Silverstone Photography

[kidslateinlife]

Hello Guys,

it’s been a while since I posted on here, my dilemma is that on Saturday I’m attending the qualifying sessions at Silverstone F1 with my son, I never had an interest in the sport but my sons loves it.
I have never been to such an event and don’t know what opportunities to photograph I will have, I want to take my 40-150, but I also want to take my 300mm f2.8 big tuna which is probably going to be too heavy Particularly if I’m walking around all day with it all day.

Does any one know, can I access several area’s and will I have success with my 40-150 and OM1, or am I like better off with my 300mm and 2 x teleconverter?

Alan

[MJ224]

No idea about access, but the 40-1500 is a good idea. It should be powerful enough, and flexible for different distances. Adding the 2 times MC worked well too...

[rsh1960]

I'd take the 40-150 plus 2x converter plus you could use the built-in digital converter, Beckett's and Chapel have good standing viewing areas.

https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/formula-1-british-grand-prix/prices/roving-grandstand

[gazza95]

My vote would be for Big Tuna + monopod and be prepared to be photographing through fences most of the day. Yep, you will probably need a converter as well

My 90-25 never had enough reach for Silverstone.

Gary

[DerekC]

As with most circuits used for F1 the spectator areas are a long way from the track.
It is not a circuit I have been to many times over recent years. I find it poor for photography. Therefore I haven't the experience of many locations. Here is a few from the couple of visits in the last few years.
You will be shooting through the fences in nearly every location.
Luffield you can get a good shot from the general spectator area.

Online you can find a track map which will show you where with general admission you can stand.

End of Priory left hander into Luffield you are a bit closer. 210mm

On the right hander in Luffield you can get a head on shot 285mm on 100-400

Exit of Luffield onto |Woodcote 300mm

Another exiting Luffield onto Woodcote panning 200mm

[kidslateinlife]

Derek,

Thank you for those fantastic shots, and for such an insight. I don’t k ow what to expect and will be armed with my 40-150mm and my 300mm prime.
This is probably faster action than I am used to… are you shooting in burst ? Or single shots?
I guess I’m going to find out.

Alan

[DerekC]

I will plan the spot where I want the bike/car and do a short burst as it get there.
For head on shots you can push the shutter speed up, as you don't have to worry about the wheels looking stationary.
Panning needs a bit more planning with the fences. Try to find a piece of fence as clear as possible. Get as close to the fence as you can, not harshly lit by the sun.
To be honest dull days are best shooting through fences.
Panning get the shutter speed as low as you are comfortable with. Depending on the speed of the cars where you are photographing, anything below 320th will give blur in the wheels.
Lower you go will really blur the background.
Set aperture as open as possible as you don't really want a big depth of field.
If it very bright the aperture can be a problem when panning wanting low shutter speed, but with it wide open the ISO drops to it lowest and over exposes. I have been doing tests with variable ND filters.

[Phill D]

That's the combination I'd take. If you have a x1.4 or the X2 converters I'd take them too. Basically have fun and don't be afraid to push the ISO up if it's poor weather. Actually rain gives lots of potential for dramatic shots. Give panning a go and just shoot stuff sometimes the most unexpected shots come off. Oh and I'd definitely go for short bursts.

[linus1884]

It's been a few years since i was last at Silverstone, 2005! i dug through some archives and found these, this was before i could afford a proper camera, taken with an Olympus mju mini. Can you spot the sponsor?

[LadyG]

Despite living around 10 miles away, I've only been a couple of times and both of those with APS-C Canon bodies (400d and 550d) and the track has changed a lot since then. There did used to be a small mound where you could look over the fencing which was over the far side of the circuit but not sure whether it's there now. I've been meaning to pop over to see if I can get any practice in, because a friend's son runs a rally school there.

This was taken with the 400d and a Tamron 80-300 lens.

[Wreckdiver]

I know the fencing is there for safety reasons and I know you can shooting through fencing successfully (to a point). But surely that fencing in the photo from Linus1884 would be severely limiting, particularly the thicker horizontal bars. Just a thought. I look forward to seeing photos though, one of my grandsons is an absolute fanatic on cars and F1 and would be very interested indeed on seeing them.

Good shooting 😊

[Melaka]

I remember Brands Hatch in the early 60s when you could picnic alongside the track just outside the metal barrier. And you could see Stirling Moss et al.

[kidslateinlife]

Thank you all for your input, I have mixed emotions on my whole credit card busting venture, with my primary grief is the relative cost and lack of access of general admission tickets which even on qualifying day was extremely busy and access to viewing was very difficult , and as was mentioned the fences are prohibitive in many ways.
I had no success as such within the parameters of the "General Admission" zones around the track, which were full of un-navigable deck chairs and umbrellas. I was fortunate to encounter a lovely gate keeper for one of the bleacher stands who permitted me access into one of the higher platforms.. despite the heavy rain, my trusty weather sealed Oly was up to the task.
I had better success with my EM1 Mk2 and 40-150 + MC20 than i did with my OM1 and same combo. I took my my EM1 as I had lots of batteries ready, and I only have one battery for my OM1, which i wanted to save for the qualifying at 3pm.

I don't have many keepers with the OM1 ?? perhaps I was too far / too high, but the tracking (car) setting is absolutely awesome, I truly love it.

However, my EM1 gave me great performance, and I hope to post a few examples for your comments. I appreciate my shutter speed needed slowing down, some of the cars photograph better than others and motion blur is better on some cars than other, even though settings would have been similar.










I shot in region of 600 images, and have a ridiculous portion which have half a vehicle or out of focus for various reasons, I truly envy the photographers who have access to the track and can take the shots without being bumped or knocked.

Thank you all for your comments and advice.

[Ian]

kidslateinlife I'm really sorry but something went wrong with the image attachmenbts in your post - would you mind editing your post and re-uploading the images? Unfortunately, there is a bug in the forum that causes this to happen occasionally.

Many thanks,

Ian

[MJ224]

Aaah, just pm'd you regarding another missing image...

[kidslateinlife]

kidslateinlife I'm really sorry but something went wrong with the image attachmenbts in your post - would you mind editing your post and re-uploading the images? Unfortunately, there is a bug in the forum that causes this to happen occasionally.

Many thanks,

Ian

Thank you Ian,

I have edited as suggested and wonder if this has proven more successful… 8 images uploaded.

thank you

alan