Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Posted By: tkaphoto on January 27 2010 at 08:52:16 PM I wish we could have had a few safe spots to shoot at Manzanita from the outside when it was still open. USA here in Tucson where these were taken has several places to shoot from the outside. And I know Canyon raceway here in Arizona has a few spots as well. And Stan I agree with the unique shots aspect of covering the sport. Guys like Tim Aylwin do a great job mixing it up. Bob Hesser before his passing was another guy with an great eye for something different.

Terry! Good to see you still putting that Nikon through its paces....funny that you mention Aylwin and Hesser...both Nikon shooters...thinking outside the box.

And Stan....I couldn't have said it better about shooting from the inside versus outside...its kinda why I gravitated away from ovals. If you ever wanna come shoot the Pikes Peak Hill climb gimme a shout...I've had my gig as the photographer for that for a few years.

http://www.MichaelHillPhoto.com

1991 Rose Bowl I came back with something like 15 + rolls of film todays world is much easier

Outside pic's are a most for any track; man lifts are slao useful for different angles

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

Nice shots. I neglected to mention in my last post that the 500mm shots were specifically taken for a local racing paper and they were done the hard way. Sure it would be nice to own the Sigma 200-500mm f2.8 but at a price approaching $29,000 US it ain't happening anytime soon. Especially since the wife gets the good car and I'm driving to the races in an '89 Merc. LOL. Seeing as racing papers don't pay anything and I sell very little to the racing teams and even less to the fans I use a 500mm T-Mount lens worth about $200 US and everything has to be set manually. Just about anybody can shoot digital with an auto focus lens but if you've set your own f-stops, ISO and shutter speed on a digital with the viewfinder and results on your LCD the only thing you have to go by in bright sunshine you'll know where I'm coming from. ;-)

Speaking of making the most of every opportunity, this shot was taken with an 85mm from outside the track. I was down in the infield and had to take a whiz so I figured the B Mod Feature was the best time to cross the track and take care of my business. I had my camera over my shoulder and did a little tweaking of the settings and came up with this shot. I just kind of stumbled on this idea but I want to do a lot more of these this season because I think this night fans perspective is pretty neat.

Stan Meissner

Yo' Chris, thanks for mentioning Wayne Kindness. He stole my virginity in both writing and photos, God love him. Nobody ever forgets their first published work.....

Not sure if anyone else ever did this full time for a living but taking pics used to have its rewards, if you were willing to work for 'em. Give as much as you can to every promoter you come across, take care of the big people in the sport, treat the driver like the special person he is and don't be afraid to SELL your work. Never be afraid to show your best stuff, lose the junk!

Having never really been a part of the digital age it seems it made everyone a shooter so there should be enough to help out anyone who requests it. Hawker was simply asking for a little help, sure don't understand why he's getting flamed. The more publicity for this sport the better, the guy is trying to do something good and deserves props not pounds. Take It Easy.....

Well i can pick up here in Australia at the moment a Sigma 70 to 200mm F2.8 for about $1400 dollars AUD. Equals about 1,247.52 USD.

I used all the manual functions when on the outside but i do get alittle lazy when i focus on the infield.

Night Photos when i started were very poor and now i've worked the setting out and there coming out nicely

Sample

The Nikon is the best and they've got a new updated 70-200mm but they're double the cost of a Sigma and the Sigma 70-200mm is supposed to be a good lens. Another option would be the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8. I used that lens for one season, it doesn't have the VR but you can't use that for racing anyways and you can probably find one for a price close to the Sigma. The only downside of the 70-200 and 80-200's is that a lot of times it's crowded in Victory Lane and you'll have to change lenses. I've got a Tamron 28-105 f2.8 that works alright in those situations. That's a well built lens that actually cost me about the same as the Sigma 70-200. It was recommended by one of the Stock Car shooters but I found it to be slow focusing and a little soft for my taste. Photo gear is always a work in progress.

If you run into that Australian guy who winters up here in Forest Lake tell him we said wish he was here. It's getting down to -10 f tonight and misery loves company! Ask him what's up with those unusual golf techniques.

