Tips on Rally Car Photoghraphy - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/28/2004 05:27:40 PM · #1

I am thinking of taking the family out today to a rally event in the near by hills today.
The event is part of a national rally championship so it has a lot of media cover etc. I have never photographed motorsport before I was just after a few tips and gain a bit of knowledge beforehand.
I am bit worried about dirt and dust flying around effecting equipment so i am not sure if I will take my 70 - 200 L USM lense and get by with just my 50mm lense or just use the 300D kit lense.
Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

08/28/2004 05:37:39 PM · #2

Most important is to pan and to get the shutterspeed right.
Here are some of my shots from the WRC Rally of Germany last week:
//www.pbase.com/azrifel/rally_of_germany_2004

The first few are right: panned with slow shutter where the cars are driving at high speeds. I think it could be better, but it looks ok imho. Prefocus, lock the AE before the cars arrive (measure the light on mid tones or a grey card), use the x frames per second feature.
All the other ones are relatively stationary, no real speed look. The shutters were too fast and/or the cars were moving too slow (bad shooting position).
Lens? I primarily used the 35mm equivalent of 100-210mm, for a rebel it would turn out to 62-131mm on an EF lens. But perhaps you cannot get as close so I'd definitely take the 70-200. I think a 50mm lens is doable but on the short side.
The key is to pan and to get the speed transferred to your photos. If you don't know what panning is, ask or search.

Edit: Adviseable shutterspeed for panning is between 1/150 and 1/250, depending heavily on the speed of the cars. Most of the times they run a few test cars prior to the real ones, use those to practice on.

Message edited by author 2004-08-28 17:39:46.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

08/28/2004 05:50:19 PM · #3

You may want to contact bod who takes a lot of road racing pictures. Not rally but he would probably have some good tips.

Message edited by author 2004-08-28 17:54:06.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/28/2004 07:11:15 PM · #4

Thanks for the replies,
I am tying to get a position on a corner and get the cars coming around sideways with plenty of dirt spraying up (its a forest track). So it was not really a speed thing more of action shot capturing the dirt spray.

Message edited by author 2004-08-28 19:11:36.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

08/28/2004 07:18:17 PM · #5

Check out the galleries of one of my favorite website for inspiration.

Message edited by author 2004-08-28 19:19:17.

08/28/2004 07:34:30 PM · #6

Originally posted by faidoi:

Check out the galleries of one of my favorite website for inspiration.

Thanks for the great link.