Last month I went to Mallanats, a burnout competition held in the tiny country town of Mallala, South Australia. This is the first time I've (seriously) shot a car event and it was a good learning experience for me. I'd secured a media pass so was able to get close to the track. I was told where I was and wasn't allowed to go, so stayed within my boundaries. There were other photographers there who knew what they were doing and who didn't stay within the designated areas - they have produced some great shots. I wish I'd had the nerve to cross the boundaries, too. That has been a good lesson for me.
I've spent every weekend since going through and post-processing the hundreds of photographs I took over the two-day event. There are a few images I'm really happy with and many I'm not but, overall, I think I did OK for my first burnout shoot.
Although it was a burnout competition, it was also an opportunity for owners to show off their pride and joy in the Cruise the Track event.
I've spent every weekend since going through and post-processing the hundreds of photographs I took over the two-day event. There are a few images I'm really happy with and many I'm not but, overall, I think I did OK for my first burnout shoot.
Although it was a burnout competition, it was also an opportunity for owners to show off their pride and joy in the Cruise the Track event.
I found it a challenge shooting the cars that were doing burnouts because once the tyres started smoking, it was difficult shooting through the smoke. I had to keep moving as the wind kept changing direction. I missed some great shots but still managed to capture some good ones, too.
I've found with my photography that I like to shoot the whole story, rather than just particular segments. With Mallanats, I was keen to capture the cars in the sheds, the people working with them, the owners waiting with their cars for their turn at an event, and other bits that made up the day.
I shot about 80 per cent of the weekend on manual. I'm pleased to say I'm much more confident with the controls now. When I wasn't sure what settings to use, or when the action was too quick to change settings and hope they were the right ones, I switched to auto.
I've been very happy with my Canon 70-200mm f2.8L lens. I haven't been able to use it much since I bought it, so this event gave it a good workout and some of the images are incredibly crisp.
My only disappointment was that I left Sunday, around lunch time, as I wasn't feeling well (probably too much sun and heat). The finals were on that afternoon and evening and were pretty speccy. Some of the photographers who stayed until the final evening, shot images of massive burnouts and cars on fire. I'd love to have captured some of those. I should have returned once I felt better: that's another lesson I learned.
I've been very happy with my Canon 70-200mm f2.8L lens. I haven't been able to use it much since I bought it, so this event gave it a good workout and some of the images are incredibly crisp.
My only disappointment was that I left Sunday, around lunch time, as I wasn't feeling well (probably too much sun and heat). The finals were on that afternoon and evening and were pretty speccy. Some of the photographers who stayed until the final evening, shot images of massive burnouts and cars on fire. I'd love to have captured some of those. I should have returned once I felt better: that's another lesson I learned.
