BY Michael McInnes, compsafari.co.uk photographer.
ABOVE, A MILNER PROTRUCK IN THE DUST AT BADEN HALL
TIPS ON TAKING GOOD COMPSAFARI PHOTOS
First off, its always important to make sure you sign on
as a photographer or media person. The MSA require that each event has a list of all the persons present who are on the course
taking photos, so you need to fill in a media form for the specific event. Also the government requires that persons taking
photos give their details to the child protection offer on site, once this is done you can then start taking pics.
STARTING TIPS:-
You dont need a high tech camera to take superb photos, most of mine are with a fuji
4 million mexapixel camera that is 5 years old and was bought refurbished. You will need a larger memory card if you
intend on taking a lot of pictures though. I have a 256mb card which will take about 450 photos and a 1gb that can carry 1,500. Always read the camera instructions if you can, its amazing what you can learn and will help you take better pictures if
you know what features you have. My camera has a sport mode which is ideal for the fast cars - it captures them in focus while
the auto mode doesnt. Also look for a multishot function - taking 3+ pictures in a row means you usually get the shot
you wanted out of the 3.
Its important to stress that motorsport can be dangerous and therefore always wear
a flourescent tabard or jacket when near the course. Make sure you are never on the course when its live, obey all marshalls
instructions and keep well back at all times. I remember standing behind a tree at tong in 2006 thinking i would be safe
- until the car wrapped itself round the tree, so make sure you have room to get out of the way!.
Finding a suitable spot to take the pics :-
A good idea is to walk the course before the event
starts and choose a few locations which look good for some action photos e,g gates, watersplash, jumps, mounds, ramps, trees
in track, soft ground, deep ruts, uneven ground, woodland, rocks, climbs, corners etc Also ask the clerk of course/marshalls,
where best to take photos, it might save you walking a long way only to walk back again.
1. WATERSPLASH - Ideal
early on when there is lots of water in it, as these racers will clear the water out very quickly. Ideally you want to be
in front of the splash to capture the car emerging with all the water spraying, steam spraying off.
2. JUMPS/ RAMP
UPS - You can get great shots from either behind the jump, alongside or from the front. Sideways on will show the height better,
but from behind or front emphasises the speed more and shows action. Using a faster shutter speed will capture the car in
the air, or slower speed to show the wheels spinning and dust/mud trail.
3. SLOW CORNERS - Because of the
speed of the cars they are difficult to photograph when going so fast, find a slow corner where the speed comes right down,
sometimes they almost stop and its a lot easier to get the shots in focus.
4. GRADIENTS - Find a different angle
by looking for some gradient, a car going up an incline gives a different view.
5. NIGHT SHOTS - Bearing in mind
the course will not be lit and very dark, i dont use flash as not to distract the drivers, the best shots show a car
in afield will all its lights on lighting up the track in front, if you can see it through the view finder!. The camera takes
longer to focus in the dark so bear this in mind as well.
6. LANDSCAPE - Try and use the scenery to your advantage
a background field full of crops can brighten an image and if the sky is bright blue etc try and incorporate this. Not all
photos have to be close up, a racer with a log trail of dust in the distance shows the action.
7. DRIVEROUND -
On the drive round the cars will be moving slowing and all look very shiny - ideal for taking pics, doesnt need to be a watersplash
etc you are just after a clean clear image and you will have a photo of ever car before they start off if you are quick enough.
THINGS TO AVOID :-
1. Try not to take photos at full zoom, try get closer
to the action or wait for the car to come closer to you.
2. Make sure the sun is not shining in your lense, as
a rule i try and make sure the sun is behind me when taking photos it helps enhance the look of the car as well.
3. Once you have got a good photo of each car move on to somewhere else, no point standing in one place all day with
the same shots, If its a 3mile course i usually walk it 3 or 4 times to find better shots.
4. Try not to use the
flash all the time and distract the drivers or stand in front of arrows/ way markers.
FINAL
TIPS :-
1. Batteries are only as good as they last, investing in a few sets of rechargeable batteries will
mean you never run out of power.
2. If its raining an umbrella will help keep the lense dry and take some
fingerless gloves for those cold events, wearing a cap will also help you see the digital screen in sunlight.
