Wittedam Rally Sprint

[Johan_Badenhorst]

On Saturday I had the opportunity to shoot a few pictures at the Rally Sprint event held on Wittedam farm outside Malmesbury. The weather made for some nice pictures - overcast, sometimes raining lightly interspaced with sunshine when the clouds move away.

As this was my first time shooting at this kind of event I'm sure I still made a lot of mistakes, but I had fun and I am quite happy with the photos I got. Here are a few examples of my efforts. Comments and tips are welcome.

[jab2]

I'll leave the technical comments to Simon.

On the safety side, I feel on the last 4 photos your were positioning yourself smack in the danger zone. Whiles peering through the viewfinder you have a distorted depth perception, so your warning time is not what it seems. Therefor never stand in any area where the natural momentum will take the car to if something goes wrong. That normally means the outside of turns, but sometimes also the inside on the exit end, as on high traction surfaces the car can slide out, the tyres bite, and it goes off on the inside of the bend. Unfortunately this danger zone is also a great angle for photos, but then use a long lens.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Ditto on the safety, unless you were shooting with a loong lens... Pics are nice. Pop some into the galleries.

[Johan_Badenhorst]

Thanks for the comments. On the safety side - in the photos you refer to I was at least 30m away from the vehicles during shooting and in each case the vehicles slowed way down to negotiate 90 degree turns. The sand that is thrown up gives an illusion of much higher speed. I did scope out locations closer to the turns, but went back to my original further away positions due to concern for safety and concern of getting sand etc on my camera. The gate visible in the last two pics was the end of the stage and from there the cars 'idled' (and in some cases were pushed) past my location to the time marshals at the end. Most of the pics were taken at close to 100mm length on the lens and then cropped further afterwards.

I agree, unfortunately the best locations for nice pictures are always the most dangerous. I rather pass on those "wow" pics and do what I can from a safe location.

[AstraPics]

I was at least 30m away from the vehicles

Gee Johan, that sounds way too close unless you were on the inside of the corner. A rally car covers 30m in the blink of an eye, and certainly faster than you can run, even if you do see it coming.

went back to my original further away positions due to concern for safety and concern of getting sand etc on my camera.

Any time there's even a remote chance of getting sand on your camera you are *WAY* too close.

unfortunately the best locations for nice pictures are always the most dangerous

Sorry, I don't agree with that statement at all.

Bear in mind that with rallying, the driver is facing changing conditions, surfaces and traction every second (unlike a track racer) so the potential for an accident or loss of control is MUCH higher. Add to that the fact that there is usually nothing whatsoever standing between your soft body and a speeding one-ton missile, and realise that you need to choose your position next to the road very, very carefully.

[Mr G]

Gee Johan, that sounds way too close unless you were on the inside of the corner. A rally car covers 30m in the blink of an eye, and certainly faster than you can run, even if you do see it coming.

Lol, If you look at the 3rd pic then all those onlookers are also in danger. Good attemp Johan and post some images in the sport gallery. There one can see the exif info and give better advice. At all these events there is good and bad spots. The more you go, the more experience you will get. Enjoy

[Johan_Badenhorst]

Gee Johan, that sounds way too close unless you were on the inside of the corner. A rally car covers 30m in the blink of an eye, and certainly faster than you can run, even if you do see it coming.

Thanks, I am aware of the speed and dynamics a rally car is capable of.

Any time there's even a remote chance of getting sand on your camera you are *WAY* too close.

Exactly why I moved away again.

Sorry, I don't agree with that statement at all.

Okay, lets make it 'often' instead of 'always'

[Mark Heatlie]

As this was my first time shooting at this kind of event I'm sure I still made a lot of mistakes,

Johan , this satement of yours says it all , please take very seriouds note of the advice being given by the other guys in this thread, Rallying is a very dangerous sport,
accidents will take place before you can even begin to react, I have competed in national rallies and know how quickly one can lose control of a car,and how hard it is to gain control again on
the loose surface, stopping distances are doubled on gravel compared to those on tar. Please be very careful next time and choose your position along side the stage with great care.

