know anyone that's IN the Long Beach GP this year?

[Jeff Shyu]

The long lens is cool but it has a fault, the image of the GT40 is nice but the wheels are frozen, it could have just as easily been parked, the difficulty is holding sharp focus on the elements of the car you want to control say the drivers helment or hands, well blurring the wheels to signify speed. Also appeture control. Not a big issue at long beach but a lot you can do with it.

that's actually the exact reason why I wanted better access - so that I can take panning shots. being behind 2 cyclone fences and probably a semi-permeable wall of photographers was not conducive to panning shots..

[Arthur Grant]

I find panning is like my golf swing been doing both for years, but still takes time to get back in swing. The beauty of digital is you can see it right away or at least when you download in the evening. Much nicer than the film era.

[Arthur Grant]

Jeff, I highly recommend reading this article before the LBGP.

http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/01/ho ... ports.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jeff Shyu]

thanks for the link, very informative read..

[Mako Koiwai]

For slow shutter speed panning shots, make sure your sensor is clean. For some reason, it's when doing those type of shots that any dirt on the sensor shows up?

[Jeff Shyu]

it's just the nature of the sensor. That's actually how I check for dirty sensor. I point the camera at a blank wall, set the focus to manual (doesn't matter what it's focused on), set exposure to ~5 seconds, and just wave the camera around a bit.

you end up with a white picture, and any dust you have will be easily identified black dots.

[Arthur Grant]

it's just the nature of the sensor. That's actually how I check for dirty sensor. I point the camera at a blank wall, set the focus to manual (doesn't matter what it's focused on), set exposure to ~5 seconds, and just wave the camera around a bit.

you end up with a white picture, and any dust you have will be easily identified black dots.

I didn't know that. Thanks

[Jeff Shyu]

got my papers yesterday. mandatory meeting at 6:15am on Friday and Saturday? yeesh!

[Arthur Grant]

Yep and they mean mandatory. Friday is important in that you want to get your photo vest. Without that your screwed.

The line on Saturday sometimes looks like Disneyland. Also you have heavy equipment, you want to park close. My favorite is if I weren't being given a parking pass, is behind the Pike theres a little lot that fills fast but exits nicely when it's time to leave. The other spot is the garage on the backside towards Shoreline. All parking fills fast, expect to pay $10+ You have been there before so you know.

The daily meetings are important, For one the series not LBGP control the rules for certain area's of the track and access, you'll want to know what the rules are for each event, and they change day to day depending on who screws up and what the resident insurances guys feel about it. Shooting holes are seldom added after Friday (they are cut on Thrusday) but they may be closed. If there are issues with SCCA or Race Management preventing you from being where your supposed to be that's one of the times you can voice it. You can do it one on one, but works better when 5 other photo's say yeah, had the same problem.

[Jeff Shyu]

I was told we'd be given parking under the convention center by the other photographer?

regardless, if that doesn't materialize, I have parking here at my work, right at the corner of Ocean & Broadway

actually, if you don't end up getting a parking pass, you can always stop off at my house (right off the 710, 3 miles up the road), and we can carpool in since I have guaranteed free parking at work.

[Arthur Grant]

I was told we'd be given parking under the convention center by the other photographer?

regardless, if that doesn't materialize, I have parking here at my work, right at the corner of Ocean & Broadway

actually, if you don't end up getting a parking pass, you can always stop off at my house (right off the 710, 3 miles up the road), and we can carpool in since I have guaranteed free parking at work.

Remember this about the parking under the convention center, you have to be in before they close the track which gets earlier each morning, and you don't leave until all cars are off course and the come to move the barriers. On Sunday that can be anywhere from a few minutes to the more common 45min to an hour +. After end of day Sunday it seems forever. Bottom-line your trapped until they move the barriers.

[Jeff Shyu]

yikes.. good point. I think i'll park at my work.

my offer's still good though, if you wanna carpool from my house..

[Arthur Grant]

yikes.. good point. I think i'll park at my work.

my offer's still good though, if you wanna carpool from my house..

I'll consider it, however I tend to use my suv as both a rest place and a local to download and review files. Plus on Thursday and Friday I can dial into work from the car if a hot issue comes up.

[Jeff Shyu]

thanks for all the tips Art..

here's a couple of my favorite panning shots from the weekend..





The 2nd one doesn't shot that much background blur, but I like the palm shadow..
it also helped that I sat there and literally talked shop for 50 minutes with one of the offical ALMS photographers. He gave a lotta panning tips, amongst them, shifting the AF point from center, to bottom-center. it helped a WHOLE BUNCH in making the picture look so much better!.. "The problem with center focus, is that you end up center focusing".. SO WISE!

[Arthur Grant]

Jeff outstanding shots. Thought you know about the focus point. Helps a lot on head on shots if your intent is to foucs the whole car clearly, F8/F11 bottom focus point, and spot meetering.

You did great, was fun to see you out there.

[Mako Koiwai]

Newbie AX'er Stacy S, who's done a few events with us in her Miata was "IN the Long Beach GP" this year:


Hi there,
I knew that today was going to be special, going to the Long Beach Grand Prix, because any time I hang out with my friend Bruce the day is amazing. He said I'd get to catch a ride in a pace car at the track. He lied. I actually got to ride in an Indy car on the track with JR Hildebrand, who races with the National Guard Panther Racing team. I spent the day on the track, at the paddock and in the pit / tech area learning as much as I can about the cars and their maintenance... and I have way too many photos!

Thought I'd share just a couple with you in case you're interested.

All I can say is next time ... I want to ride in the front seat!

Cheers,
Stacy

[Mako Koiwai]

The ride was amazing - glad for the harness and collar. JR Hildebrand was driving and he took the curves smooth as silk. Down the back straight-away he floored it and I literally left the seat going airborne. At the turn, I was glad of the harness as he went 150+ to far less in feet to make the turn. The brakes made no sound but it was like hitting a wall the reduction in speed was so fast. As much as I could see around the cowling, the line he took on the track was everything you and Karen have been telling me x100. The line is everything.

It was super cool to spend the afternoon in the pit watching them tune the car as they did practice laps and watched the computers with the different systems sending real-time info on all aspects of the car. The operation at that level is beyond!

Now I'm jazzed to get back behind the wheel myself.

[Doug Kott]

Hey Jeff,

Love that first shot of the Target car....great sense of motion!

Nice meeting you at El Toro. See you at the next one!

--Doug