Brands Hatch 27/28 May red neck!

[Dex]

Nope not someone from southern USA - but me!

After taking a couple of thousand shots at druids over the course of the weekend i got home to find i was looking a bit pink...

I was wearing a baseball cap all day but obviously it didn't save theback of my neck - any suggestions for wide brimmed hats that allow you to still get the camera up to view?

I was lucky it was grey on the Sat or i would look like a pork scratching right now...

[Tim Falce]

Got any good pictures though?

[Hubble]

Personally I'd be less worried about your neck, and more worried about the fact you took a couple of thousand pics at Druids...... Brands is a great circuit, with many places to shoot from - why did you not decide to move around a bit? I can't think of much worse than having so many shots, all taken in the same area. Sad.

[Elio]

Personally I'd be less worried about your neck, and more worried about the fact you took a couple of thousand pics at Druids...... Brands is a great circuit, with many places to shoot from - why did you not decide to move around a bit? I can't think of much worse than having so many shots, all taken in the same area. Sad.

I dunno... Provided you have enough focal length then Druids inside and out offers almost every angle around a vehicle you could want?... Provided it`s the car you are after a shot of and not the scenery then I can understand staying around the one corner.

I have to admit, I wouldn`t have thought it was THAT sunny though - you must burn very easily! Maybe you should invest in something to lay across the back of your neck (damp cloth?) for the summer rather than going for the full-blown hat approach?

[Al Weyman]

It was!! You wanna see my face, I was watching from the Paddock end so I'm nicely done on the front.

[Elio]

Oh well, I stand corrected then! I don`t know how you`ll all cope IF the real summer ever gets here though! You should all be thankful it wasn`t one day later - it was cold, blowing a gale, and (for the last race) soaking wet today!

[Al Weyman]

We are just red neck good old boys what can I say. I was actually very fair before I went grey so I have to watch myself in the old current bun. The sun was nipping in and out but at this time of year the UV will still get you and it was kicking up a wind as well. Actually I am amazed we had a dry day as this was the first time since my comeback last September that it has not rained on me and that includes a track day.

[Hubble]

Originally Posted by Elio

I dunno... Provided you have enough focal length then Druids inside and out offers almost every angle around a vehicle you could want?... Provided it`s the car you are after a shot of and not the scenery then I can understand staying around the one corner.

Yes there are lots of shots to be had at Druids, but to me it seems sad that people will not use their imagination (this is a photography forum) to inject some variety into their stuff. Why stay at Druids and take endless shots of cars from the same angles, with the same backgrounds? I could not do that. So many people think you need to fill the frame with the subject, but it's really not necessary...... Clear shots (no fences) can be had from spectator areas at Paddock (with the right focal length as Elio mentions), Druids, inside Surtees and Clearways, plus others that can be shot from the pits (easily accessible on a club meet) - Surtees, Graham Hill Bend etc. And for some shots you don't even need a great focal length - 70-200 mm will suffice. You can use the scenery to enhance the image. Come on people, use your imagination and put a little of yourself into your images......

[Dex]

Originally Posted by falcemob

Got any good pictures though?

Well i saw a bloke driving a car that looks just like yours...





As for moving around.... I was shooting very nearly every race that was one over the weekend, which soon adds up to a lot of shots even at just a couple of each car. I've found that Druids allows me to get a good variety of angles and action. It is also convenient for me to head back to the paddock and catch up with the drivers when the races I'm not covering are on. If I'm over the far side it makes it much harder to just pop back for a cuppa so easily

[Al Weyman]

Your just lazy Dex or you could not drag yourself away from the CTRCC hospitality suite :-)

[Tim Falce]

Excellent pictures Dex, did you get one of my mate in the blue dtype going off?

[ScottDay]

Or anypics of the formula fords...1600s....?

[Stephen Green]

Dex/Al, as another one who burns very easily, try P20. It's an alcohol based product which you apply after showering in the morning. It protects all day and doesn't need re-applying even after swimming (Oh, that was Saturday wasn't it ). The only time you need to re-apply it is after washing as soap gets it out of the skin.

