About the event
We’re going to attend the first day of the Sporting Car Club of SA annual Championship 2021.
The Bend Motorsport Park was voted the world’s best Motorsport Facility of the Year 2019 as part of the PMW Expo Awards in Germany.
Take this opportunity to practice using your camera in various autofocus modes, autofocus areas and shutter speeds to ensure you get sharp photos in the very difficult situation of capturing fast moving cars. The camera’s drive mode gives you options for various continuous shooting speeds to try out. You can also practice the technique of panning with the cars to get that blurred background look that emphasises speed.
We’ll be starting with morning coffee at 10am in the Apex Lounge (immediately past the reception area in the Welcome Centre), where we can discuss techniques. If you arrive early, there are plenty of exotic cars to photograph on display in the foyer of the Welcome Centre. Around 10:30am we’ll move to the viewing platform on the 1st floor (far right on the outside of the Welcome Centre building) to photograph the cars on pit straight. Later we’ll move through an underground tunnel (subject to it being open) to a special vantage point near a couple of bends for more excitement.
If you like you can stay on after we finish at noon, perhaps for lunch at local facilities. After we’ve finished you may like to spend some time at Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village just on the other side of Tailem Bend (although these are independent of our photowalk, and just suggestions).
Depending on where you live, you may have to allow 1.5 hours travel time to get to the motorsport park.
Due to the face-to-face nature of this trip, you will be required to adhere to government regulations for the pandemic that are current at the time of this event.
Techniques covered
- Autofocus mode
- Autofocus area
- Exposure mode
- ISO Auto Min Shutter Speed
- Panning
- Steadyshot panning mode
- Continuous shooting
- APS-C/Super 35mm mode
What to bring
- Sony Alpha camera
- Telephoto lens (e.g. 70-300mm) for action shots
- Wide-angle lens for close-ups of static car displays
- Monopod or tripod, especially if you have a heavier lens
- Sunscreen & hat
