high speed photography

[Kushka4paws]

This weekend we are going to a motorcycle track. I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to take some good pics. What shutter speed, film speed (800?)
I would really appreciate it!

[benny]

Well, I'm not exactly familiar with the Minolta Htsi plus...

For racing photography, you usually need to ensure you have good paning techniques.

As for equipment and settings...

Higher ISO rating will allow you to pull up the shutter speed.
Second Curtain Sync will allow you to use fill flash effectively.
Use the longer end of your lens to compress the perspective and possibily blur out the background.
Choice of location will ensure you get good photo opportunities and composition.
Pre compose your shots and wait for the golden moment.

Hope that helps. Have fun and show us pictures!!!

Cheers,

[Kushka4paws]

thanks for the info. If they come out I will post them! I am still learning all the in & outs of photography.

[Tony7683]

I've read that the best thing to do when you get there is to look where people who have the high dollar equipment set up, as there's usually at least one semi-pro to pro at a racing event. This way you can get a feel for where the best places to shoot are. I can tell you from experience that you want to try and look for the places where they attain lowest speed, usually a hairpin turn or a chicane. Also, make sure and find out which way they will be going, because this determines the side of the track that you will be on to shoot.
As was said in previous replies, you will need sufficient panning ability and good vertical stabilization for anything slower than was suggested.

Here's an example of where to put yourself on a hairpin turn, depending on the direction of the race:
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL626/2385072/4947670/63820408.jpg

Hope this helps!

Tony

[alanhill]

An obvious point perhaps, but look out for the weather conditions. I always check the forecast before any outdoor photography (as you may know, the English are obsessive about the weather). If there is strong sunlight, it will affect your choice of position - the old rule 'keep the sun behind you' makes things easy - but you are allowed to break it if you wish. If there is cloud the light will be duller, so you may need higher ISO to get a reasonably fast shutter speed.
Remember you don't only have to photograph the racers: the mechanics, the marshalls, the crowd and the machines themselves are all possible subjects - use your eyes (and I think I'd take ear plugs too).
Good luck :)

Alan

[Kev]

Hey there,

i recently went to the moto gp at donnington, though it was overly sunny there was enough light to get down to a shutter of 1/125 but had to stick with 400 iso, this is how my shots came out....using a kodak DX6490

(the first was over 400 yards away)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dawn.vernon/Bike/Motogp_0004.JPG

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dawn.vernon/Bike/Neilwheel.JPG

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dawn.vernon/Bike/rosilead.JPG

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dawn.vernon/Bike/rossi.JPG

[benny]

Pretty good. But a smaller depth of field and moving closer to the fence will probably work better fo you. It'll make the fence even less visible.

Cheers,

[Kev]

you cant get any closer to the fence, theres a barrier stoping you, that was the big problem cuz the cam kept focusing on the fence aswell :( how do you change depth of field ?