Photography access / credentials for Speed Week ?

[Steve O]

This year I'll be making my first trip to Bonneville.  I'm something of an amateur  / free-lance motorsports photographer (in a fairly loose sense).

I'm wondering if there's anyone I could talk to for getting access to areas off-limits to the public (such as the timing tower area for example).  Also, if there's any press / magazines / etc. who need a photographer, please let me know.  I'm not really looking for anything in return... just press credentials (if such a thing exists for this event) and a chance to extend my photography skill a bit.  I'll be there the first weekend... Friday through Monday.

For some samples of my motorsports photography, see http://www.pbase.com/sdowen/motorsports

I can be contacted at sdowen@gmail.com

Thanks,
Steve

[Glen]

Contact Joann at the scta office   www.scta-bni.org

[aircap]

Bring a really good zoom, Steve.

[bvillercr]

Nice pictures Steve.

[Steve O]

Bring a really good zoom, Steve.

Unfortunately, I don't own one of of those 600mm behemoths.  I have a 70-200mm with a 1.4x extender (making it essentially 280mm).

Nice pictures Steve.

Thanks!  Dragsters are pretty tough to shoot... 270 MPH in the first 1/8 mile...

-Steve

[Freud]

Steve, in the past you didn't need as much lens as you do now.
In order to get any image size you need at least 600 mm and the fellow that
sells on the salt shoots with 1000mm.
Generally aperature is not a problem. With the elevation and the reflectance from
the salt, film ISO can be raised a full stop and have great quality.
Digital Nikons seem to give a rather flat contrast image but work just as well
as film cameras. I have used Nikons for 42 years and have had no experience with Canon.
Don't get too serious about the on course stuff. The way the courses are arranged now
you will have a lot of backlight. Enjoy the staging areas, the pits, the rat rods. the race cars and the
people and you will go home with a full basket.
Bring sunscreen. SPF 15 will work if u apply it several times.
FREUD

[Steve O]

Hi folks!  I was able to get press credentials.  I found that the best place to shoot was at the starting line.  As long as I wasn't too close, I was able walk along the course for a 50 - 100 ft. or so and that gave a great vantage point especially for those cars without push trucks.  For photography, I would call this event a "target rich environment".  I also didn't even use my big lens all that often.  Most of the pictures were taken with a 17-85mm.

I had a great time and hope to go again.

-Steve

PS... here's the pictures...

http://www.pbase.com/sdowen/bonneville

[t russell]

Those are great pictures

[LVMAXX]

 

[Steve O]

Sadly, no... I don't know when I'm going to get back out to Utah.  Thanks for thinking of me though.  It's nice that someone thinks highly enough of my pictures to ask.

-Steve

[836dstr]

Didn't make it to B'ville this year. Having major withdrawals! Your great pictures helped alleviate some of the pain. Great quality pictures.

Keep up the good work!

Tom