Oh, where should one stand...

[kybo]

...at Donington Park.

I'm going to the Superleague Formula this weekend and have only had a couple of hours around the circuit.

Can anyone tell me where the best areas are to park myself? I like coppice (as they come over the brow) and the esses (looking up dunlop straight) but not really been anywhere else on track. Where can I expect good action/o.taking shots?

Am I best to take a small stool or similar to sit on or will I look like a tart? Should I just sit on the floor?

BTW - I'll be inside the wire so any other tips you'd like to bestow on a media newbie would be gratefully received. Please pull all the stops out for me as I really don't want to mess it up.

Anyone else going for that matter?

Thanks heaps,

Scott

[DKMsport]

Anywhere between the spitfire and the giant sparkplug. Only been to donnington once but sat on the banking there almost all day and got some stunning shotsnof the little formula renaults crashing.

[havoc]

For spills and spins, the banking inside of Craner / Old Hairpin is the best. Can get some good head-ons as they come out of Hollywood into Craner as well.

For panning shots the inside of Redgate and Hollywood is excellent, but watch for the dayglo orange panels every-so-often opposite you!

With the right lens you can get some nice action shots from the outside of Redgate looking back up the pit straight.

Finally, from the granstands opposite the pit-entrance you can get some decent shots as they enter the chicane (National Circuit), or as they round the hairpin (GP circuit).


Everywhere else is either too far away or too fenced-up for good pics, IMHO.

[kybo]

Guys,

fantastc, thnaks.

Jotting points down now.

Scott

[ETA: making notes while typing is not conducive to good spelling ]

Edited by kybo on Tuesday 26th August 19:08

[autofocus]

Scott,

Shooting as Media is loads easier as you will have found out at the Goldtrack events at Silverstone.

Donington is a great track and if your careful with your backgrounds you can get some really good shots at a few different points depending on your lenses.

I shot there a few weeks ago and found my favourite point to be opposite the pit entrance as the cars come through the esses (this location should work for either the National or the Grand Prix circuit).





You can also get some good panning shots on the run down to the craner curves.



other good locations are around Coppice and the run under the bridge by the spark plug.



Above all have a great day, and try a few different locations to get the shots you are happy with.

Regards

Tim.

ps Thanks for the e-mail re: Free tickets, can't make it unfortunately as I have loads on at the moment which I am trying to clear before the LMS event at Silverstone in a few weeks.

Edited by autofocus on Wednesday 27th August 18:43

[GetCarter]

You may or may not be interested in a vid (from the back of my R500) round the GP circuit

Some dodgy heel/toe moments, but you can see how swift the little bucket was (well compared to an S1 Elise and an E30 M3 anyway):

http://www.stevecarter.com/R500/backdony.WMV

Craner is where the action is, but pics would be better taken at Redgate IMHO

Have fun

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 27th August 19:52

[andyquantum]

Go by Starkeys on the track side and you'll get some brilliant shots of cars coming out of the Old Hairpin and up the hill. This might be where youll find the most action depending on the weather.

Further up just past the barriers coming up to Macleans is also good.

Goddards opposite the pit grandstand isnt bad, and behind the fence next to the petrol station at the Melbourne Loop is good for slow cornering shots

Craners is alright, but you need to be quick, and it's a tight angle if you're stood where the Spitfire was.

I'd say yes to taking something to sit on, but also a monopod will come in handy

Make sure you have a wander around the pits if you can get in

[smiller]

From memory, I don't believe you can spectate at the exit of Coppice any more (which is a f!!cking travesty).

So, I'd go for the inside of Redgate on the run down to Hollywood, the banking opposite Foggy Esses, and (with a long lens) at the bottom of the Melbourne Loop to get pics as they crest the rise and start braking.

[kybo]

Wow,

with this amount of choice its a shame I can't make both days - i'm gonna be flitting from one place to the next.

I'm glad some of you mentioned opposite the pit entrance and the esses. I've taken there and liked the locations. I'm definitely gonna go round Craner/old hairpin/starkeys - not shot there before and it sounds like fun

Will try the inside of Redgate/Hollywood - stood on outside of Redgate and wasn't too keen.

Is there any access at foggy esses (outside the track) so I can pan right to left and catch them as they disappear round the esses, towards melbourne loop?