[Chris F]

some interesting comments ....

Johan did say it is first attempt at SHOOTING these events ... he omitted to say how many times he has been to various motoring events to assist the back up teams with radios ... He KNOWS more of these events than his first post led you to believe. (and this I know for a FACT)


Johan paar mooi fotos ou maat !! Volgende keer kom ek saam dan kan ons nader kom aan die Gymkana motors ....

And as mentioned previously, post some of these in the Gallerie - here people like Simon can comment, after seeing the EXIF data to give best possible advice.

[SimonDP]

Some good pics - but some were taken on 60mm lens (the exif is there, just read it off the file, one of the Ford R2 shots which seems zoomed in) ditto I feel that is not really the best spot for such a short lens, way back and 200mm will be better. Accidents happen quickly, and results are always not nice. I'd rather be 3, away on the inside than 25m away on the outside of a turn. Safety is of utmost importance in any sporting event (ever had a kicked rugby ball against the side of your head, light concussion to be had there, more so motorsport which can really be fatal.

Otherwise the results are generally Ok and acceptable and presentable, some can do with better timing (like the yellow Lancer (spit-spit)) facing head-on through the turn, etc.

Ditto for posting some in the Sport gallery.

[Johan_Badenhorst]

Otherwise the results are generally Ok and acceptable and presentable, some can do with better timing (like the yellow Lancer (spit-spit)) facing head-on through the turn, etc.

Seems that someone does not like the Lancers much Please elaborate on the better timing for that photo - would you rather take the photo when more of the car is showing?

I will upload some more of the pics on the gallery.

[jab2]

Johan did say it is first attempt at SHOOTING these events ... he omitted to say how many times he has been to various motoring events to assist the back up teams with radios ... He KNOWS more of these events than his first post led you to believe. (and this I know for a FACT)

With all due respect, Chris, prior knowledge does not change physics, and do not make you psychic, a little more wise yes, but not immune from hurt.

Johan say that the cars were not traveling that fast. The car below was traveling at 64Km/h, not that fast either. Rally cars can negotiate 90deg bends at speeds higher than that.

[SimonDP]

Seems that someone does not like the Lancers much

Scoobies rule!!!
Timing on the pic - yup more showing, although head-on view is not a wrong apporach, I just feel the drifting through the corner could be utilised better.

As to approach speeds- consider that a car traveling at 60kph takes only 1 sec to cover almost 17m, given your natural alert reaction time of at least 0.5 sec (for the eyesight to tell the brain that the body had better move out of the way), plus another other 0.5 sec for the body to actually start moving rapidly, provided that you're wearing spikes from your athletic career as a 100m sprinter so you won't slip on less than grippy surface (sand/grass/loose dirt etc) you're leaving yourself precious little time to get out of harms way. So if you're watching the action through the viewfinder (as you should) and you realise the car is not doing what its supposed be doing (ie following the tracks left by all those who passed safely before him) but is intent on turning you into bloody mess of broken bones and tissue, you are seriously at a disadvantage even at 30m from the action, which from the pics looks more like 20m. You have but around 2 seconds to realise the danger and move sufficiently far out of the way to keep your body intact.

[Chris F]

bit off topic, but some interesting background ....

Johan bought my previous Canon late last year. The 24-105 L lens is what he used on the day. For a newby with minimal training these results are "not bad at all" ....

Granted, there is (always) room for improvement.

[AstraPics]

If he's a newby with minimal training, then these pictures are outstanding.

[Johan_Badenhorst]

If he's a newby with minimal training, then these pictures are outstanding.

Thanks Yes I am new to the SLR game, as ChrisF said I got my 500D late last year. This was my first time with the SLR at such an event, previously it was only point&shoot attempts at gymkhana events etc. Still working on my hit&miss rate though...

[HeinrichR]

http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forums...=accident+fund