Silverstone vantage points

Khamelion · 25 Apr 2007, 16:36 (Ref:1900256)

Hi,

On Sunday 6th May I'll be heading to Silverstone for the FIA GT races, it will be my first time at Silverstone and was wondering where the good sites are for capturing the racing.

Alas, I'll not be lucky enough to warrant a media vest, so all my captures will have to be from the public side of the fence.

Any advice on where to head to will be gratefully received.

Many thanks
Dave

MikeHoyer · 25 Apr 2007, 17:09 (Ref:1900291)

You can just about get above the fence at some parts of Luffield, I think at Club you can also. You could also do some pans from up in the grandstand as they come out of bridge. It's not particularly great though!

brands · 25 Apr 2007, 17:49 (Ref:1900325)

Assuming the general public have access to the infield, which they did last year, then you can get pretty close to the track on the outside of Priory.

forzaf1 · 25 Apr 2007, 20:31 (Ref:1900429)

Get high into the grandstand at Abbey to get the cars exiting the corner.

Alex

Khamelion · 26 Apr 2007, 22:28 (Ref:1901299)

Looks like I'm just going to have to enjoy the racing at the expense of the photos.

Thanks for the replies, lets just hope for a dry bright day.

Regards
Dave

gungadan · 27 Apr 2007, 23:36 (Ref:1901969)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khamelion

Looks like I'm just going to have to enjoy the racing at the expense of the photos.

Thanks for the replies, lets just hope for a dry bright day.

Anyone else enjoy the racing more when they're not taking photos? I know I do. Not that it's a very frequent occurance.

Dex · 28 Apr 2007, 18:00 (Ref:1902308)

I tend to have a better idea of what's going on in a race if i'm not shooting.

But one of the reasons that I don't like silverstone for spectating is that I'm always looking through a fence - it just makes me feel isolated from the action...

**BertMk2** · 28 Apr 2007, 21:07 (Ref:1902385)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dex

I tend to have a better idea of what's going on in a race if i'm not shooting.

Same here

Sometimes if I'm really engrossed in the camera work then I have no idea who's even leading or how how many laps have been done

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dex

But one of the reasons that I don't like silverstone for spectating is that I'm always looking through a fence - it just makes me feel isolated from the action...

Silverstone my least favourite circuit of those that I've visited - the amount of track you can see is limited and what you can see is visible through a socking great fence. Not good at all. As a result I very rarely visit Silverstone.

Khamelion · 29 Apr 2007, 16:17 (Ref:1902735)

The more I read, the more I'm thinking that this visit to Silverstone may be my first and last.

Looks like I'm just going to have to try harder and get myself media accredited, which means getting to more race events, oh aye and get a web site setup so people can view my captures

Regards
Dave

Tim the Grey · 30 Apr 2007, 12:08 (Ref:1903338)

Dear oh dear. Negativity abounds!
It really is not THAT bad. I've never been the 'media' side, apart from marshalling, 20+ years ago...
ALL the images in my gallery, linked here:
http://www.catmangler.smugmug.com/ga...47600#38080585
And here:
http://www.catmangler.smugmug.com/ga...25886#85205321
Are punter side...

Walk infield, and get to the INSIDE of Abbey. There is a large grass bank, next to BRDC camping site. Walk the Club straight, and you are at Becketts.
Cross the bridge by the race school, on Hangar Straight, aqnd you can get nice shots looking down.

Plenty of fence free spots in the Luffield/Bridge area.

Use your legs.

8^)

Coopers · 30 Apr 2007, 18:09 (Ref:1903617)

Well said Tim,there are plenty of spots....you just have to find them...all my pics are taken from the spectator side of the fence.http://cliveweedon.co.uk I know most are from the National and International circuit but there are spots out there.
Hope it will not be your only visit to Silverstone....

Khamelion · 30 Apr 2007, 21:08 (Ref:1903765)

Cheers guys that's good news. I was holding judgement till I'd be there. I guess Silverstone is like Donnington in that if you get infield you can get some fence free good shots.

Looking at you examples, I can see that it's not as black as it has been painted. Coopers you images are some of the sharpest motorsport images I have seen, real nice.

Regards
Dave

Coopers · 1 May 2007, 16:16 (Ref:1904339)

Thanks for that Khamelion.

Guidoh · 3 May 2007, 17:55 (Ref:1905959)

Well sorry folks, but having just once again done Silverstone in full media mode (the BSB last weekend) I can confirm that it is still, and probably always will be, my least favourite circuit for photography. I HATE the place!!!!!!! To put it into context I usually have about 2500 'keepers' from a 3-day stint at the BSB and at Moon-verstone as I prefer to call it, I only kept 850 and they were from only 3 corners where I could lose the awful backgrounds.....

Even with full trackside access it is VERY difficult to get shots that I would call stunning. There's just no charisma or picturesque quality about the place. Roll on Saturday and 3 days at Oulton Park.....You even get lakes and ducks to add to your compositions there!!!!!

Guy

JurekB · 6 May 2007, 22:46 (Ref:1908024)

Apart from forgetting your CF cards how did you get on?

I've never had a great problem with Silverstone, the fences are a pain but just mean you have to work that little bit harder and be that little bit more creative which is never a bad thing. I see way to many people just rooted to the spot and not moving around or trying different angles, even a few metres to the left or right can give you a completely different picture.

gungadan · 6 May 2007, 23:56 (Ref:1908054)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JurekB

Apart from forgetting your CF cards how did you get on?

I've never had a great problem with Silverstone, the fences are a pain but just mean you have to work that little bit harder and be that little bit more creative which is never a bad thing. I see way to many people just rooted to the spot and not moving around or trying different angles, even a few metres to the left or right can give you a completely different picture.

Nice pics on your site. Were they taken from spectator areas?

JurekB · 7 May 2007, 10:16 (Ref:1908220)

Thanks, yeah they were all shot from above, under or through the fence.

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