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Was fortunate enough to get my backside trackside for the McLaren F1 promo day at Mt Panorama.

Was excellent to see and hear the F1 car rocket around the track.

Anyways, a few images for those who couldn't make it.



I chose the 15mm FE for this as I wanted to give the impression of the track falling away to the side. I was a bit worried about the car deforming also, but it looks ok.



With only 1 car to shoot, it's hard to fill a frame and have a 'point' to the image. I was careful to get the lines of 'The Esses' down through this image, which lead to the car. I think.



I wanted an image to show the 'rural uniqueness' of Mt Panorama, and this was the best angle to could come up with in 5 laps. This car is so utterly amazingly fast, that the difference between shooting V8's and it, are chalk and cheese.



Snappy portrait of Michael Vettas. Using SB800, triggered by PW, held about the ten o'clock position, F22 I think, 12-24mm.

ANyways, hope you enjoy them, I had fun taking them, and THATS what counts!

If only photos had sound. Awesome shots and couldn't pick a favourate. Shame Butten didn't bring his Veyron to have a spin around the track, but I believe he sold it anyway.

Allan,

Wonderful work. I love 'em all.

Raskill wrote:This car is so utterly amazingly fast, that the difference between shooting V8's and it, are chalk and cheese.

Yep.

And people wonder why I say the V8s are slow.

One of the primary attractions, for me, of the F1s is their dynamics. The way the cars accelerate, brake and handle is beyond amazing, and it makes any other form of motor sport seem like a couple of horses going for a leisurely trot.

Thanks folks. It was odd to shoot so few shots for the day, two hours, maybe 150 shots. Like i said, with 5 laps for each driver in the F1 car, it was hard to get 'THAT' shot.

The helicopter certainly found it easier to keep up with the V8 also:



When the F1 car came around, he would fly further back, obviously shooting wider.

nice shots! whats the deal with trackside? do you just buy a ticket and there various sections where you can go?

the esses look like a good possie and I reckon it would peak hour to get a prime spot there.

on a side note, as a kid I used skateboard down mt panorama, back in teh days when concord straight was a straight...all the way to murrays corner. great surface for skateboarding

great shots - nice to see them in their surroundings not just up close in isolation - looks like fun
DebT

biggerry wrote:nice shots! whats the deal with trackside? do you just buy a ticket and there various sections where you can go?

I usually have accred, and did this time, so shoot from the other side of the fence. But Mt Panorama has great spots to shoot from all the spectator areas.

the esses look like a good possie and I reckon it would peak hour to get a prime spot there.

Yeah, this is a popular spot, photographers in the spectator areas are three to four deep. Even in the accreditation areas it's popular, especially in the morning, when the sun is still in the eastern sky.

Thanks for the comments folks!

love them all, especially no. 1, the angle is great
Cheers
Rod

expertly done!

Nice work especially with the third in the set.

Great Alan .
I am jealous ,did think about going but as usual wheels of industry etc.
Will you be around at Easter?

Jeff

Hi mate, working all easter i'm afraid.

However, if you wish to come up, there is a room of course. (By that time it might be a home studio though...)

Sensational stuff. My family moved to the Bathurst region in 1818. My Aunty lives in Bant street (within walking distance of the mount) and yet I have never been to a race at Bathurst.

These photos are top rate. I did see the coverage on the telly last week in Qld, but to be at the track must have been fun.

Gary, compared to my beaten up AU Falcon, a V8 is very fast.

This was fast watching it trackside...
Try watching this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4XVF3jJL5Q

Now THAT is fast.....

Alan these photos are amazing. I love #1 but all the other ones are just as good and have great angles and compositions, love the additon of the helicopter in some images. I went to the 2011 Melbourne F1 so I know how hard it is to capture them haha. Mt Panorama seems much better as at Albert Park they had massive fences all around the track and was so crowded.