Taking photos of 'blazingly fast' moving race cars: Hi, everyone! I have been lurking here, for about a month, while searching through the posts. I've hoped to discover some wisdom...

stereofool Loc: NC

Hi, everyone!

I have been lurking here, for about a month, while searching through the posts. I've hoped to discover some wisdom which might help me improve on taking photos while I'm at a race track.

I'm attaching a few shots, that I took, at the 2013 US Grand Prix at COTA. These were taken with a Canon 7D using an EF 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens. Lens in manual mode, because auto usually refocused on the fencing...grrr!

The challenge is...as a spectator you have to shoot through 2 sets of chain-link fencing separated by about 20 feet. These F1 cars are going anywhere from about 60-200mph, depending on which curve you are located.

Does anyone have any similar experiences, and can you share any tips which might allow a higher percentage of relatively 'sharp' photos??

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

stereofool wrote:

Hi, everyone! br br I have been lurking here, for... (show quote)

I think that 1) you need to be at a vantage point of some height where fences are taken out of the equation, 2) get a zoom lens of at least 500mm or better, and 3) try to get a pit pass. If you post your photos in the download form we would be in a better position to critique them.

amehta Loc: Boston

If you use "store original" when you save the pictures, we can see them better, and we can see your settings so we don't have to ask.

What f-stop did you use? Using f/2.8 will give you the shallowest DoF, and make the fence less prominent.

Using a monopod, if you can pan with the car, it will stay sharp and the fence will be blurred even more. And the background will be blurred, which makes the shot even more vivid.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Not much you can do as a spectator about the fencing. I shoot motorcycle races in New Jersey. I'm lucky because I can get above the fencing. I use spot metering and a very narrow auto focus so that the focus remains on the car I'm photographing.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

stereofool wrote:

Hi, everyone! br br I have been lurking here, for... (show quote)

8-) 8-) 8-) Getting on the other side of the fence is next to impossible, unless you know someone @ F-1. Lots of pro shots have been made thru the fence. Whatever the numbers, you seem to have hit them. Shooting race cars head-on is very difficult to accomplish. While your's are not "tack" sharp, they are quite good. The only way to capture the car head-on is to pre-focus to a point where you want to freeze it. Learn by experience and develop your timing. Shot like yours are extremely difficult to obtain but are well worth the effort. GL :lol: :lol: :lol:

stereofool Loc: NC

Thanks for the hints!

Yes, I would love to be able to get 'inside' those fences, but they are usually limited to media professionals.

I was using a monopod...did try panning, but fencing wreaked havoc, often.

I will try to repost the pics.

amehta Loc: Boston

stereofool wrote:

Thanks for the hints!

Yes, I would love to be able to get 'inside' those fences, but they are usually limited to media professionals.

I was using a monopod...did try panning, but fencing wreaked havoc, often.

I will try to repost the pics.

I wouldn't really worry about the fence, it only seems apparent when the picture needs to be reduced for display, and it's only visible against the gray of the road. The cars themselves came out great. I would drop the ISO to 100 if the shutter stays above 1/2000. If you increase the f-stop, the DoF will be deeper, which isn't good, but panning might take care of that if the shutter speed gets to the 1/125 - 1/500 range.

You might want to use a circular polarizer to reduce the glare off the cars.

These are good shots. It's nice that you want them to be better. :-)

Raider Fan Loc: Lake County, IL.

stereofool wrote:

Hi, everyone! br br I have been lurking here, for... (show quote)

These are really good shots! I had the same issues at Road America this past summer. I shot in sports mode as I was having a hell of a time getting the cars to slow down too.g

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Nice job on those shots. You did a really good job, considering the circumstances.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I went to an Indy car race a couple of years ago. The cars are going so fast that you have no chance to compose your shot. The best thing that you can do is make sure that you're focused on the track and shoot a burst as the cars come by. You've got to shoot at high speed. This may mean amping up your ISO as well. This was my first attempt at shooting race cars, so I didn't get anything great, but here are a few.

I think the best way to get photos of the cars is to be among those who arrive early, get into the areas where the cars are prior to the race and get photos of the cars before the race.

stereofool Loc: NC

Thanks for your responses, they are appreciated!!!
Yes, after I uploaded to my computer, I could see some 'grain', so I knew I would need to drop the ISO. The day started out very overcast, so I didn't put my polarizer on. I should have taken the time to put it on after the sun came out :(!
It seemed like I was shooting constantly, throughout the day...quite a few misses, but a fair number of keepers. Hopefully, next year will be even better!

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

stereofool wrote:

Thanks for the hints!

Yes, I would love to be able to get 'inside' those fences, but they are usually limited to media professionals.

I was using a monopod...did try panning, but fencing wreaked havoc, often.

I will try to repost the pics.

What is your cameras continuous shooting speed? The higher the better for this shooting.
I use 8.5 frames per second and it works well for motor sports and birds in flight

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

You are on the right track. Use spot metering ,a fairly high ISO, a high shutter speed if you want to stop action. and of course panning. for us that can't get in front of the fences they will always be a problem. I almost forgot the biggest lens you can afford.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

stereofool wrote:

Thanks for the hints!

Yes, I would love to be able to get 'inside' those fences, but they are usually limited to media professionals.

I was using a monopod...did try panning, but fencing wreaked havoc, often.

I will try to repost the pics.

Yes. Much better. All good shots. :thumbup: :thumbup:

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

stereofool wrote:

...Does anyone have any similar experiences, and can you share any tips which might allow a higher percentage of relatively 'sharp' photos??

The good thing about F1 is that there are plenty of spots on the track where the cars slow down and bunch up, like turns and especially hairpins. Your best vantage points are between the apex and the exit of the turn. Trying to pan as they go by on a straight at high speed is a low percentage activity.

Getting close to the screen, panning and shooting rapid fire is about the best you can do. You can only hope for a fraction of your shots to turn out.

Your shots are really good.