Petit 2K9 - First Post

[Collin C. Chappelle]

Hello ladies and gents. I know its been several weeks since the race, unfortunately I wasn't "working" the race, but was there enjoying the day with my family and friends. Regardless, I've been a lurker for alittle over a year and finally have some work I'm ready to put out there for an honest critique. These are my five favorites from Friday & Saturday Enjoy...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3958295291_5f1b9b0cf5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3958294039_1c90b372d5.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/3959067146_3d19004a8f.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3958291801_9d1f633d41.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/3958290429_23ea645657.jpg

[Matt Romanowski]

Hi Colin - Welcome. I would say 5 is the strongest. I would like to see the car a little lower in the frame though.

[Blake Blakely]

Welcome Collin. I'm new here myself. I agree with Matt about #5, but I also like #2. I was trying to get #3 during qualifying on Fri. I was a little farther down the track trying to shoot over the fence and through a cutout. But, I just never got a clear shot.

[Collin C. Chappelle]

Hi Collin - Welcome. I would say 5 is the strongest. I would like to see the car a little lower in the frame though.

I see what you are saying, I'll revisit the original. Personally I would have preferred it a little further to the extreme laft of the frame. But I only got a few super sharp pans from the 10min I was on the exit of 8.


Welcome Collin. I'm new here myself. I agree with Matt about #5, but I also like #2. I was trying to get #3 during qualifying on Fri. I was a little farther down the track trying to shoot over the fence and through a cutout. But, I just never got a clear shot.

I liked #2 as well, honestly I wanted that same picture from the outside of 3 shooting towards Spectator Hill, too bad my $65 ticket doesn't get my photo credentials too! One of the few things I miss about being affiliated with a newspaper. I was able to get the BMW because another "stuck behind the fence" photog came prepared with a 6ft ladder and when he got bored I jumped up! I think that angle is strongest from the outside or inside of Turn 3 but in behind the apex.

I had plans to shoot in a few other places that got nixed due to the "petit-ness" of the race...I'm planning to catch the WERA race this weekend to see if the more lax atmosphere might get me to a few places I had wanted to give a shot during the ALMS race.

Also, a quick note, I've noticed that the photos look very saturated, and I assure you I am a simple curves guy, usually clipping the blacks by 1-2pts and a few other curve relocations by no more than 3pts...usually. :p

[John Thawley]

Collin: You have a couple of good examples here...

I'm not a fan of half cars, though. Partial cars, yes... but just the front half of the back half usually doesn't do it for me. Though I will say, your first shot is pretty strong.... and whether I "like" that type of shot or not, is personal taste. Not right or wrong.

The second shot is one of those shots that when it's right... you know it. It's hard to decipher what's missing or what determines a good "in traffic" shot... but this one is a bit clumsy for me. It's just not "there."

You don't need me to tell you #3 is good. It's a little loose ... tighter would have captured a bit more energy and tension. But you caught the moment and it's an excellent shot.

#4 doesn't do anything for me. Speaking from my own editing style, it would be delete. No ifs and buts about it. But, that's me.

#5 is a very good pan. Excellent pan, as a matter of fact. This image could only be made stronger by getting the car lower in the frame. When you pan as straight line pan like this, you want the car an horizon at ground level.

The saturation is fine on my monitor.

All in all, I think you're on the right track.

John

[Collin C. Chappelle]

Thanks for your words. What I think would have brought #2 & #3 closer to 100% for me is to have shot with something longer; a 400mm or have a credential (I rented a 300mm for the day). What would you think of #2 tighter? Without the Viper?

Thanks again...

[John Thawley]

What would you think of #2 tighter? Without the Viper?

Thanks again...

I don't know. Hard for to me to imagine what you're imagining. Know what I mean.

All I can tell you, is that type of shot is a "know it when you see it" kind of a shot.

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/johnthawley/gallery-img-show/2008-Grand-Prix-of-St-Petersburg/G0000BWBp52XFXcs/?_bqG=63&_bqH=eJzzL8t3yq9IyijMNSq2MMgyzsoLS_KvNAkP9Mq2MjO1M jK1snKP93SxdTcAAqdwpwJTowi3iORitQCQqJq7Z7y7o4.Pa1A kNkUASskbug--

and

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/johnthawley/gallery-img-show/2009-Northeast-Grand-Prix-at-Lime-Rock-Park/G0000FINUKk19MLw/?&_bqG=112&_bqH=eJzz8KwKzcoJcw7zSzIutDBwKzGtKCouLokPDHG1MjQ1s jIytbJyj_d0sXU3AAI3T79Q72xDS1.fcrUAkKiau2e8u6OPj2t QJDZFAEN7G3Q-&I_ID=I0000aM7aQVrlemo

and I think you're looking for something like this when you say "if the Viper wasn't there"

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120058&g2_serialNumber=1

[Collin C. Chappelle]

Thats very helpful...up until seeing your example and notes, that was one of my favorites. But I see now what to bring to that idea next go around. Would you mind a few words comparing the my #4 to the Lowes shot above. Was that a delete for you as mine would have been? I ask because it appears similar by clearly stronger; just wondering if it made the cut for you. Thanks again.

[John Thawley]

No.... in fact, this was actually a "pick" ... top 20 or so from the weekend.

See... the devil is in the details. (as I see it) the Lowes car in your shot is just kind of stuck in traffic... clipped nose/spoiler, clipped wheel... and not real direction or energy.

The one thing strong, is the driver's head/helmet etc. If you had about a 1/4 of this image in a full frame.... a head shot with wheel and fender that would have been strong.

Whereas the shot I posted you've got the curb, spoiler, nose, full wheel and on to the drivers head/helmet. It would have been stronger if the driver's head where a little higher. But, (to me) there's energy here. The car is coming off the corner and the driver is definitely participating.

But, to be honest, some shots are hard to deconstruct as to why they're good or bad. A lot of it just becomes your eye...

I could shoot 100 frames on one corner and once I start editing, realize it was a bad corner... just a bad shot and location that didn't set up will. I may very well not even bother looking at any of the shots once I see the first few. I'll often remember shooting a location and trying something specific... I can look at the first few and know if it was a waste of time or not. It just becomes second nature. And I'm not about to sit there and try and convince myself.

When it's right... you'll know.

JT

[John Thawley]

BTW... it wasn't an accident. These were pan shots using a 500mm @ 1/350 sec. ..... hand-held. LOL

http://gallery.johnthawley.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=120062&g2_serialNumber=1