Photography guide to Forumla 1 Singapore grand prix

[Zeus]

We'll be putting up some tips and guides to shoot the formula 1 Grand Prix 2010! It doesn't matter if you're using a compact camera, pro-sumer, entry-level DSLR, or the biggest telephoto lenses on the planet!!

Watch out for photography spots are our selected locations on the above map!

[Zeus]

The start-finish straight. It is difficult to do panning shots on the cars on their own due to the extremely fast speeds. Here a Ferrari crosses the line with the Singapore Flyer in the background to complete the composition.


The straight just outside the Supreme court at Padang. There is wired fences all around and one will have to shoot with fences in the foreground. The background with the Supreme Court at Twilight will create a good image.


The exit of Chicane at Turn 11. This is one of the few places without any wired fence and it is tricky to do any panning shots here.


Turn 7. The main overtaking point of the entire circuit with a long and sweeping straight leading up to this corner passing Marina shopping center. This is a quite a good location to watch the action as well, but there is not giant TV screen here and hence it'll be difficult to track the cars unless you have the mobile TV from www.kangaroo.tv (rental is around $100 for a day). Here a panning shot of a Brawn GP car.



Along the pit straight, one can see the mechanics working on their cars. Here Kimi Raikkonen prepares to leave the pit for a practice session. Taking images of cars along the main straight is pretty difficult as the speeds of the cars are as high as 300 km/h.


Esplanade bridge straight leading towards Nicoll highway. A picturesque setting with the Singapore skyline in the background.


Turn 2 leading to turn 3. Many opportunities here to take a good shot. here a panning shot of a Force India car with a streatk of orange and green light for added composition.


Turn 13 formula 1 grand prix. A good location to see cars coming to a braking point to make it in time for turn 13, a very tight turn before the Nicoll highway/esplanade bridge straight. Telephoto lens here will compress the image and make the wired fences less visible.


Shot from the final turn, turn 22, leading onto the start-finish straight. Cars are accelerating here and it is tricky to find a panning moment.


Turn 2 leading just from Turn 1. Here using the retarding strips in the foreground as compositional lines leading to the car with a slight vertical panning technique.




Formula 1 is about pretty babes too and there're plenty around the F1 park. This is the tentage area around Turns 1/2/3 etc.


Enjoy your race!

Recommended gear settings:
Camera: Canon 7D, 1D series, Nikon D300S, D3 series, is preferred to get the fastest AF possible, else any other camera is usable as well.

Telephoto lenses: 70-200mm, 300mm above. 18-200mm, 55-200mm are possible options but the aperture might not be wide enough to get a fast shutter speed.

Panning shots: Manual mode is recommended, ISO of 400-1600, shutter speeds of 1/30-1/200 depending on the type of panning shots required. Balance the aperture and ISO. Review and shoot again! Using automatic modes such as Aperture or Shutter priority might confuse the sensor's metering if the bright lights around the circuit enter the frame.

[ajs]

Is there anyone in the know who could say whether the following gear would be allowed in to the event:

Canon 40D - 17-40mm, 24-105mm and 100-400mm lenses.

The 24-105mm might be ok - the 100-400mm is of course one of the Canon white lenses.

I'm asking the organisers directly but in case anyone here knows as well??

Thanks!

[Brown Bear]

As far as I know,

100-400 shouldn't be an issue. as it doesn't look very long. I doubt that they'll look at the focal length and determine if it'll be allowed, and more like the physical length!

Have a great F1 weekend and we look forward to seeing your images here!

[ajs]

They called me back this afternoon - I spoke to a nice gentleman by the name of Kelvin, and he informed me that lenses that are less than arm's length are ok.

I've asked him to confirm by email so that I have something to show the security monkeys, it seems like a 100-400mm is going to be alright. The previous poster's words are good: the 100-400mm doesn't *look* very big when it's not extended...

[Zman]

An arm's length? Ang moh arm ah? Like that 400mm 2.8 also can go in lo.

[Poseidon]

The Bigma should fit under the arm's length rule as well. Honestly, the rule is pretty inconsistent Lolz :P

[ajs]

From: Info <info@singaporegp.sg>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010
Subject: RE: Cameras

Dear ajs,

Thank you for your support of the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND
PRIX.

With regard to your question on whether you can bring your camera into the
circuit park, our main concern, and that of Formula One Management, is that
all equipment brought into the circuit park should not be for commercial
purposes but purely for personal use.

Additionally, we would like to stress that the enjoyment of other spectators
should not be impeded and we therefore urge patrons with photographic
equipment to show consideration. Tripods and monopods will only be allowed
in the general walkabout areas and not into the grandstands.

In conclusion, we see no problem with you bringing your camera to the race
as long as it is for your personal enjoyment.

We look forward to welcoming you to the race.

Best regards,


Anna Sutton
Corporate Communications
SINGAPORE GP PTE LTD
50 Cuscaden Road
#06-02 HPL House
Singapore 249724

T 6731 4978
F 6735 6032
E anna@singaporegp.sg
www.singaporegp.sg

[ajs]

From: Info <info@singaporegp.sg>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010
Subject: RE: Cameras

Dear ajs,

Thank you for your support of the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND
PRIX.

With regard to your question on whether you can bring your camera into the
circuit park, our main concern, and that of Formula One Management, is that
all equipment brought into the circuit park should not be for commercial
purposes but purely for personal use.

Additionally, we would like to stress that the enjoyment of other spectators
should not be impeded and we therefore urge patrons with photographic
equipment to show consideration. Tripods and monopods will only be allowed
in the general walkabout areas and not into the grandstands.

In conclusion, we see no problem with you bringing your camera to the race
as long as it is for your personal enjoyment.

We look forward to welcoming you to the race.

Best regards,


Anna Sutton
Corporate Communications
SINGAPORE GP PTE LTD
50 Cuscaden Road
#06-02 HPL House
Singapore 249724

T 6731 4978
F 6735 6032
E anna@singaporegp.sg
www.singaporegp.sg

[arman007]

Have a great F1 weekend and we look forward to seeing your images here!