Rally photos - Newbie!

[ivision]

Hi guys...just registered with this forum, new to DSLR...have some shots from the weekend. Hope to learn alot from here!

[aim54x]

Nice images, shame about the giant watermarks! Welcome to DSLRusers.com, your one of the few that have managed to get your location up straight away.

Hello all...just registered here and relatively new to DSLR. Can't believe there are so many other Melburnians on here...for the most part I'm focusing on motorsport photography...its my passion but occassionally I will shoot other things as well. Equipment is basic like my budget Canon 400d with 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS lens. I'd like to get a wide angle lens but have not idea what to get and $$$ is a bit of an issue as well...i've got a few shots online at

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f322/ivision84/

I hope to learn alot from this forum.

Cheers Craig

Dont worry about that wide angle, there will be plenty of advice, and possible chances to play with a few (if you go to Melbourne meets).

Just keep posting and asking questions and you will learn, that is a guarantee.

cheers

[DebT]

Hi welcome I have certainly learn a lot from the group so just keep asking questions
nice shots - you were obviously up wind !
I'd be cropping most of the foreground off #1 as it adds nothing and detracts from the dust cloud and car - but I do like the wheel movement.
With #2 I like the foreground focal point for a differnt angle but not sure if having it smack in the centre works - try cropping some of the bottom ?? and perhaps the right ??
Remembering these are just my opinions ...there is no right or wrong
I have Canon 1.6 also (400d &40D) but choose a cheapie Sigma 10-22 as a super wide and having a lot of fun with it - have a good look around at different review and comparison sites as there is quite a lot of difference between lenses with respect to distorion and vingetting. I find that while the Sigma does the converging vertical thing it's nothing PS cant correct .

I suggest adding a separate topic under 'equipment' or 'Canon' with the subject aimed at 'wide angle advice' - you may get more responses than combining your question with a photo C&C Have fun
DebT PS - think your watermark is a little over zealous

[Ben.bb]

Love number 1, needs a bit of croping but great shot.

[team piggy]

I like no 1 & 3.

No 2's focus seems to have tracked elsewhere. A good tip here is to have continuos focus set and to pan with the focus point on the car from some way away, reel it in and shoot when your ready

On another note, I notice you are in the run-off zone of the cars travel, it looks to be about a "6 left" corner which is fairly high speed for the 4wd cars. Please do remember that these cars can run off in a loss of control situation and would be upon you in seconds.
I would suggets practicing 2 eyed shooting (both eyes open) when doing this type of work as it can save your life in certain situations!

(Yes, I speak from years of experience of dirt motorsport events!)

For your first work it's pretty good, keep it up Good wheel blur too.

[bwhinnen]

Number 1 is the shot here, good sense of movement, the dust, and there is somewhere for the car to keep going.

Number 2, not sure if it was intentional (I will assume it was) but doesn't work for me, if it was a hinkelstein I could understand it but a stump just doesn't have the same impact.

Number 3, this is a classical style of image, however beware your background, the lightness from a car? in the same line as the helmet really takes away from what was a great image. I think shooting from the other angle may have been a bit better, the roof leading to the helmets and hopefully a more even background to blur and be a contrasting shade to the helmets.

Really good work though, keep it up!

I do echo the comments above, always be well aware of where you are standing. I've learnt over the years not to trust anyone behind the wheel of a car when I'm standing in the open (or behind armco for that matter). Bikes are easier to predict in their crashes, cars on the other hand, can and will go absolutely anywhere, and they have the advantage

Cheers
Brett

[ivision]

I like no 1 & 3.

On another note, I notice you are in the run-off zone of the cars travel, it looks to be about a "6 left" corner which is fairly high speed for the 4wd cars. Please do remember that these cars can run off in a loss of control situation and would be upon you in seconds.
I would suggets practicing 2 eyed shooting (both eyes open) when doing this type of work as it can save your life in certain situations!

(Yes, I speak from years of experience of dirt motorsport events!)

For your first work it's pretty good, keep it up Good wheel blur too.

I know what you mean, few weeks ago I almost wore a formula Vee at a hillclimb...and on the weekend fortunately this Escort hit the tree in front of me!

[ivision]

Thanks alot for the comments...will take them all onboard! As for #2, the stump was in my line of fire for most of the day and even though its just a stump its all I could use at the time to try something different.

[team piggy]

On another note on being in the line of fire.

Make sure you always sign in for Media credentials or passes.
Only reason I say this is there has been a couple of local state rallies lately that have almost shut down a stage because of an unauthorised photographer in the firing line, or not wearing proper fluoro etc.

Getting a stage shut down will not win you any popularity contests And can pretty well scar you as a motorsport photographer for life.. As a few have found out, the reputation sticks!