Historic Sportscar Racing @ VIR

HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
edited April 2, 2007 in Sports
This past weekend the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) series visited Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, VA. I rode down Saturday morning to 1) enjoy the racing, 2) test my new lens, 3) experiment with exclusive RAW capture (and Capture NX), and 4) shoot from inside the fence while wearing a snazzy hi-viz green media vest.

First up, a walk through the paddock. HSR events usually feature a large variety of cars, including some fairly current, recently retired machines.

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And Porsches, lots of Porsches. The archetypal Sportscar.

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Even Porsches can have problems

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Although engine and tranny problems are minor compared to this . . .

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(The driver was fine and raced another car for the rest of the weekend)

More later . . .
Tim

Comments

  • oldtimeoldtime Registered Users Posts: 331 Major grins
    edited March 29, 2007
    sweet shots there keep them coming--I have a bunch more to go thru and will post some more this weekend
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  • HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2007
    Some action

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    Tim
  • TristanPTristanP Registered Users Posts: 1,107 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2007
    Love that blue Porsche shot. thumb.gif Very nice pit shots, too. Which lens were you testing? How'd you do inside the fence for the first time? Any issues?
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  • HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2007
    TristanP wrote:
    Love that blue Porsche shot. thumb.gif Very nice pit shots, too. Which lens were you testing? How'd you do inside the fence for the first time? Any issues?

    Thank you.

    This was my first outing with my new Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VR lens, which I used for everything shown here, apart from the obvious wide-angle shots.

    As for getting inside the fence, I asked. :D I sent an email to VIR's PR director, explaining my situation--aspiring freelancer, no media credentials--and including a link to some photos I had made at VIR in the recent past. He granted me a pass, with the understanding that he was only able to do so because this was a small event. I'll need the traditional letter of recommendation from a publication in order to snag a pass for a larger professional event.

    No real issues, other than me being rusty and this being the first time I've shot cars in quite a while--it's surprisingly different than shooting bikes.
    Tim
  • HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2007
    A few more, then I'll leave y'all alone. :D

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    Tim
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited April 1, 2007
    Very nice.

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    And it looks like you've got a handle on your panning technique, I really like this one, especially the lifting front wheel, great sense of force and motion.

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    Sid.
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  • crgphotographercrgphotographer Registered Users Posts: 70 Big grins
    edited April 2, 2007
    Some fantastic shots there... The beauty that is the Porsche 911 (in any form) is just superb.

    Great work!
    craig coomans | crgphotography | automotive | landscape | motorsport | weddings
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  • HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited April 2, 2007
    Thank you, gentlemen.
    Tim
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,951 moderator
    edited April 2, 2007
    New glass is treating you very well. You have an eye for machines in motion thumb.gif
    Erik
    moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]

  • HarveyMushmanHarveyMushman Registered Users Posts: 550 Major grins
    edited April 2, 2007
    DoctorIt wrote:
    New glass is treating you very well. You have an eye for machines in motion thumb.gif


    Thank you.

    I'm certainly pleased with the lens. The fast AF allows me to get shots I just couldn't do with my old lens, not with any consistency anyway. And this on my slow little D70; it must be really special on a fast pro body.

    The only drawbacks are weight and the VR's noticeable effect on battery life. But I can build more muscle and carry more batteries. :D
    Tim
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