Here
are some of the photos i have taken at events.
BELOW, A DRAMATIC LANDSCAPE CAN ADD LIFE TO THE PHOTO
THE PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS THE CAR FROM
THE FRONT, THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS THE SAME SHOT FROM BEHIND, BOTH ANGLES PROVIDE A GOOD PICTURE
ABOVE, A SIDE ON VIEW AND BELOW A DIFFERENT ANGLE
BELOW, AN ONLOOKER ADDS TO
THE SHOT AS WELL AS THE CAR GOING THROUGH A GATEWAY AND THE DARK SKY BEHIND
THIS PHOTO ABOVE WAS JUST LUCK, NO OTHER CAR HAD TAKEN OFF LIKE THIS, IT WAY JUST THE SPEED
AND WAY IT HIT THE DIP AND I GOT THE SHOT
THE PHOTO ABOVE WAS TAKEN AT BADEN HALL AS THE SUN WAS SETTING
ABOVE, SOMETIMES ITS JUST A CASE OF WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME ALONG WHOS GOING THAT LITTLE
BIT QUICKER THAN THEY SHOULD BE
ABOVE, REAR VIEW OF A RACER, THIS CAR MADE THE SHOT, BEING OPEN AND DIFFERENT, BELOW A SCENIC
SHOT
BELOW, THE DUST CLOUD HAD A BIG PART IN THIS PHOTO
TAKING VIDEO FOOTAGE BY Michael McInnes, compsafari.co.uk cameraman
TIPS ON TAKING VIDEO FOOTAGE
As above safey first, wear a flourescent tabard or jacket and dont forget to sign on at the marshall point.
1. Try and film clips of at least 10 seconds at a time, the footage will be easier to watch when played back and more enjoyable
to watch.
2. Hold the video camera steady with both hands to avoid shaky footage. Also it pays to be standing on
solid ground with room to move 360 degrees easily.
3. Try not to use the camera on full zoom as the picture will
be blurred as it struggles to focus at the distant image, and slight movement of the camera will also be greatly magnified
on playback. Aim to keep the car in the middle of shot with even space either side.
4. Find a sheltered spot, rather
than high ground as the wind noise will be less noticeable and difficult to hold the camera steady in the wind. The
camera wont be blown about but you will be struggling to balance in the wind.
5. Slowly zoom in and out gently
rather than erratic zooming, this will make better viewing, the best footage you dont notice the zooming.
6. Look
for a good spot, as mentioned you want to be able to see the cars for about 10 seconds at a time with a bit of action mixed
in, either a corner, jump or watersplash.
7. Move around the course filming at different locations, no point having
the same footage of every car again and again.
8. If filming at night you can use nightshot, but bear in mind it
will be in black and white. The cars lights can light up the road enough to film in normal mode e.g in a wood or narrow track
with walls either side.
9. Get used to using the viewfinder rather than the lcd screen as the battery life will
be a lot longer.
10. If filming in the rain using an umbrella will keep you dry but the rain patter on the umbrella
can be loud on playback, try shelter under an old building or tree.
11. Walking the course is always a good idea
you can see what to expect and where looks good to film.
12. Wearing a cap will keep the sun out the lense and
allow you to see through the viewfinder better.
13. Clean the camera with a good head cleaner after filming as
the dust created can cause inteference the next time you want to film something.
14. Remember to turn the camera
off while moving around or any break in filming, this prevents the record button activating and filming where you are walking
or the sky!, it will also save battery power.
15. Lastly, label the tape or footage so it doesnt get recorded over
at a later date, i do this before i put the tape in the camera.
Practice makes perfect and its easier to watch
the footage back and think, how can i make that better next time!
A few of my video clips below:-
This clip below shows what can happen when you
least expect it, you never know what footage your going to get when you set out with a camera in hand.
This clip below was from manby a good open site where
you can get good length clips.
This footage below was captured through patience,
i knew from watching several cars earlier that this could happen, so i sacrificed walking the course to stay at this jump
and wait to get some footage of what i though would be a small roll of some sort, little did i know what would happen next!
