Discussion
I didn't know whether to post here or in the Le Mans subgroup...
I'll be attending LM this year and wanted some tips/advice from photographers about photographing LM. I'll be using a full frame dslr...
It looks like LM is more fenced than the 2nd tier UK circuits I'm used to photographing. Is access good? What focal length ranges will I be typically shooting at? Any tips/ideas about particular locations that are good?
Edited to add : any advice about shooting at night with a long lens? (Other than expect a very low 'keeper' rate!)
Thanks in advance.
I'll be attending LM this year and wanted some tips/advice from photographers about photographing LM. I'll be using a full frame dslr...
It looks like LM is more fenced than the 2nd tier UK circuits I'm used to photographing. Is access good? What focal length ranges will I be typically shooting at? Any tips/ideas about particular locations that are good?
Edited to add : any advice about shooting at night with a long lens? (Other than expect a very low 'keeper' rate!)
Thanks in advance.
Edited by tangerine_sedge on Tuesday 30th April 11:10
My two sons and I have done a fair bit of photography at LeMans over the last few years - all with FF DSLR and (usually) a long lens
There are a few spots that you can see over the fence while standing at ground level, but not many, so you'll need to seek them out. We always camp at Porsche Curves, which has its own viewing embankment. The bank at Indianapolis is high enough to see over and there's also a couple of places just short of the start finish straight where you can get a good shot through a gate (see my 2018 album)
Night shots are difficult - its bad enough that there's low light, but the damn cars won't stay still for long enough to get a decent shot....
Night practice on Thursday is useful, as you can access any of the grandstands for a shot over the fence
Have a look at my Flickr albums - hopefully you'll see the quality has improved each year as my technique has improved
2018 - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmiGE56A
2017 - https://flic.kr/s/aHskXMfSLZ
2016 - https://flic.kr/s/aHskCXhfKR
There are a few spots that you can see over the fence while standing at ground level, but not many, so you'll need to seek them out. We always camp at Porsche Curves, which has its own viewing embankment. The bank at Indianapolis is high enough to see over and there's also a couple of places just short of the start finish straight where you can get a good shot through a gate (see my 2018 album)
Night shots are difficult - its bad enough that there's low light, but the damn cars won't stay still for long enough to get a decent shot....
Night practice on Thursday is useful, as you can access any of the grandstands for a shot over the fence
Have a look at my Flickr albums - hopefully you'll see the quality has improved each year as my technique has improved
2018 - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmiGE56A
2017 - https://flic.kr/s/aHskXMfSLZ
2016 - https://flic.kr/s/aHskCXhfKR
Sound advice and great pictures from Nigel. The golden hour ones really stand out above the others.
For night shots, I'd recommend lowering compensation exposure so night looks like night and you can get a faster shutter speed for the same aperture/ISO.
Also, move around if you can and get shots from everywhere. Some of my favourites have been taken from the Big Wheel or the Container Bar just past Dunlop rather than track side.
FWIW Here's my album of varying quality/experience. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcross/albums/721576...
For night shots, I'd recommend lowering compensation exposure so night looks like night and you can get a faster shutter speed for the same aperture/ISO.
Also, move around if you can and get shots from everywhere. Some of my favourites have been taken from the Big Wheel or the Container Bar just past Dunlop rather than track side.
FWIW Here's my album of varying quality/experience. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcross/albums/721576...
After looking at your pics, I'll be taking :
400/f5.6
17-40/f4
50/1.8 - i take this everywhere!
X1.4 tc
I might also take :
200/f2.8
I recognise there's a gap in the coverage 50-400 (if I dont take the 200), but in my experience you can either get close to cars and use your legs to zoom, or you need reach! Although, it is an opportunity to justify a quality standard zoom to my kit to handle 24-70...hmmmm
400/f5.6
17-40/f4
50/1.8 - i take this everywhere!
X1.4 tc
I might also take :
200/f2.8
I recognise there's a gap in the coverage 50-400 (if I dont take the 200), but in my experience you can either get close to cars and use your legs to zoom, or you need reach! Although, it is an opportunity to justify a quality standard zoom to my kit to handle 24-70...hmmmm
tangerine_sedge said:
After looking at your pics, I'll be taking :
400/f5.6
17-40/f4
50/1.8 - i take this everywhere!
