I wasn't sure where to post these so if there's a better spot like an event section it can be moved.

Anyway I went to Pomona over the weekend and thought I'd share some of the pics.
The Titan car ran a 6.6 at 215mph (I think it's a scion)

Here's a WORLDS FIRST, not only are there 2 MINIs drag racing against each other for the first time but in the Red M600 is Hubie Fuh the worlds fastest MINI racer and as a guest driving the Silver Mega MINI is Paul Webster who flew in from the UK just for the opportunity...Hubie was consistent staying in the 10's and so was Paul sticking with his 12's...way to go guys! Awesome site

The old VW Beetles were out in full force, they pretty much dominated Pomona. It was fun watching them wheelie during their launches.

There were a few good looking gi(cough)bikes there too

Watch out for those walls

gotta love those burnouts

The stunt bikers were especially cool

There were some nice (cough) umbrellas there too...the end

Thanks for looking, I may have more uploaded soon

 

Nice shots

 

Cool pics, Emily! I've always wanted to shoot a drag race and still haven't done it. The motion blur in the two MINIs shot looks a bit odd. I like the VW wheelie. And the *cough* umbrella and *cough* bike. Or, as Jimz68 would say, "local color".

Thanks for sharing and I'll look forward to seeing more.

Mark

 

Great shots overall. Did you add fake blurring to the mini vs mini pic? The graphics and rims aren't blurred so it doesn't look right.

 

yeah you guys caught me...I did a quick fudge on that pic...apparently it was too quick....guess I should fix it but I don't have the time at the moment

 

great pics! thanks for sharing... love the VW bug jumping... and the motorcycle in the sky... and, of course, the "local color"

 

I was wondering when someone would post pics.
I think their was too many distractions to shot

 

Yeah, I see from the EXIF data it was 1/1600 s at f/6.3. Try 1/250 s with the pan shots, for starters, and then try working your way slower from there. Panning takes practice and you won't get it 100% of the time (you won't if you're like me, anyway), but it's a very effective technique.

Mark

 

YAAAY!!! MINI's hauling butt together! dont see that very often. (atleast not at a drag strip)

Glad to see the Vee-dubs bringing the pain at the strip! Who said bugs cant be fast?

Although i think its unfair they give the front wheel drive cars a hadicap due to their traction problems, to make them competitive with the RWD Bugs in their class.

great pics BTW!!!!

 

I took a gander.
More "local color" please.
I expected more MINI pictures *cough*.
Looks like your sorta new camera is working for you.

 

That VW almost looks like the DKP fuel injected VW. Running 10.92 @120mph.

If it is indeed the same car you can find it and its specs here. (Click on Members Cars, then scroll down to the bottom.)

http://www.dkpcarclub.com

*drool*

 

Wait I'm lost....what's local color? Is that like selective coloring? I really didn't do much editing to these, I did do a minor desaturation on the background of the shot with the girl and the bike.

Mike-I have to practice it, I tried once and failed miserably...I need to take a day with someone who knows how and practice.
here's another burnout, it may be a bit before I can get to more shots. I have lots of cool ones of the stunt bikers in the sky, they rocked!

 

local color=chicks

 

Great Shots!

 

Local color=not bringing a headset when you know your going to be on a drag strip. 5 people from the right

 

oops from the left...

 

oooooooooh hahahahaha...I went to the grocery store yesterday and was refered to my face as "Scenery" as in the guy behind the counter was enjoying the "scenery" andthen the guy in line behind me was like "I'm enjoying the scenery too!" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Local color is also smart enough to bring an umbrella, but not smart enough to wear practical shoes, for standing outside all day.

(Oh wait, I do that all the time too. )

 

You already have the the hard part figured out (the visual eye), take the time and learn the technique—like the piano lessons...you'll appreciate it later!

Panning and slower shutter speeds are essential to motorsport photography. Without them, you might as well be shooting parked cars.

f10 / 1/50sec / 4x ND

 

A rule of thumb I've heard for panning shots is to set the shutter speed to 1/mph of the car. So, if the car is going 60mph, shoot at 1/60 second shutter speed. For autocrosses, where cars are more in the 30mph range at times, you'd want 1/30 second. For high speed stuff, like pro road course racing, you'd be up around 1/120 second.

Just a starting point, but it has worked for me.

So, I'd guess if you're shooting close to the starting line of a drag race, you'd be in the 1/30 - 1/60 range.

 

yep that's all greek to me! But I'll give it a shot next time I'm out. I tried slowing it down but then the pics were blown out. Next time I'm around one of you photography folk I'll just have to giggle like a girl, act all cutsey and make you help me with the settings :D

 

Emily,

If it hadn't been so hot out on the asphalt that day, I'd have tried to give more pointers.

Your pics came out nice.
I need to find the time to process my .RAW files from Saturday. (As it was, I ended up shooting close to a hundred pics of my kids pumpkin-carving here at home the next day, so those, obviously, had priority.)
Sure was plenty of "local color" eh. I saw some where the color was very local!

How's this one for "local color"?


-Juan

 

OK Everyone....
THIS is "Local Color"!!


Jim

 

To be honest I'd rather it without. I notice some photoshopping on a lot of your pics and it can be distracting some times. A lot of times with the desaturated colors etc... But I'm just being a purist. Your photos are good enough to do well without the extra tricks!

A great way to experiment with the shutter speed and panning is to shoot in program "P" mode...usually the next spot on the dial above the green auto. It works just like auto except listens to your commands should you tell it to do something. In this case, when you first press halfway and meter the photo, you can then rotate the dial by your finger to select different combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will all expose correctly. Ignoring it will take a perfectly fine photo, but you can move it to select a slower shutter speed for panning blur in this case; or you may want to select a certain aperture for depth of field reasons. Sounds confusing but just try it, you'll see.
(I assume nikons do this the same as the canons, right?)

 

some great shots here