Raging Bull Texas Stampede

[Bill Jurasz]

Had a fun day on Thursday photographing the Raging Bull Texas Stampede as they visited Harris Hill Road racetrack for the afternoon. They were only there about two hours, so I didn't have a lot of time. It threatened rain but fortunately none came while photographing. It was very overcast, very dreary.

Looking for C&C. This is my second track day event after a two-year absence and I still feel rusty.

1. The only allowed passing zone was on this straight
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_2008_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_2008_medium.jpg

2. My boss at my day-job is driving this car:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_1694_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_1694_medium.jpg

3. Not much scenery to capture at this track, so I'm often torn about shooting tight or shooting loose:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_1734_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_1734_medium.jpg

4. I'm trying to get better at the "away" shots like this:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_1914_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_1914_medium.jpg

5. Another pass. The Infiniti behind is the faster car and I'm trying to pan with him, not with the Vette. Wondering how well I pulled that off.
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_1946_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_1946_medium.jpg

[Perry Bennett]

Be sure to remember the rule of thirds... all of these cars are dead center. Move them up or down in the frame.

There is not really enough of the Infinity showing to show him really going faster then the vette. Maybe another second or so later and you would've nailed it. ( number 1 is a better example of this)

There is no need to artificially tilt your lens... let the shots/compositions speak for themselves.

If there is not a lot of scenery, either shoot REALLY tight, or REALLY wide and slow.

[Bill Jurasz]

Thanks Perry. I think I need to move away from the center focus point. Or put that focus point on the front bumper instead of the door. As per shooting wide and slow I did give that a try numerous times with compositions like number 3 but wasn't happy with the results I got. I can nail the slow shutter profile like 2 but need to work more with other compositions and slow shutters.

This a better shot of the Infiniti passing the Vette, but I ended up cropping a bit off the Vette:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100114_1947_2_4&dir=galleries/2/4&file=20100114_1947_medium.jpg

[Perry Bennett]

#3 is wider than the others, but can you go wider? Slower too, for sure. I can still see all the spokes on the vette, which means you can go slower. I think this was was a tough shot because the car is going away from you.

A dreary location makes it tougher, thats for sure. Thats when you can play it up and go way slower then you think you should.

[Jeff Kapic]

For me, the Infinity and Vette shot would work better if you were shooting much tighter. As it stands, I would rather have the Vette in focus.
Like Perry said, your compositions could use some adjustments. The center focus point is the least used focus point for me.

On #3 you commented on being torn as to shooting tight or loose. Do both. I would have put the car at the bottom of the frame in that shot to get rid of some of the brown grass at the bottom and show a little more sky. If a wider view isn't giving the look you were hoping for...go tighter to see if it looks any better.

Jeff