Well just compelled to point out that photographing an auto race can be very dangerous. The smaller the track often the more risks that are accepted by a photographer, and as often as not, they have no clue to the risks they are accepting.
On a race track with the cars at speed is a recipe for a funeral, yet I see it often at local dirt tracks. They are usually inside the track taking pictures, but as often as not there is no inside wall to keep an out of control from hitting the photog. Photog or race car?? Guess who wins.
Its sometimes hard to get spots behind a protective barrier and not be obstructed, but usually they are there. Yet even behind a barrier, that doesn't mean you are totally in the clear. Debris can easily get behind a fence or sometimes through it. Dirt tracks are noted for dirt clods getting thrown through a fence and hitting things, and often they have rocks in the dirt. Makes a real mess if it hits a lens. Likewise the fence can keep out the race car, but pieces of steel or small pieces of carbon fiber can do a great deal of damage. Think before you set up.
Sometimes an extra set of eyes to watch the track, particularly if your position makes you put your back to the on coming traffic, with the instruction to use only one word while the cars are at speed and you are working. That word is duck. At that point don't question, don't worry about the photo, just fall to the ground behind the barrier. Race cars could be sliding along the top of that barrier before you even have a chance to look back.
Oh How I miss CART. Yet there is one phrase that still applies. Just say no to the IRL. My last champ car race was in Cleveland and got some interesting photos there.
--- On Sun, 10/12/08, Marilyn Dalrymple <marilyn160@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> From: Marilyn Dalrymple <marilyn160@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Ok so everyone seems to want lively debate (not flame wars)
> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sunday, October 12, 2008, 11:51 AM
> I should have been paying more attention and remembered the
> photographers' names. It was a fascinating
> conversation. The one photographer described how he'd
> take on image, pull out the film carrier, turn it and put it
> in again to take another image. What an ordeal with racing
> cars speeding by.
>
> I had one experience of being on a race track to photograph
> racing cars while they were racing. I was using a Canon F-1
> and and an AE-1. That's the night my hair turned
> white{:->
>
> Marilyn
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob W8IMO
> To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals -
> Students
> Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 9:31 AM
> Subject: Re: Ok so everyone seems to want lively debate
> (not flame wars)
>
>
> I wish I had heard this program. I used to photograph
> CART races, never professionally, with my trusty OM-1n with
> the autowinder and that was a challenge. Then when my
> Mother's friend Art, ie: arthritis, joined me I switched
> to a Canon A2e. With the autofocus and faster motor I got
> more good shots and helped Kodak's bottom line.....
>
> I have to admire those guys that shot with 4X5s and their
> photos.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> Marilyn Dalrymple wrote:
> I was listening to the radio while driving home this
> afternoon. I was surprised to hear the radio show was
> about photography. The subject talked about was the
> photography of car races (I believe Danbury Races?) with a 4
> X 5 Speed Graphic. The two photographer's talking
> reminisced about when the photographer only had one chance
> to get "The" shot - when the action was at its
> apex, the lighting was perfect and there was no blurring.
> It sounds rather challenging when we consider that we can
> shoot - how many images in seconds today?
>
> I didn't get the photographers' names, but the
> conversation was interesting and I had to marvel at the
> thought of photographing car races with a 4 X 5.
>
> It saddens me, and often amazes me, how sloppy much of
> today's photography is (images stretched or smashed to
> fit the area in which the photograph is injected -
> newspapers are usually guilty of this).
>
> Marilyn
