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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
SuperBike first time, tips pls?
Simone Raso, Photographer
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Varese | IT | Italy | Posted: 6:04 AM on 05.07.07 |
->> This WE i'll be in Monza for SuperBike Championship.
Tips welcome! |
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Derrick den Hollander, Photographer
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Melbourne | VIC | AUSTRALIA | Posted: 8:11 AM on 05.07.07 |
->> I did Superbikes first time myself this year. Tips? Get friendly with the media manager, and put your name down for starting grid images before the start of the race. Pit access is excellent, but of course be respectfull of the competitors and mechanics/crew. Try shoot panning images - 1/250th or 1/125th - tricky but you can get some nice clean backgrounds. Pick the tighter corners, entrance and exits can be nice. Pick a nice spot on track for jube shots, they'll do burnouts, mono's or fly the flag.
Good luck! |
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Andrew Bright, Photographer
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Auckland | New Zealand | New Zealand | Posted: 1:51 AM on 05.10.07 |
->> Check out Andrew Wheeler's website for inspiration; can't recommend this guy enough. He may even be there this year and be able to give you some advice.
http://automotophoto.com/
Background info is ALWAYS useful and will add to the meaning of your pics. Rather than just creating a nice pic, if you can follow someone you suspect will do well, or be newsworthy, that's what will make a good shot GREAT. Knowing what the riders look like off the bike and without a helmet is very useful for the same reason.
http://www.superbike.it/
Apart from that, wear sunscreen. :) |
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Mat Gdowski, Photographer
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La Mirada | CA | USA | Posted: 2:04 AM on 05.10.07 |
->> I would agree with Andrew...it really does help when you know the background of the top riders and what they look like without gear on. I've gotten numerous shots of the riders without their gear on because most others never recognized it was them until they saw me shooting. :)
Check out different corners throughout the weekend. Try not to have them all shot in one corner. I also agree on the panning shots, but take a lot of them unless you have the timing down REALLY well. You'd hate to get home and find out that most all were "off" because you weren't used to the timing/panning yet.
Oh...and have fun too! :D |
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Robert Catto, Photographer
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Wellington | NZ | New Zealand | Posted: 6:04 AM on 05.10.07 |
->> > ...it really does help when you know...what they look like without gear on.
So...how do you approach this? Walk up to them and say 'get yer gear off?'
I can guess how Aaron Slight would react here, and I'd imagine a few other riders would be the same...
R! |
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Michel Fortier, Photographer
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Naples | FL | USA | Posted: 4:35 PM on 05.10.07 |
->> Eh, just concentrate on Nori Haga (41) and Bayliss (21) who has history with pulling the double there.
I always like to walk the entire course as well as look for backgrounds that add to the photo, even in panning situations. I generally try to come away with five areas of the course which provide killer photos. Also, it's not a long race, about half hour, so plan logistically for what you need to shoot and where you need to be. Some tracks do not offer transportation for photogs around the course. If you're wireless, it won't be an issue. But think about the amount of time it takes to walk from some good vantage points to say the finish line. It can be pretty daunting.
Definitely bring big glass if you have it (the longer the better). I usually shoot with a 400/2.8 and 1.4x. If you're shooting for someone, make sure to get specifics on what they're looking for. And as others said, pan, pan, pan. There's nothing more boring than a bike that looks like it's standing upright in a parking lot!
I'm insanely jealous btw...I'm going to try and catch a race at either Monza or Valencia next year. Have fun! |
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Andrew Wheeler, Photographer
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Capitola | CA | USA | Posted: 10:47 PM on 05.10.07 |
->> Simone...
First of all, simply soak it all up, if this is your first time there's so much atmosphere to bathe in. The crowds (bike racing fans are very very sociable)
WSBK has good fan/rider access so there'll be lots of opportunity to get wide eyed and gobsmaked fans looking lovingly at the riders...
Oh and watch out for gorls and the James Toseland fan club. You also have Max Biaggi and many other notables in the WSBK camp, Xaus, Haga, and possibly Neil Hodgson this weekend as Jacques ripped his arm apart..(say HI to Neil...)..
Most of all have fun, and as I was told many moons ago when I started out on this gig, shoot what *you* like and what tickles you.
Bike racing is the coolest sport in the world, with the coolest fans and mellowest sportsmen and women about...
Just remember to tell a story.
Andrew
http://www.automotophoto.com
-->> AndrewB - cheers for the kudos - sadly I'm not going - I'll be at PI later this year though... |
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Andrew Bright, Photographer
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Auckland | New Zealand | New Zealand | Posted: 1:54 AM on 05.11.07 |
->> Hi Robert,
Ever see the B&W ad where Capirossi is standing naked on some type of cruiser? It was all very art photography, and think it was for the publication in Italy. I'm not sure how groupied these guys are, but I'd bet that with all the fitness training and female fan adulation, they wouldn't need that much encouragement to disrobe. They know they're rock stars...
Michael is right when he talks about long glass. Sure, you can probably get lots of shots with a 70-210, but you'll find it frustrating. I'd also add that when scouting for positions to shoot the race from, try to come up with 2 or 3 different shots you can get from one place or area. Sometimes you won't be able to move (usually because the distances involved can be large and time consuming to walk), so if you can find a corner, and get 3 distinctly different shots without having to move around a whole lot, you'll have a more productive weekend. There will be places where you can see ONE amazing shot and that's it; I guess it's a gamble going for that; sometimes it'll pay off, sometimes it won't. If this is your first time, it's probably better to choose a versatile position. And keep an eye on the direction of light at different times of the day; you don't want to have a killer shot in your head for race two, and get there and the sun has shifted round 90 degrees and ruined it and you haven't got time to move etc etc...
Hang around the photographers room and listen to others talking and just plain soak up the images you'll see being worked on. That was my enduring memory from Phillip island; walking around and seeing these fantastic images being processed on laptops. Buy newspapers and visit websites and see what current coverage looks like each morning; it might give you ideas.
If it's your first time you probably won't nail it (even with our award winning pieces of advice), so I guess you've gotta go into the weekend with a view to learning rather than conquering. Even the pros are still learning and making mistakes etc.
Hi Andrew,
Yep, I'm counting the days. Stoner victory at his home track? |
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Simone Raso, Photographer
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Andrew Wheeler, Photographer
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Capitola | CA | USA | Posted: 8:48 PM on 05.11.07 |
->> Simone - Nice Bayliss portraits, especially the one where he looks kinda flustered....
I like the Biaggi shot too, the fact that you have his eyes/face sharp and yet you can tell he's heading out!
Andrew
http://www.automotophoto.com |
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