Stan Meissner

70-200 VR is a super lens it is one one of my bodies 99% of the time and the other bodies I'll run 35mm and 18-70mm nothing like having backups - fast glass is were it's at

PS - can't wait for Vegas

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

In my opinion, you get more action from shots inside the track

THIS IS CAR ATTITUDE NOW!!! with EYES!!!!!

Aaron Berryhill I-30 Speedway 09 Short Track Nationals......All Manual settings, no auto anything, that includes focus too.....

Who the hell is Tim Aylwin? Isn't that the guy from TV? You know - Binford Tools? Nevermind me - love you buddy! Pretty good pic too BTW.......Looks like "Dad" may have taught you a few things :-).....

THIS IS A REAL OUTSIDE SHOT BABY, TRY TO COPY THIS ONE!!! with FLAMES!!!

Mike Arthur shot me at 2009 Turkey Night Grand Prix during practice. NO FLASH!!!!

Member of this message board since 1997

Didn't say it wasn't, just not worth it to invest $1800 in a lens and drive to the track in a $1000 car.

Stan Meissner

We only met Hawker once and that was at the Hoseheads gathering that Duane(no dust)Davis organized and held on the 2nd floor of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame many years ago.Reading this thread reminded me of that day and of course it brings to mind a question : WHAT WOULD DUANE SAY ? Duane's generosity was unequaled and although he would never encourage interfering with a man's livlihood,I think he might have an opinion on this matter as he always had an opinion,and was known to have expressed it a few times on this forum.

Bud's Bride

Agree! My favorites are the ones that clearly show the driver's concentration and determination. It's like staring into the soul of the moment.

I won't argue with how sweet the head on shots that show the driver's eyes are or how important fast glass can be, this was taken with an f1.8 lens, but I think infield night shots are just one aspect of photography. Outside with available light, portraits, right full side shots, they all portray the sport in their own ways. I've been doing my own photography, writing, audio interviews, graphics, websites, even build my own computers and work my own car to make it possible to get the word out about what a great sport this is. When the races are over I retreat to the campground and howl at the moon and try to make a few new friends. It's all part of the overall experience and it's all good.

You guys all do some great work and it would be a pleasure to meet each and every one of you someday. I'll never know it all, have the best equipment money can buy or be the best at any of this but if I can see Sprint Car racing grow up here in Stock Car and Modified country I will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Stan Meissner

No worries Stan. I wasn't arguing at all. I appreciate all the different angles in motorsport photography, along with the creativity and patience it takes to get some of those shots. I was merely voting for what has been historically my favorite. The "unposed" people pics (of racers and crew and such) are actually my ultimate favorite.

Sorry... could only find this badly watermarked one on my computer...

Na; the V-5 I drive to the track was bought for $750 back about ten years ago

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

I've got a couple fast lenses, a Nikon 85mm f1.8 fixed that takes awesome sharp images (think prime lenses), a 135mm f2.8 manual focus that sees a little action early in the evening and a Tamron 28-105mm f2.8. We've got a lot of short tracks, 1/4 & 3/8, up in our area so the 70-200's are a bit of overkill but one of those would be nice for the half miles like Arlington, Jackson and my rare trips to Knoxville.

I've got a 70-300 kit lens that takes surprisingly nice images in available light between about 85mm to 250mm as long as there's enough light I don't have to open it wide up. If one reads the reviews on the low end lenses you'll find that within certain focal range and lighting conditions some of them can produce results comparable to professional glass. As long as one uses them only within their "sweet spot" they can fill a niche in the camera bag of a budget shooter. It's kind of a pain sometimes in the sense that I'm changing lenses or carrying my extra body to accomplish the same objectives but it is what it is for the time being. I do everything on a budget and came close to buying and rebuilding a used 400 watt Norman flash system and fast zoom lens but the budget hit the wall and crashed before I got to the finish line. Maybe I'll do it next year or the year after. I've got a little over seven years until I can retire from the day job and devote my full attention to racing so I'd like to have those pieces in place by then.

Stan Meissner

Stan try the new SB900

I use to use SB800 (with 5 AA) with a battery pack now just a pair of SB900 (last year); I can get two nights just about with the SB900 with the SB800 I could only get one night

The 85mm is sweet along with 35mm f1.8

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"