JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

The 106th running of the Cambridge Grand National Power Boat races were held yesterday on the Choptank River in Cambridge, MD. I and a Camera Club friend went out to do some high speed photography. In four hours, together we shot almost 1000 pictures. We were both using the continuous high speed setting; my Canon 60D with a Tamron 70-300mm lens was set at 1/3000 shutter speed Priority, ISO 1000, & Auto Focus. Because of the area safety restrictions these two shots were made at about 200 - 300 yards, a stretch for my 300 mm which was set around 250 mm which seems to give me better results. My friend was using a Nikon full frame (don't know what model) with a 600 mm zoom and had his speed set at 1/5000; both of us were hand holding the cameras.

The race meet continues from 12:00 to 4:00 today, but the weather isn't looking too good (rain) and maybe more wind.

Both photos have been cropped, PSE14's Auto haze & Auto sharpening applied.

IMG 5152 shows the two most recent New Jersey Speed Skiffs National Champion boats. In the foreground #JS-1 was the 2015 Champion and the green JS-23 in the background was the 2014 winner. In this racing class the National Champion gets to renumber the boat as JS-1 for the following year; JS-23 was JS-1 last year. The boats have come a long way since the class was first recognized and limited to four cylinder 135 cu.in. gas engines; they now run either 254 or 302 cu. in. gas engines, no super chargers are allowed. The boats now run in the 80 MPH range.

Image 4812-1 is a larger Hydroplane style boat (not sure what class) rounding a mark throwing a huge rooster tail behind it. I don't know much more about these boats.

(Download)


(Download)

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Interesting pictures. Focus is off on subject matter looks like focus was more on the foreground water? But I still like the action, got any more to post!

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Richard, thanks for looking and commenting; I agree with your focus comments. The first shot was taken @ 12:54 in the afternoon at 1/1200 before I increased the shutter speed to the 1/3000. Last year the wind was almost negligible and the 1/1200 was OK. This year there was probably 8-10 Kn of wind by the time the races started; with the chop and the river traffic it was hard to keep the focus on the small boats, and the boats were further away. I should have realized that sooner--maybe next year. I think I'll also have to give some consideration to a 1.4X extender. By 2:41 when the Jersey Skiff picture was taken the winds were 13-14 knots and the chop had increased, even without white caps that's enough to make my 13,000 lb boat move around. I still have the originals on the card so maybe I can find the exact focus point. I do have more pictures and will post them as I get the reviewing & PP done.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

You certainly caught the action here! Nice job. Those boats have some serious horsepower! Bet it was really fun to watch!

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Also you might consider using a mono pod or a tripod and depending on what lenses you have use image stabilization/VR in pano mode too!

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Treepusher,

Thank you for viewing; I'm glad you enjoyed them.

The "on the water" venue is my favorite photography location; it enables me to combine my two favorite pastimes, boating & photography.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Richard,

Neither mono pods or tripods seem to help on boats because they just transmit all the boat's motion to the camera. VR was on but vibration wasn't the problem; the boat was anchored and the engine was off. The movement comes from two sources, the roll & pitch of the boat we were shooting from and the bouncing of the subject boats at about 80MPH that hopefully is counteracted by the 1/3000 shutter speed, but it takes a Higher Power than I to calm the wind and flatten the sea!

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Yes you're correct I just did not think along those lines.