X1.4 tc
I might also take :
200/f2.8
I recognise there's a gap in the coverage 50-400 (if I dont take the 200), but in my experience you can either get close to cars and use your legs to zoom, or you need reach! Although, it is an opportunity to justify a quality standard zoom to my kit to handle 24-70...hmmmm
Take the 200 f2.8 - you'll need it for over-the-fence shots at night, probably with the 1.4TC. You're right about using your legs to zoom, but that doesn't work if you're already at the fence!400/f5.6
17-40/f4
50/1.8 - i take this everywhere!
X1.4 tc
I might also take :
200/f2.8
I recognise there's a gap in the coverage 50-400 (if I dont take the 200), but in my experience you can either get close to cars and use your legs to zoom, or you need reach! Although, it is an opportunity to justify a quality standard zoom to my kit to handle 24-70...hmmmm
tangerine_sedge said:
Cheers, looks like I'll be taking the bigger camera bag...
When I went to LeMans in 2017, the contents of the three camera bags was worth about 10 times the value of the car (which probably says more about the car...). Unless you're really short for space, just take everything and then pick and choose on the basis of what you need for the next walk outNigel_O said:
tangerine_sedge said:
Cheers, looks like I'll be taking the bigger camera bag...
When I went to LeMans in 2017, the contents of the three camera bags was worth about 10 times the value of the car (which probably says more about the car...). Unless you're really short for space, just take everything and then pick and choose on the basis of what you need for the next walk outI've not been since 2013 so things may have changed a little. Raised area around Porsche Curves used to be great. Inside the circuit on the approach to Tetre Rouge is good and a nice opportunity for panning and glowing brakes. Actually all the up that side back towards the pit area is good, especially at night looking back up the circuit toward the dunlop bridge with the esses spilling down the hill towards you. Makes for good long exposures too if that is your bag. I'm jealous!
Definitely take the 2.8 tele, It will be ideal.
Definitely take the 2.8 tele, It will be ideal.
Gad-Westy said:
I've not been since 2013 so things may have changed a little. Raised area around Porsche Curves used to be great. Inside the circuit on the approach to Tetre Rouge is good and a nice opportunity for panning and glowing brakes. Actually all the up that side back towards the pit area is good, especially at night looking back up the circuit toward the dunlop bridge with the esses spilling down the hill towards you. Makes for good long exposures too if that is your bag. I'm jealous!
Definitely take the 2.8 tele, It will be ideal.
I'm looking forward to trying some of those longer night time exposures. I'm not taking a tripod or monopod, so I'm going to buy myself a gorillapod, and hope there are suitable places to lash it.Definitely take the 2.8 tele, It will be ideal.
As for shooting locations.....The track is heavily fenced on the corners that offer the greatest photo opportunities and normally with two layers of fencing which makes shooting 'through' them impossible.
However, there's several spots where the second layer of fencing has holes for the press guys to shoot through. Position your lens close to the first layer and you can grab some nice stuff through those 'holes'.
For the last two years, there's been a lens sized hole in the fence just before the Dunlop bridge. This requires a quick scoot over the three wire retaining fence.
There are various suggestions that a bottle of whiskey and a carton of fags gets a blind eye turned at a few marshal posts but this isn't a theory that I've yet to test!
A few of mine (D7200 and mainly using a Sigma 150-600)
From last year: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenwbates/albums...
And 2017: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenwbates/albums...
Enjoy!
However, there's several spots where the second layer of fencing has holes for the press guys to shoot through. Position your lens close to the first layer and you can grab some nice stuff through those 'holes'.
For the last two years, there's been a lens sized hole in the fence just before the Dunlop bridge. This requires a quick scoot over the three wire retaining fence.
There are various suggestions that a bottle of whiskey and a carton of fags gets a blind eye turned at a few marshal posts but this isn't a theory that I've yet to test!
A few of mine (D7200 and mainly using a Sigma 150-600)
From last year: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenwbates/albums...
And 2017: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenwbates/albums...
Enjoy!
tangerine_sedge said:
I'm looking forward to trying some of those longer night time exposures. I'm not taking a tripod or monopod, so I'm going to buy myself a gorillapod, and hope there are suitable places to lash it.
To be honest, I'd take a tripod too. You'll struggle to find many places suitable for the Goillapod. Tripod is a pain to haul round but you'll get far more flexibility.
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