What can I say but a massive thank you to all you posters

Oh, Steve, the video - thanks for that; I watched it as it was good to see where the dips and crests are in the track (BTW, had the Elise and the BMW broken down )


ETA:

Thanks,
Scott (in my haste to post this I forgot to sign off )

Edited by kybo on Thursday 28th August 22:10

[andyquantum]

kybo said:

Is there any access at foggy esses (outside the track) so I can pan right to left and catch them as they disappear round the esses, towards melbourne loop?

I'd presume they're doing the full circuit, so they'd come down the Dunlop straight, turn left then right and off towards Melbourne

There's one place where the fencing stops and lower armco begins that you can get to, but there's usually an ambulance or recovery vehicle hanging around there as well so be careful! It's right above the tunnel anyway, so worth a look

[kybo]

andyquantum said:

kybo said:

Is there any access at foggy esses (outside the track) so I can pan right to left and catch them as they disappear round the esses, towards melbourne loop?

I'd presume they're doing the full circuit, so they'd come down the Dunlop straight, turn left then right and off towards Melbourne

There's one place where the fencing stops and lower armco begins that you can get to, but there's usually an ambulance or recovery vehicle hanging around there as well so be careful! It's right above the tunnel anyway, so worth a look

Yes the map I've been given by the media office suggests full circuit. I'm inside the fence so I hope to try here. I hope the emergency/recovery vehicle doesn't get in the way - we'll see. Thanks for the information.

Scott

[andyquantum]

I forgot something! Are you taking your car in as well? If you are you can drive around most of the inside and outside of the circuit and sometimes it's interesting to see if you can get from Craners to Start/Finish before the cars do. Anyway - on the outside of the circuit by the Old Hairpin is another good place, as is actually on the ledge of Starkeys Bridge by the pub. You'll need a fair bit of zoom for this one though, but it's worth it

One of the best photo's I've seen was taken from the entry to the O/H, had the cars going up the hill and a plane taking off in the background. Whether it happened that way or was suitably enhanced I dont know, but it was a really good pic

[kybo]

One more quick question.

I have just been offered a 120-300 F2.8 lens to try (on his 450D). Where's the best places to be with that lens? I imagine I need to get a bit closer to the action than with my 50-500? I think I'll be fine at the esses and opposite the pit entrance but where else, please?

Thanks again,

Scott

[havoc]

kybo said:

One more quick question.

I have just been offered a 120-300 F2.8 lens to try (on his 450D). Where's the best places to be with that lens? I imagine I need to get a bit closer to the action than with my 50-500? I think I'll be fine at the esses and opposite the pit entrance but where else, please?

Thanks again,

Scott

With the 450D's Mp count you could pseudo digitally-zoom after the event by cropping. I find 300 is JUST enough inside craners / old hairpin, and I think 120 might be borderline TOO MUCH inside redgate/hollywood.

[Famous Graham]

You can perch on the wall just between the last corner and the start/finish straight as well which, depending on your lenses, gives you quite a few options.







I quite liked the first corner as well, for bodyrolling stuff





And people just generally stuffing it up

[kybo]

Thanks a million to all posters (the pics help put the comments into perspective).

I'm off there in half hour or so and have all me notes (mentally and written) based on everything you've said. Should be a stonking day!!

Cheers

Scotty

[andyquantum]

So.....


I'm guessing it was foggy first thing and then rained?

How'd you get on?

[kybo]

andyquantum said:

So.....


I'm guessing it was foggy first thing and then rained?

Spot on, Andy. Fog held things up a lot in the morning - got very wet in the afternoon.

The gear - yeah, sorry. I had a little go with the 120-300 and 450D - I didn't realise my mate was coming too and planned on using it himself!!. I really liked his set-up. The 450D, IMO is a huge step up from the 350D, not just in terms of quality but in it's useful features (the screen is mint) and the way it works/feels. The lens is awesome. I was looking at the Sig 70-200 F2.8 but I may have to save a little harder, to get that extra reach!!

Didn't do a deal of movement round the track, staying on and around the pits (in melbourne loop/Goddards/start straight area) but had a really good time. I was loving the free food and drink - people that saw/heard me must've been thinking 'media virgin' . Didn't care I was loving it

Scott

[DKMsport]

Lucky, Lucky man, I'd like to be more than just someone in the crowd with a camera at some point.

[andyquantum]

Shame about the weather, I'm probably 20 or so miles away and guessed it couldnt have been too different

If you go again, do try and get to the Old Hairpin, I got this (which I'm still really proud of!) from just next to the bridge looking into the corner on a 300mm lens