Few things are ever totally risk free, but one can often manage the risks. With care there are a lot of things that are far higher risk in photography than auto racing. I've done some, but there are some things I wouldn't do. They guys that go into war zones are absolutely nuts, either that or I am getting old, or both. I know I am getting old.
As far as Tony George, Robin Miller would be more likely to get an invite to the George household for Christmas dinner, Ed Carpenter winning a race or even getting a ride outside of Vision racing, or Milka Duno starting on pole would be far more likely than me wanting to say anything to Tony George that could be repeated here. Photographing Danica or Milka wouldn't be a bad gig, but I wouldn't want them in my race car.
--- On Sun, 10/12/08, Bob W8IMO <w8imo@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> From: Bob W8IMO <w8imo@xxxxxxxx>
> 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, 2:34 PM
> Actually photographing just about anything outside of a
> studio has its
> risk. Auto racing is high on the list of risky shooting.
> At Mid-Ohio
> if you got a photo pass I seem to remember there were
> certain spots
> where most of the interesting action, passing etc, took
> place and were
> 'safer' than just setting up anywhere.
>
> RE: CART Thanks Tony George and thanks Washington.....
>
> Bob
>
> Mark Blackwell wrote:
> > 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
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
