the image, but that's IMHO of course.

[John Thawley]

I also like the Lizards going away shot... the alignment of the two cars is nice. One suggestion (and if I can do it, you can do it- LOL) that shot needs to be low. It has much more impact when shot from a lower angle... and a hair right would have trimmed out our ever-helpful track work peeking through the fence.

Good shot, none-the-less.

JT

[John Thawley]

While I like your observation regarding old images with photographer's and the like within the "scene" of older racing images.... I concur.. BUT there's a big difference between then and now.

Back then there were several variables in play that don't exist today. First, photographers WERE part of the scene... and the handful of track workers were also part of "the show." You had hay bails, open face helmets, flag man standing at the finish line.. and racing through the country side.

You see these elements in older images because they were closer to the track. The fences or hay bails were closer.. and the track workers were too. Photographers stood at the track's edge because 135mm was considered "telephoto"... and since most were shooting with 28mm or 85mm... corner workers and other photographers got included in the shot.

And let's not forget, the photographers dressed well. :) Seriously, they were in slacks and sweaters... some even in sport jackets. Today, you get a bright orange vest or some other obtrusive identification to wear.

So, for the most part, I disagree. I realize there are times it is what it is. But, I'd urge shooters to work at finding an angle or point of view that keeps the background free of ancillary event workers.

You know, Barber Motorsports Park is a gorgeous track. But Alan Wilson insists on putting as much linear running track into the property's footprint as possible. The result is a course that is an endless ribbon that folds back onto itself. For me, this spoils the shooting there and at Miller (another Alan Wilson design) ... you get cars going the opposite direction to the car you're shooting. You get multiple layers/depths of TV towers, corner worker stations, porta-potties... etc. It's a pitty... and for what? A longer lap? Who cares that Miller is 4.5 miles long? Even the drivers don't like it. A 2 hr 45 min race is the same on a 2.5 mile coures of a 4.5 mile course. In fact, on the 2.5 mile course, the fans get to see the cars more often.

Anyway.. I digress... I believe it is our job to enhance the scene (not talking Photoshop) when we can. After all, if we were shooting a person, isn't it our job to make that person as attractive as possible and NOT reveal the ugly truth? ;)

JT