When you put it on it goes sticky as it dries, but after that you would never know you were wearing it. An added bonus is that unlike other sun creams, when your skin gets hot P20 doesn't run and make your eyes sting.

Ok, back to the topic.....Nice piccies

[Hubble]

Originally Posted by ScottDay

Or anypics of the formula fords...1600s....?

I was there for www.ff1600.co.uk both days, specifically for the FF2000's and FF1600's

[Al Weyman]

I was going to say your face matched your overalls Stephen but I thought I had better refrain from the temptation of a cheap gibe :-)

[Dex]

Originally Posted by ScottDay

Or anypics of the formula fords...1600s....?

Yes! Lots!

any particular cars you are interested in?

Here's Mark Pearce in the RF81 (same model as senna won the series in) coming through Druids


and now Mark decides to do a senna-esque move on David Owen (ok - his brakes failed...)


Notice that the only guy with quicker reactions than me is the marshal who already has his yellow flag waving! Awesome performance from those guys all weekend

I think i'm going to have to get myself a light coloured aussie style wide brim hat (without corks!) to protect my delicate constitution

[Snapper Baz]

A whole weekend at Driuds-very sad indeed! After missing the biggest fireball in many years at Donington cos' I was in the paddock shooting a presentation I did feel a bit peeved. Took Sunday off for a change a cooked dinner, did some gardening and wrote some race reports and watched some NASCAR....suits me sir!! Got Britcar at Brands on the GP circuit in the next few weeks...might try the whole weekend at Druids though

[jonbryant]

Baz, we all know you were actually in the bar... or the cafe...

[Snapper Baz]

If I was on your sort of money Mr. new cannon cameraman I would have been!

[Dex]

I didn't quite spend *the whole weekend at druids* there was quite a while spent enjoying the hospitality of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club - as well as bimbling round the paddock chatting to people about their cars.

But yes most of my shots were taken at Druids - personally I find it gives a good amount of action while still allowing decent shots of cars from several good angles.

Of course I'm not suggesting that everyone does it - but then I wouldn't have the front to slate someone I don't know for the way that they choose to shoot motorsport. Clearly there are some people on here who are good enough to not only take perfect pictures themselves but also to criticise the way others like to work.
Thank you to everyone who offered advice about the sun - and to those who would rather appreciate the product than criticise the method

[scott19]

Dex- Any of classic formula ford 2000 number 19?

[ScottDay]

JamunT2 car number 2 pics please....or any of them to be precise. Not fussed...cheers

[Hubble]

Originally Posted by Dex

Clearly there are some people on here who are good enough to not only take perfect pictures themselves but also to criticise the way others like to work.
Thank you to everyone who offered advice about the sun - and to those who would rather appreciate the product than criticise the method

Dex, don't take my comments too personally, you seem to view them as critical, rather than constructive......I'm merely trying to point out that it is a missed opportunity to get to know the circuit, and to explore different angles and shots that are possible. And I am far from perfect, but by listening to criticism from others along the way, and acting upon their points, I have greatly improved my photography since I started 2 years ago. Even the best photographers can find fault in their work, it's a continual learning process. Like I say, don't take it too personally - enjoy your work, but always be prepared to try something different.

Best regards

Phil

[Alfaholic]

The one thing that surprised me in the original post which noone else has commented on is this :

Originally Posted by Dex

After taking a couple of thousand shots.....

Why did you need to take so many? If you're a professional I can understand it, but for personal use this seems a bit excessive.

Has digital photography made us lazy in that we take loads of shots in the hope that a few turn out OK instead of actually thinking about the shot and taking fewer but with more good results as in the days of film? I've stood next to "amateurs" (with better equipment than some pros!) who just fire off a volley of shots as cars pass and never move for the whole session.

Anyhow, back to the meeting, and my shots are here for Saturday and here for Sunday - mostly taken during qualifying.

[Al Weyman]

Ouch thats a nasty whack on the n/s wing of me old chevy after I was Farberized, hey I can't download them whats going on